Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

Saigon vs Shanghai?

Okay, Saigon vs Shanghai. Anyone taught in both (or been to both).

I've been to both briefly as a tourist, and like them both, but would be curious to hear other opinions comparitively.

[ghost]

I vote for Saigon. Shanghai is overrated as a destination and the subway closes very early in Shanghai, around 9pm at night - ridiculous for a city of that stature! If you miss the subway, you might have to walk for hours to get to your hotel. In Saigon, you can ride a motorbike taxi anywhere for a low price.

Saigon - you can live on around $15 u.s. per day, including food, lodging and transport around town. In Shanghai, you would have to pay at least $30-$50 u.s. for the same type of service. There are no cheap mini hotels in Shanghai, and those which are cheap ($30 u.s. per night) are in fact much worse and dirtier than Viet. mini hotels which only cost $7 u.s. per night!

Saigon is in Vietnam, and I find Viet. culture a little bit nicer and less 'in your face' than Chinese culture.

Also, in Ho Chi Minh city, it is easier to find cheap hotels. There are hundreds of 'mini hotels' in Saigon which only charge $7-$8 u.s. per night.

There are no 'mini hotels' in Shanghai. The only cheap options are some smelly hostels, otherwise you have to pay expensive hotel accommodation.

Shanghai is overrated as a city. Tourists are getting conned there.

Ghost in Korea