Korean Job Discussion Forums

[RachaelRoo]

I'm planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh for the end of August. Has anyone been there? What are the best places to visit?

Any hotel recommendatios?

[Tiger Beer]

I was there in 2000 and again 2002.

My memory is failing with exact places of hotel names.. but there is one main area where all the 'backpackers' go.. its fairly central to everything. One of the many interesting things I noticed in Saigon (which I didn't see in Hanoi or anywhere else) are MANY outside cafes/bars where you can order beer or tea or soda or water.. and all the tables face the streets with little tables next to your seat. Basically so you can just sit there and watch the energy of the sidewalks and the traffic! Its strangely kind of cool.. like the ideal people-watching scenario!

As far as things to do.. so many. I took a 1-day trip into the Mekong.. and loved it. I didn't want to more because I originally thought it would be sweaty hot with mosquitos for days on end.. that was partially true.. but 1-day made me wish I'd chosen like 5 days or something. Just get the full-on river life experience.

There are also the Cu-Chi Tunnels.. always fun if you are American.. because the Vietnamese history had the French colonialists struggles for 100 years or whatever which they feel they got them out of there.. the Americans came and went.. they feel they won there.. the Chinese tried to go down there and they failed miserably as well.. plus in 1975 the Vietnamese went over to Cambodia and kicked Pol Pot out of power and many of the missing limbed Vietnamese were not from 'the American War' itself but more often from that one with Cambodia. All the tourists go to the Cuchi Tunnels of the American War.. but those existed much longer.. and Vietnamese pride for kicking out so many incredibly major powers/threats and all the rest and Americans are just really well-received and seems like everyone you meet in Saigon has a dozen or so relatives living in San Francisco, Houston, San Diego or somewhere or another.

There is also the temple of that one unique religion (it combines many of the world's religions).. its outside of Saigon as well.. forget the name of it.

Oh.. and everywhere in Vietnam.. they call it Saigon.. HCMC is just the name the communist government gave it after the Americans evacuated and it was official the communist government had control. You'll see HCMC on most official things.. but everyone down there says Saigon.. and most businesses uses the words Saigon as well, etc.

[huffdaddy]

[jajdude]

I was in Saigon in 2004 for 5 months. The streets Tiger Beer (you'll see his name everywhere) is referring to are "Pham Ngu Lao" an "De Tham"--- you'll know this right away, the main hangout in district one.

There's also "Dong Khoi" --- the "Boardwalk" of Vietnam. Overpriced but some good bars. I recommend "The Underground," like they use in London. That's a cool place.

There are many cheap hotels. No need to pay more than ten bucks a night.

How long will you be there?

(Get the visa first.)

If the site is still running,

check

www.mekongesl.com