I was a little worried when I was informed that I had to go to Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam on business. I was brought up in the far east and I knew this place as Saigon. Sometime in the seventies Saigon became Ho Chi Min City.
***FIRST IMPRESSIONS***
My first impression was that it was ... Read review
excl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - Note that this booking cannot be combined with any ... more
promotions that might be offered directly by the hotel.Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City with its world class facilities and services, is the ideal choice for business and leisure travelers while visiting Vietnams most vibrant and exciting city. Hotel Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City is an international five-star hotel, located where the borders of the citys four main district intersect, hence in the heart and true center of Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat International Airport can be reached conveniently within 30 45 minutes, while the citys major commercial and entertainment area is only a mere eight-minute drive.
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: 5,61/10 - Crystal hotel is located in the central district 1 ... more
of Ho Chi Minh City, the heart of the exciting section of the town. The Crystal hotel has a very warm welcome and attentive atmosphere. You will feel like you are at home the moment you enter and it's an ideal place for worldly travellers to meet people who are all travelling around Vietnam.And with a team of considerate, cheerful and sincere staff, your stay in Ho Chi Minh City will be made more pleasant. Crystal hotel is near Sai Gon roundabout and next to Zen Plaza Super Market. It's just a 10-minute walk to Ben Thanh market and the shopping centre, a 15-minute walk to Saigon River and 30 minutes to the International Airport by taxi and all recreational areas are nearby the hotel such as the war, revolutionary and Ho Chi Minh museums, Unification Palace, Notrodam Church, main post office, pagodas and China town ( called Cho Lon).
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - Voted Best Business Hotel in HCMC - The Guide Awards ... more
2005. Legend Hotel Saigon is a five star hotel uniquely positioned overlooking the Saigon River on Ton Duc Thang Street and close to the city centre. A welcoming smile and attentive service are our guests first impressions of Legend, as you enter our delightful Lobby you are greeted by our friendly staff, dressed in traditional Vietnamese costumes. This is more than a welcome at the Legend, it is a way of life, where nothing is too much trouble and your comfort and relaxation is our primary concern. Strategically located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Legend Hotel Saigon is on Ton Duc Thang street fronting the scenic Saigon River. Within walking distance to major business addresses and points of interest, it is ideally located for travellers to explore the charm of this historic and developi
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - The Liberty 1 Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City is situated ... more
right in the middle of the city. The hotel is close to the main business and diplomatic center of the city. The hotel is only 10 minutes from the nearest Tan Son Nhat international Airport. The well positioned Liberty 1 Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City offers the guests with a quick access to all the important places in the city. Located in the City's diplomactic area only 5kms from Tan Son Nhat Internation Airport. Most of the sights, e.g. the Center Post Office, Notre Damme Cathedral,War Museum, Ben Thanh market.The The Le Van Tam Park is only a few minutes drive from the site of the hotel. Guests can avial the option of sightseeing while residing here because of the close proximity of the hotel to a number of local attractions Travelers can also purchase a number of gifts from the various malls. There are many malls and open markets located close to the Liberty 1 Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: 7,41/10 - Metropole Hotel is an excellent choice for guests ... more
looking for something that isn't going to break the bank yet offers all the comforts of a home away from home. Metropole Hotel is situated close to shopping and an entertainment centre and is a mere 20 minutes from the International Airport.84 tastefully furnished rooms and suites with city view, individual air conditioning, IDD, minibar with tea and coffee makinng facilities, safety box, satellite TV and private bathroom. Some Suite rooms include computer, internet and email access. Restaurants featuring Western, Asian and Vietnamese dishes. The hotel provides 3 function rooms, with a capacity of 250 guests with audio visual equipment. Business services include a complete Business Center with secretarial service, facsimile, E-mail and Internet available. Recreational facilities include upgraded gymnasium, outdoor swimming pool, steambath, Jacuzzi, karaoke and snooker. Perfect for relaxation are the hotels Tropicana spa, sauna and facilities for foot and body massage. The places you can visit from the hotel are Reunification Hall, War Remnants Museum, City Hall, Museum of Vietnamese History, Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon River.
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - Strategically located at the best of downtown Saigon, ... more
Rex is a luxury hotel heritage dating back to early 20th century when it was originally opened as a French garage. For over 80 years, the Rex has been as a landmark, as well as a witness of the ups and downs of the citys history. Let us create a truly Saigon Vietnam experience for you! Rex Hotel is in the City Centre - Ben Thanh Market (1km), Reunification Hall (1km), Municipal Theater (0,1km), Notre-Dame Cathedral (1km), War Museum (3km), Zoo (3km), Saigon Railway Station (5km).
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - **HRS SGL DBL: Colonial Room. River view is in the ... more
'New Wing' A Hotel of Tradition - Hospitality - Elegance. Opened in 1925 as the citys finest abode, the Majestic has gone through several reincarnations over the years, changes that reflect the tumultuous history of Vietnam. During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army used this French colonial structure as a military barracks. During the Vietnam War, it was frequented by foreign correspondents and espionage agents. Our property was delighted accommodate well known guests like Francois Mitterand, Catherine Deneuve, Japans Prince Akishino, Henrik Prince of Denmark and many more. We are within walking distance of the beautiful Opera House, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Markets, reflexology and related therapy boutiques as well as most major commercial office buildings.
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - Built in 1930 and completely restored in 1997, nestled ... more
in Saigon's scene riverside area and within walking distance to major commercial and entertaiment addresses, and still retained its French colonial area style, provides a perfect base for conducting business or for having completely relaxed vacation. At the Grand, every guest will enjoy a well-appointed room or a luxurious suite with plenty of room to live, to work or just to relax. Our warm inviting atmosphere, congenial staff and host of fine services help to make every stay a most enjoyable one. Our philosophy is to satisfy our guest in every possible way from the first time. You only have to bring yourself and time to relax and we make sure that your holidays and business travel will be comfortable Therefore, we've tried to create here a place you're yearning to be. A place that is beautiful and comforting, where work and leisure take their proper places, where the qualities make life truly worthwhile...That's exactly the kind of life, in fact, that we try to evoke through our services at GRAND HOTEL So, it is why neither because of its perfect location, nor because of its elegant ambience and premier services..., people do come back the Grand just since here they are treated so well and courteous; that there is no choice but to return. The hotel is proximately 25 minutes from Tan Son Nhat International airport by car its takes you just a short walking distance to the history Saigon river and city downtown
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - All 71 rooms including luxurious Suites are tastefully ... more
decorated, most of which have spectacular view of the city. Excellent service at affordable prices, New Epoch Hotel - subtle blend of Asian hospitality and Western innovation is served in elegant accommodation. Whether on business or pleasure, the design and service that are found in New Epoch Hotel respond perfectly to the needs of all travelers. Strategically located in the heart of administrative, commercial, shopping and entertainment district of Ho Chi Minh City, New Epoch Hotel is just a short walk to Saigon Railway Station, city Culture park, Labor culture & Sport complex and War remnant museum. It takes only 10 minutes from the Tan Son Nhat International Airport and 5 minutes to the downtown entertainment and shopping center.
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Exotic City For Those Who Want Something Different
Advantages: Exciting culture, new sites and smells, beats the old humdrum cities Disadvantages: Very hot in April
...I had to go to Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam on business. I was brought up in the far east and I knew this place as Saigon. Sometime in the seventies Saigon became Ho Chi Min City.
***FIRST IMPRESSIONS***
My first impression was that it was very hot and dusty and had a strange sickly smell. Most foreign airports strike me that way when I first get off the plane, so this isn't something peculiar to this place. There ... ...staying at the heart of Ho Chi Min City, so I was able to take in a few of the sites.
The War Remnants Museum is a chilling reminder of the horrors of war and this city has seen a great deal of that. The museum hi lights the suffering of the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War. It used to be called the 'Museum of American War Crimes' but was renamed so as not to offend American visitors. It houses a collection of weapons, artefacts, ... more
I was a little worried when I was informed that I had to go to Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam on business. I was brought up in the far east and I knew this place as Saigon. Sometime in the seventies Saigon became Ho Chi Min City.
***FIRST IMPRESSIONS***
My first impression was that it was very hot and dusty and had a strange sickly smell. Most foreign airports strike me that way when I first get off the plane, so this isn't something peculiar to this place. There were still soldiers, military vehicles and anti aircraft guns scattered about the place, just as they had been more than twenty years ago. I just hoped that the rest of the city had made progress.
***AIRPORT***
Everything looked crowded and dusty as we left Tan Son Nhat International Airport which is right in the heart of the city. There has actually been some international concern about the very restricted size of this airport. The new international terminal was opened in 2007 and a brand new international airport is currently under construction at Long Thanh but it won't be completed until 2015 when Tan Son Nhat will be relegated to domestic flights.
***HOTEL***
The hotel had been booked for me so I knew it would be a reasonable one but I am always wary when staff book accommodation from websites and brochures. However, the Renaissance Riverside Hotel with its four and a half star rating soon dispelled my worries. It is close to the airport but also right in the business area so it suited me fine. I was quite relieved to get inside where it was cool. The temperature outside was in the thirties and there was no breeze. April is not a good time to visit this city if you don't like the heat.
The amenities in the hotel include restaurant, bar, roof top pool , fitness centre, sauna and steam room. There are also laundry facilities but I wasn't going to be there long enough to lose those. I had a great deal to pack into just three days.
*** ATTRACTIONS***
War Remnants Museum:
I didn't have time to go very far in Vietnam but I was fortunate to be staying at the heart of Ho Chi Min City, so I was able to take in a few of the sites.
The War Remnants Museum is a chilling reminder of the horrors of war and this city has seen a great deal of that. The museum hi lights the suffering of the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War. It used to be called the 'Museum of American War Crimes' but was renamed so as not to offend American visitors. It houses a collection of weapons, artefacts, and some very distressing photographs illustrating the effects of napalm. There is also a room dedicated to chemical warfare.
This is not a place to visit if you are likely to be upset by graphic pictures .
Cholon:
This is the Chinese quarter of the city and there are hundreds of streets all criss-crossed to form a real maze. This compares with the medina type mazes of many Arab cities. There are temples, restaurants and exotic shops and market stalls, including Binh Tay Market where you can buy spices, jewellery, jade, gold and a whole multitude of things including live ducks (if that's what floats your boat, as the saying goes.)
Cholon is where you will find the famous Emperor of Jade Temple, Phuoc An Hoi Temple with all its brightly coloured dragons and monsters and Thien Hau Pagoda which is dedicated to the goddess of the sea.
I was very disappointed that I didn't have longer to investigate this fascinating area. I only managed to cover a small section of it and would love to go back to Ho Chi Min City to see the rest.
Other Attractions:
Other places to visit are the Mekong Delta and the Chun Chi tunnels which were built as places for the population to hide during war.***OVERVIEW***
This is an amazing city and my only regret is that I didn't have longer to investigate it. The architecture of some of the building is amazing and the colours of the buildings, statues and temples are like nowhere else on earth. I really felt that I needed more time but, unfortunately, it wasn't possible to extend my stay.
I did find a little night-life in the nearby hotels but didn't venture into town as I didn't feel safe by myself at night in the city. It may have been the strangeness that made me feel that way but I was advised by hotel staff not to go looking for clubs unless I was in a group. Being a coward, I didn't go.
Food in this city was cheap and there was a huge variety from Chinese, French, Vietnamese and American dishes to expensive international restaurants with a la carte menus.
***WOULD I GO AGAIN?***
Yes, as soon as I can afford to go for a few weeks I would love to visit this city again. There is so much that I missed and that I need to take a more leisurely look at. This is an exciting, very different city with a different culture to enjoy and lots to discover.
Advantages: Modern Vietnam With One Eye Carefully Trained On The Past. Disadvantages: The Scam Merchants Will Have Your Eye Out If You're Not Careful.
...try to change Saigon to Ho Chi Minh the more the locals hold onto Saigon. You see despite the passage of time and outwardly friendly gesturing between North and South Vietnam there is still much distrust between the two. So holding onto a historical name is one way of showing the other how they really feel. Saigon is a wonderful capital that is clogged morning, noon and night with motorbikes, bicycles, pedicabs and the occasional 4 wheeled vehicle. ... ...like the Reunification Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum it is easy to get cultured out so why not try something different. Saigon Water Park.is closed on Wednesdays, something we were unaware of. You can imagine our disgust when we arrived in a taxi to be met by locked doors. Adverts for this park are everywhere in the city but they all fail to alert potential customers to the above fact. With disappointment staring us in the face we asked our driver ...
indiecater 22.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Advantages: Convenient and reasonable prices Disadvantages: Noisy and crowded
...it is district 1. And Ho Chi Minh is big but not that big. So everything is more or less in walking distance when you look at the map. But HCM is not really made for walking - you got motorbikes parked all over so if you plan to walk remember that you'll have to walk up and down all the time - not to mention the heat. On the other hand why not - If you walk you get a much better chance to see everything you want. So I'll recommend walk out and if ... ...are very cheap - and like I said if you're more than one - maybe even cheaper than the motorbike taxies. A little thing about the taxies choose one of the bigger companies - the green one, yellow one, black or blue one they always go by the meter. Another options is to rent a bike of your own. The traffic looks scary but it's not as scary as it looks cause somehow everything is in slow-motion, which you'll realize once you get on the bike. It's fun ...
vilumdeluxe 17.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Advantages: Untouched rural beauty,breathtaking senery, cheap cost of living, friendly warm people,very little crime Disadvantages: culture shock, hygiene not up to western standards
Arriving in Ho Chi Minh Airport, the first thing that really struck me was the huge anti-aircraft guns sitting next to the runway, a very harsh reminder that this is a country just recovering from more than 30 years of war. This having been said, It has now been at peace with itself and it's neighbours for close to ten years. Certainly any reservations you initially had would be swepted away in the fast moving and neon lit lights of Saigon Proper. ... ...that all you would want to do is catch up on some well-deserved sleep. But instead you find yourself woken up and alert, as this wondrous and enchanting city breathes the life back into you. In fact if there is one thing this city has, It is an abundance of life and frantic hustle and bustle. Everywhere you look there is some facet of these peoples lives unfolding right in front of your eyes, as nothing in this country is really done behind closed ...
Sandman 08.07.2000 (22.06.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Advantages: an unforgatable place Disadvantages: pollution
At the time of my stay of 3 months for professional reason in Vietnam of mid January to mid April, I have had the luck to be lodged on Saigon. The city is a little rebel following Viet government because when the country decided to enter marked economy the capital Hanoi hesitated staying on the basements of the comunism when Saigon rushed in the new openings and got the mains markets.
Lived and impressions on the city: Tentacular city and bruillante. ... ...the night slightly to start again even more in the small hours. From my room at 8eme stacks the attenuated rumbling noise of the trafic, occured mainly by mupets and motorcycles and its overnight appearance in the avenues made one think of an enormous snake . He wake up in the small hours and increase crescendo.This one begin here toward 3hoo and reache its apogee to 7h00. The contrast between the middle air-conditioned of the hotel and the outside ...
krakakoutas 09.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Advantages: Vibrant, bustling and thrilling Disadvantages: Street Hawkeres and Cyclo Drivers
My husband and I visited Vietnam in February of this year. Having previously visited Thailand we wanted to return to South East Asia but also to experience a new culture. Vietnam seemed the obvious choice, a relatively new tourist destination where you get real value for money.
After a 2 night stop in North Thailand (just to relive a bit of our honeymoon ;o)!) we arrived in Saigon. We thought that being late at night we wouldn't get too much of ... ...The place was buzzing...literally. The noise was awesome, mopeds humming past, horns beeping and indicator alerts chiming (this is a novel concept...we heard cars playing, amongst other things, Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells during our time in Vietnam!)
Tired but elated we arrived at the Grand Hotel, our home for the next three nights. One of the oldest hotels in the city, the Grand is palacial in architecture with views overlooking the busy Saigon ...
mrsclark 27.08.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Value for Money
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Family Friendly
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Advantages: Saves time as buses take forever in Asia! Disadvantages: Food is really expensive and not that great
Air Asia are an internet based airline serving destinations all over South East Asia. They often have offers on their flights and their tickets are generally very fairly priced. I used them to fly from HoChiMinhCity (Saigon) to Bangkok.
I booked my ticket on their website. It is very easy to navigate and when booking you are given the option to add a meal on for the trip, or have heavier luggage, which is what I did as after 6 weeks travelling I knew I would have over 15 kilos of luggage with me!
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On the plane, I would have liked a bit more room. I was sat next to one of those arm-rest hoggers, so was a bit squidged up against the window, but as the flight was only around 30mins-1hr it wasn't too bad!
Food-wise I actually paid for "Nasi Lemak" when I was ...
Advantages: a lovely country Disadvantages: pollution
I had the opportunity to leave and work in Vietnam during a period of 3 months, in the region of hochiminhcity (formerSaigon)
Departure Roissy Charles De Gaulles in France, Journey by Air france economic class
12h of tiring flight to go with a transit of 1h30 in Bangcok and direct flight to return.
At the arrival visa controls by the police and filling of custom card .
The return in Europ will be a lot more suspicious by Vietnamiene air police, an agent staring at you during a good minute and comparing the photo of your passport, this time being a lot longer for the Asian, unpleasant impression !.
Once out of the airport,i was surprised by the stuffy heat (38 degrees in January) the noise and the important pollution due to the number incredible of motorcycles 125 and 49cm3.
A Vietnamese hedge waits ...
krakakoutas 07.09.2004 (11.09.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Vietnam
Advantages: An excellent show, high quality throughout Disadvantages: No helicopter!
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STORY
The musical is set in the 1970s Vietnam war, beginning in Saigon April 1975, just before the American forces leave the country. We return to the same city - now renamed HoChiMinhCity - three years later to pick up on the story and the first act ends there. The second act begins with a brief number set in the USA in 1978, then most of the action takes place in Bangkok in October 1978 - apart from one flashback section to 1975.
The story (based on Madame Butterfly) is basically a tragic romance. An American G.I. called Chris meets Kim, a Vietnamese prostitute and they fall in love. But the war forces them apart, only to meet again three years later, when their lives have both changed. I don't want to go into any more detail on this, in case it gives too much away. It might lessen the impact, if you already know what happens ...
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