Find Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This city is all a terrible mess and badly requires a make over.

Visited a spa and had pampering and had an extensive shopping experience where everything was on hand from cheap products to up-market goods. Also ticked Cu Chi Tunnels off the bucket list, this was a very inexpensive but well worthwhile experience.

Sidewalk pedestrian traffic is un noticeable compared with the energy of the families on the motorbikes. I have not seen as much productive bustle in SEA as I have on the roads of HCMC. The attractions in the city are eclectic, Temples, Museums including the challenging imagery of the War Remnants Museum, Churches, public buildings and churches, Opera House etc. The City is 3 hours drive from the fertile and exciting Mekong Delta. Combining The City and the Delta is a 3 to 5 day opportunity that should be grabbed before the fast pace of progress makes it impossible.

Malaysians, especially Muslim women, thoroughly enjoy the shopping for fine and delicate Muslim fashion apparels which cost a fraction of the price they would pay at home, such as hijab, dresses etc. Other things worth looking out for is fruits and nuts and some say coffee, but personally I found the Vietnamese brew to bit a tad too strong for my taste.

As is true in most of Vietnam, pedestrians must dodge the never-ending motorcycles and cars as pedestrians are at the bottom of the food chain. You learn quickly how to dodge though and somehow it works. Actually the traffic might be one of the most amazing things about the city. Service in most restaurants and elsewhere is confusing. Service staff seems indifferent but actually, I think it is a cultural thing - they wait for your cue - so don't be shy, call out to your wait person when you need them. Vendors on the other hand are just the opposite. They pay attention to you....too much. I have traveled to many places and although I certainly didn't hate HCMC, it was not a favorite. If you are visiting Vietnam, you would do yourself a favor to get out of HCMC and go visit some of the smaller cities/villages in the middle and north of the country.

A must see city.

No shame in pitching the opening price of anything at double what it would cost the Vietnamese.

There is lots to do and lots to see. Prices are very reasonable especially if you know where to shop. Don't carry so much on you as you walk around. Don't act too much like a tourist (especially if you're a solo traveler), but more of an foreigner that knows their way around "because you live there". So do some research before heading out. Get a feel of your area through maps and landmarks before going out.

But something to watch out for is everywhere, the sellers including taxi might anyhow quote you unreasonable price because everything seemed so cheap we might not know we are paying more than the usual rate/market price. Check out some standard pricing of the items including taxi rides so you wont get ripped off. There are lots street sellers, if u refuse to buy from them, they will give you a sullen face and scold u in Vietnamese. That is not appropriate. Overall, Vietnamese are very friendly to the tourists, especially Caucasians. Most viet just want to earn you money. Generally safe but once I almost got rob of my handphone on the street. Just be careful

All manner of amazing sights appear in the ordinary everyday life of the vietnamese

Locals did nothing to help.

Had a massage with hot rocks in my hotel and have never been so relaxed. planning my return trip now.

City is safe. Most attractions can be reached on foot. Taxis are fairly cheap. However, certain parts of the city is dirty. There is a lot of pollution. In the dry hot weather of the city, need to drink a lot of water.

but the people here is very hard working and they don't even seeking for money from people but they are selling something even a bundle of wet tissues to make a living. They dont rely on the government and very hard working people. the ho chi minh ciy is very large but should improve in term of entertainment such as theme park. but the market and the shopping mall is quite good.

Taking a taxi (Mahlinh/Vinasun) during non peak hours is reasonable (but have a knowledge of how far you are going). Ben Thanh market is a favorite but take note there are fixed and non-fixed priced (bargainable) shops. Also quality of goods can differ from one place to the other (especially lacquer-ware).

Being able to walk in the footsteps of history was amazing. To be able to see the gates where the Viet Cong tanks crashed through, stand on the balcony where the Viet Cong waved their flags and see where the president lived was fabulous. Make the trip to Cu Chi to see the famous Viet Cong tunnels and it will really put the war into perspective for you. Also I highly recommend catching the hydrofoil from Ho Chi Minh City (District 4) for the 90 minute trip up the Mekong River to beachside Vung Tau.

Shopping was so fun in this city. We walked around the city feeling very safe and relaxed. The locals here are honest and friendly unlike some northern cities that we experienced.

Make sure to fix prices everywhere they are not listed or prepared for a bad tempered exchange when it comes to delivery. Stay polite, cool, and keep your wits about you and you will enjoy Saigon, although the traffic is something else - much worse than Bangkok, similar to Jakarta.

A communist government with a free market attitude to small businesses.Start ups on pavements.Markets are cheap but be prepared for constant requests to buy.Mc Donalds next to red stars.

Compared to Thailand, there are almost no religious buildings for their architecture, shopping is pretty limited, no large supermarkets in the center, no night life, banks and money exchanges close early. It is, after all, a communist country. The best thing to do is to spend one day in the city and two days on a Mekong Delta trip. One day trip is not recommended as most of the time will be spent on the bus and a two day trip offers much more activities.