Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide, Vietnam

O Chi Minh City (Saigon)

O Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city and headquarters of Vietnam that has grown to establish itself in the ‘Asian Tiger’ economic slugfest. It is located on the Saigon River and is Vietnam’s major port with a population of over 8 million people. Most of the people in O Chi Minh City travel throughout the clogged arteries of the city on about 3 million motorbikes.

Though the city is noisy, crowded and dirty, its business district poses competition to other cities on the globe. There are two seasons in O Chi Minh City; the hot and rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April.

O Chi Min City is a hip party place

O Chi Minh City tourist attractions include the War Remnants Museum, Vietnam History Museum and Cholon, the district famous for its pagodas and exotic stores. Dong Khoi Street boasts of some grand hotels where some date from the colonial era, chic boutiques and shops and numerous restaurants and cafes to taste Vietnam’s famous food.

With its inception in the world scene in the mid 1990s, O Chi Minh city is considered to be one of the hip party places. A visit to District 1 shows some underground club happenings where bars are open till the last customers. Don’t expect any cultural shows in O Chi Minh City as there are only a few dinner and dance shows for you to see.

Nightlife of O Chi Minh City

The city’s bia hoi stands offer the best nightlife while the many street-side beer stalls are great for a beer. All you have to do is to grab a stool and table and wait for pitchers of beer which are available at a few pennies a glass. Food here is also good, and practically free.

If you go shopping in O Chi Minh City, you will find that the prices here are more than anywhere else; but the selection of silk, embroidery, lacquer and houseware here is great.

Moreover, the cosmopolitan atmosphere here makes it easy to shop as the shop owners here don’t force you to buy things. The shops are open all days of a week where credit cards are accepted with a charge, in most places.

Bargain to save money

The famous shopping area of O Chi Minh City is Dong Khoi, which is loaded with shopping opportunities. There are many Japanese Zakka stores offering cute, and expensive jewelry, shoes and jewelry and many watch stores, repair stores and old camera vendors.

Don’t leave O Chi Minh City without a visit to its Binh Tay Market which seems to run for miles with all types of fruit, cigarette, beer, fish, nut and so on. You will love buying clothes in O Chi Minh City, and will have to spend at least half a day to shop without getting tired.

It is okay to bargain and save about 30% of your money, but don’t take things too seriously as people in O Chi Minh City don’t get angry often, and feel embarrassed if you do.

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• Private transfer from Tansonnhat to Mui ne
  travel tip by carrental posted more then 30 days ago
  It is save time for you to get to Phan thiet, mui ne from Hochiminh Airport. Pls contact our counter right after Custom check, there are many car type for you to book. Our driver will escort you to the car parking then transfer to Mui Ne...
• Drink stalls on the road side
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  While travelling around Ho Chi Minh city you are bound to meet many drink stall owners who will be carrying coconuts and other drinks on a pole with two baskets on each end.  Many of these vendors will persuade you to buy the drinks...
• Rex Hotel Rooftop Beer Garden
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  Rex Hotel Rooftop Beer Garden is a great place to go to if you want to see the city from the above. This place is a beer garden where they sell alcoholic beverages to patrons. The main highlight of this place is the view that of the city...

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