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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• Sightseeing on a cyclo
  travel tip by Photoguy posted more then 30 days ago
  Travelling on a cyclo is a great experience and a great way to see Ho Chi Minh city in a slow and relaxed manner. You will be a able t o get a good view and at the same time you get to have a real feel of the city. The cyclo will travel...
• Post office in Ho Chi Minh City
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  The post office looks extremely grand and it is a huge place that has beautiful interior designs that looks like you are back in the 20th Century. This is one great place to buy souvenirs for friends and families back home. There are...
• Ho Chi Minh City Museum
  travel tip by alvingb posted more then 30 days ago
  This museum is great place for tourist to know more about the history of Vietnam. There are many exhibits here that talk about the history of Vietnam. This certainly gives great insights to people to understand this beautiful country....

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