Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City 

commonly known as Saigon and by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam .

Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old Saigon name is still used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most tourists flock.


Getting There:

By plane

Tan Son Nhat (Tân Sơn Nhất) (IATA: SGN | ICAO: VVTS) is Vietnam's largest international airport.


Getting to the city centre

1. Bus

The No. 152 non-air-conditioned airport bus is the cheapest and safest way for backpackers heading to Pham Ngu Lao Street from the airport. (Ignore taxi drivers who tell you that there are no more airport buses.) For 4,000 dong per person (as at January 2012) plus a 4,000 dong fee for bags, the bus will drop you off at the east end of the Pham Ngu Lao area (at the bus terminal on the southwest side of the Ben Thanh Market roundabout). Upon exiting the international airport terminal, turn right and you should see the bus waiting on the road opposite Burger King. There is no sign indicating where the bus stop is, but if you ask a uniformed taxi warden he or she will point it out to you. If not, walk down to the domestic terminal, which is about a three-minute walk away. Try to have exact change or you will be given coins in return. These are legal tender in Vietnam, but many places do not accept them.
Note that the bus is only available until 6:00 pm.

2.  Taxi

At the airport, Mai Linh taxi wardens wear green shirts with green ties, and Vinasun wardens dark green shirts with maroon ties. These wardens can help to radio taxis for you.Taxi rates are very reasonable in Ho Chi Minh City as long as you use a reputable company and the meter is used.

 

1. Mai Linh (mostly white with green lettering, though sometimes green or silver) ☎ +84.8.38.38.38.38 (or 08.38.38.38.38 if dialling from a local telephone)

2. Vinasun (white with green and red lettering) ☎ +84.8.38.27.27.27 have the largest fleets in the city and are generally honest and reliable, with meters that start automatically after the taxis have moved about five metres.

Taxis are the most comfortable way of getting around, and very modest in price compared to other major cities in the world, honest Ho Chi Minh City taxis were charging in the range of 12,000 to 13,000 dong per kilometre. Taxis are numerous and it's usually not hard to flag one down anywhere in the city centre from early morning until about 1:00 am, though finding one in the rain or during workday rush hours can be difficult.



3. Motorbike taxis (xe ôm, literally hug-vehicle)

 are plentiful (get used to hearing "you want moto!?" everywhere), cheap, and are generally quite safe. Absolutely agree on a price before you set off; short hops around town shouldn't be more than 20,000 dong, if you go between districts this increases and all the way to the airport around 70,000 dong. A rule of thumb for the price is to round up of half the cost of taxi ride for the same travel. Drivers are generally quite friendly and will go slower upon request. They're also not adverse to a bear hug if you're really struggling to hold on to the motorbike. Many of the moto drivers, especially in District 1, speak some English and like many Vietnamese will repay you in a flood of smiles (and probably point out all the sights) if you make a little effort to get to know them.

Famous Landmark and attractions:

City Hall, end of Nguyen Hue Street. Originally called the Hôtel de Ville and now formally re-branded the People's Committee Hall, it's a striking cream and yellow French colonial building beautifully floodlit at night.

Cu chi Tunnel (Vietnam- US War Zone)

The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong's base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968.
The tunnels were used by Viet Cong guerrillas as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous guerrilla fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped achieve ultimate military success.

Pamphlet Guide of Cu chi tunnel

The 75-mile (121 km)-long complex of tunnels at Củ Chi has been preserved by the government of Vietnam,^[2] and turned into a war memorial park. The tunnels are a popular tourist attraction, and visitors are invited to crawl around in the safer parts of the tunnel system. Some tunnels have been made larger to accommodate the larger size of Western tourists, while low-power lights have been installed in several of them to make traveling through them easier and booby traps have been clearly marked. Underground conference rooms where campaigns such as the Tết Offensive were planned in 1968 have been restored, and visitors may enjoy a simple meal of food that Viet Cong fighters would have eaten.
Above-ground attractions include caged monkeys, vendors selling souvenirs, and a shooting range where visitors can fire a number of assault rifles, such as the M16 rifle or AK-47, as well as a light machine gun like the M60.

Entrance Fee:   VND 90,000   ( Usd $ 5.00 )

Island Hopping @ Boracay, Philippines

Island Hopping

The most popular activity to do in Boracay! Cruise off the shores of Boracay in a local Bangka boat checking out beaches, snorkeling and just enjoying the beautiful sites around the island. This includes a stop at Crystal Cove Island where you will explore two amazing caves you can swim in and then relax on this fantastic Island paradise and visiting the Puka Beach!

Easy to find rental Bancas , you can inquire at your hotels / resorts or  just  inquire at boat station 1 to 3 it's either you join with the group tours or private tours. Since, our visit in Boracay was off-season so rental of banca so cheap. We got Php 1,300 for our private island hopping, we're 4 pax for a 3 hours touring the island.

Island Hoppers:

White Beach Boracay, Philippines

Boracay is a small island of the Philippines located approximately 315 km (196 mi) south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards from numerous travel publications and agencies.
The island comprises the barangays of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag, and Yapak municipality of Malay, province of Aklan. Administered by Philippine Tourism Authority and the provincial government of Aklan.

Our first visit @  Boracay, Philippines

Halong Bay

Ha Long Bay (also "Halong Bay")  is in northern Vietnam, 170 km (105 mi) east of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic ocean karst topography and is often included in lists of natural wonders of the world.

This unique UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular place for tourists but it is good to know that large parts of Ha Long Bay are officially protected from development. The islands vary greatly in size and shape as well as structure.Visitors should allow a few days to explore this magical bay as its attractions are extremely numerous.  

Get in

There are a huge number of domestic connections, particularly to the ports of Halong City and Haiphong and a 3.5 hours by bus from the capital city, Hanoi.


Halong Tours

Tours from Hanoi can be arranged at all Hotels, the famous is the Full Day Tour they offered daily.

There are many package tours to Cat Ba Island from Hanoi, Standards on these vary considerably: while comfortable - or even downright luxurious - boats, excellent food and knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides may be available, most are characterized by long and crowded bus rides, tourist-oriented rip-off trips on boats so slow you could swim faster (to get you to buy more food and drink on board), hard-sell 'addons' like brief stops for kayaking, 'water cave' visits, and other shady practices. Asking other travelers will not help, since almost all of them get done and are too rich, drunk, stupid or ignorant to care. Either avoid Cat Ba or if you must visit Cat Ba simply avoid the tourist port entirely and cross from Haiphong or another port.

Our Tour bus from Hanoi city at the stop-over going to Halong Bay

Hanoi City

Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts,6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam. It was eclipsed by Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty as the capital of Vietnam, but Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina from 1902 to 1954. From 1954 to 1976, it was the capital of North Vietnam

The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 1,760 km (1,090 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City.

Transportation:

Hanoi is served by Noi Bai International Airport, located in the Soc Son District, approximately 40 km (25 mi) north of Hanoi. Noi Bai is the only international airport for the northern regions of Vietnam.

Hanoi will have additionally another international airport, which will cost $8 billion, being the highest foreign investment so far in the history of Vietnam. The construction will be carried out in three stages,the first phase will start in 2011 until 2015.

There are two main highways linking the airport and city. The route to the city via Thăng Long Bridge is more direct than Highway 1, which runs along the outskirts of the city. The main highways are shared by cars, motor scooters, with separate lanes by the side for bicycles. Taxis are plentiful and usually have trip meters, although it is also common to agree on the trip price before taking a taxi from airport to the city centre. Tourists also sometimes tour the city on cyclos especially in the Old Quarter.

Hanoi is also the origin departure point for many Vietnam Railways train routes in the country. TheReunification Express (tàu Thống Nhất) runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City from Hanoi station (formerly Hang Co station), with stops at cities and provinces along the line. Trains also depart Hanoi frequently for Hai Phong and other northern cities.

The main means of transport within the city are motorbikes, buses, taxis, and bicycles. Motorbikes remain the most common way to move around the city. Public buses run on many routes and fare can be purchased on the bus. For short trips, "xe ôm" (literally, "hug vehicle") motorcycle taxis are available where the passenger sits at the rear of a motorbike

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh,  is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, economics, cultural heritage. Once known as the “Pearl of Asia”, it was considered one of the loveliest French-built cities in Indochina in the 1920s. Phnom Penh, along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, are significant global and domestic tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city is noted for its beautiful and historical architecture and attractions. There are a number of surviving French colonial buildings scattered along the grand boulevards.



Get In:

From Ho Chi Minh city by Bus just 5 hours trip via  Moc Bai border between Vietnam and Cambodia.

From Siem Reap by Bus 6.5 hours trip.

 

Tourist Attraction:

We just hire Tuk-tuk ( $9.00) for a half-day tour..


The Royal Palace:

The Royal Palace , in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the king of Cambodia. Its full name in the Khmer language is Preah Barum Reachea Veang Chaktomuk. The Kings of Cambodia have occupied it since it was built in 1860's, with a period of absence when the country came into turmoil during and after the reign of the Khmer Rouge.
The complex is divided by walls into three main compounds, on the north side is the Silver Pagoda, to the south side is the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the Throne Hall. The buildings of the palace were built gradually overtime, and some were dismantled and rebuilt as late as the 1960s. But some old buildings dates back to the 19th century.



Entrance Fee:  ( $ 6.50 ) per pax

Background is one of the building inside the complex.

Siem Reap, ( Angkor Wat )

During my annual  leave this year, me and my wife  having time visiting Cambodia, known of its famous the Angkor Wat. Just 5 hours trip buy bus to Phnom Penh, capital city of Cambodia from Ho Chi Minh City and another 6 hours from the capital city to Siem Reap, the location of the Angkor Wat .

Bus operators from Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia:
1. Sapaco Bus Line
2. Mahlinh Tourist
3. Mekong Express
4. The Sinhtourist

The Sinhtourist Bus for Cambodia

Nha Trang 2 days Tour

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam.
It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district. Nha Trang is well known for its pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving and is fast becoming a popular destination for international tourists, attracting large numbers of backpackers as well as more affluent travellers on the Southeast Asia circuit. It is already very popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered as amongst the world's most beautiful bays.About 400 km from Ho chi minh city accessable by Bus, Train and plane.

Me and my wife traveled to Nha Trang during a 3 days holiday in Vietnam. Here are some information of our 3 days trip to this famous city in Vietnam:

Saigon SKY DECK

 Saigon Sky Deck:

Saigon Sky Deck Observatory:

The tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City, Bitexco Financial Tower
Address: Ho Tung Mau,  District 1, HCMC .

 

War Remnants Ho Chi Minh City

Hi guys, this is my first time posting blogs and  I hope you like it .
I have been here in Vietnam for more than 3 years ..I want to share some of you guys the places whom I guess you would like to see and visit while you are in Vietnam..

 First is in Ho Chi Minh City:

Museum are mostly visited place in HCM or Saigon formerly known.. Here is the most visited and famous museum called:   


THE WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM

The War Remnants Museum (Vietnamese: Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh) is a war museum at       28 Vo Van Tan, in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.