Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City together with Ha Noi Capital are two biggest cities in Vietnam. This is the busiest city in the South of the country with its strong development in all fields including economic, culture and education. With the location is far from the East Sea just about 50km as the crow flies, Ho Chi Minh City has its very important role in trading with the provinces in the country and with Southeast Asia, also the world. In the tourism, Ho Chi Minh City welcomes several millions of tourists each year and this number raises up strongly day by day.

How to get in

From Ha Noi:

By flight: there is a tens of flights from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City each day. So in the case that you come in Ha Noi and then love to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, you can take any flight and any time easily. The flight time from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City is about 2 hours. Your flight will land at Tan Son Nhat airport. From here you can take a taxi or bus to transfer to the center. It takes you just about 20 minutes.

By train: it is popular as the flights, you can take a suitable train for transfer by booking ticket at agencies in Ha Noi Center or at Ha Noi Station in 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District. The staying time in the train is about 33 hours from Ha Noi to Sai Gon. The arrivel station in Sai Gon places in 01 Nguyen Thong Street, District 3. You have to spend just about 10 minutes from this station to the center by taxi or by bus or motobike taxi.

By bus: it takes you about 38 hours and 30 minutes from Ha Noi to Sai Gon by bus. You can take tickets from some office as:

Hoang Long: 1A Nam Dong Street, Dong Da District, Ha Noi; Tel: 04 66726080

Hung Thanh: 287 Tran Khat Chan Street, Thanh Nhan Ward, Hai Ba Trung District, Ha Noi; Tel: 04 36337575

The Sinh Tourist: 64 Tran Nhat Duat Street, Ha Noi; Tel: 04 39290394 or 52 Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi; Tel: 04 39261568

From Da Nang:

By flight: there are 10 flights per day at least from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, so it is easy for you to choose a suitable time for yourself. The flight time from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City is about 75 minutes.

By train: there are 5 trains per day at least from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City. The time for transfer by train from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City is about 18 to 19 hours.

By bus: the time for transfer by bus from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City is about 21 hours. You can book ticket at:

Phuong Trang: 201 Ton Duc Thanh Street, Da Nang City; Tel: 05113 786786

Hanh café : 105 3/2 Street, Da Nang City; Tel: 05113 525052

The Sinh Tourist: 154 Bach Dang Street, Da Nang City; Tel: 05113 843259

From Nha Trang:

By flight: there are at least 5 flights per day from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City. It takes you about an hour for flying. You can book flight ticket at the hotel where you stay, or som offices or agencies in Nha Trang Center.

By train: there are about 8 trains per day from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City with ist time of moving about 8-9 hours. You can book train ticket at Nha Trang Station or agncies or the desk at your hotel.

By bus: it takes you about 10 hours from Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City by bus. You can book bus ticket at :

Phuong Trang: 07 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Nha Trang City; Tel: 058 3812812

Hanh café: 10 Hung Vuong Street, Nha Trang City; Tel: 058 3527467

The Sinh Tourist: 90C Hung Vuong Street, Nha Trang City; Tel: 058 3524329

From Phu Quoc Island:

By flight: there are 4 flights usually from Phu Quoc Island to Ho Chi Minh City. The flight time is about an hour. You can book the flight from the desk at your hotel where you are staying or some agencies in the center of Phu Quoc Island.

By boat and bus: You can take a boat from Phu Quoc Island to Rach Gia or Ha Tien and then transfer by bus continuously to Ho Chi Minh City. The time for transfer by boat is about 2 hours 30 minutes for the route Phu Quoc – Rach Gia or an hour and 45 minutes for the route Phu Quoc – Ha Tien. It takes you about 6-7 hours from Rach Gia to Ho Chi Minh City by bus and about 8 hours from Ha Tien to Ho Chi Minh city.

Here are some informtion for your booking of speed boat:

Super Dong from Phu Quoc to Rach Gia: Tel 077 3877742

Cashin Boat from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien: Tel 077 3949090

Duong Dong Express from Phu Quoc to Rach Gia: Tel 077 3981648

Hai Au from Phu Quoc to Rach Gia: Tel 077 39821000

Vinashin Rose from Phu Quoc to Rach Gia: Tel 077 3949090

And the information for the bus ticket from Rach Gia or Ha Tien to Ho Chi Minh City:

Phuong Trang in Rach Gia: 260A Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Rach Gia; Tel: 0773 691691

Phuong Trang in Ha Tien: Ha Tien Bus Station, Tel: 0773 668866

Mai Linh Express in Rach Gia: Rach Gia Bus Station, Tel: 0773 929292

Mai Linh Express in Ha Tien: Ha Tien Bus Station, Tel: 077 39569556

 From Da Lat City:

By flight: There are two flights from Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province to Ho Chi Minh City. It takes you about 45 minutes for flying. If you are in Da Lat City, you will spend 25 minutes to 30 minutes to Lien Khuong airport that located far from the center about 30km.

By bus: In Da Lat city, many companies which supply coaches running from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh 24/24, so you can take a ticket anytime that you want. There are two popular branches name that visitors love to choose for your transfer from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City:

Phuong Trang: 11A/2 Le Quy Don Street, Da Lat City; Tel: 0633 585858

Thanh Buoi: 05 Lu Gia Street, Ward 9, Da Lat City; Tel: 0633 813132 or 55 Phan Boi Chau Street, Da Lat City; Tel: 0633 540540

Go around

For going around to explore Ho Chi Minh City, there are different means for visitors to use as the taxi, cyclo, bus, motobike taxi and bicycle even. Beside there is some destinations that are so close together that you can walk around as in the center area of the city. The popular vehicle for visiting is car or bus, after that cyclo for visitors and motobike taxi for guests who know well about the traffic, also the destinations in the city.

For some famous places: There are destinations for your visiting as Cu Chi Tunnel located at Cu Chi suburban district that far from the center about 60km, Can Gio mangrove swamp located in Can Gio suburban district that far from the center about 50km, Thu Duc stork garden located in District 9 that far from the center about 20km.

For architectures: with French Colonial architectures, you don’t miss a view of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Building located in 86 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1; Minicipal Theatre located in 07, Lam Son Square, District 1; Center Post Office located at Cong Xa Paris in Dong Khoi Street, District 1. To visit some architectures in modern style, they will be The Metropolitan Building located in 61 Nguyen Du Street, District 1 and Sai Gon Trade Center located in 37 Le Duan Street, Disrict 1.

For churches: there are some old and popular churches where attract visitors as Notre Dame Catheral located at Cong Xa Paris in Dong Khoi Street, District 1;  Tan Dinh Church located in 289 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1; Cha Tam Church located in 25 Hoc Lac Street, District 5, Cho Quan Church located in 120 Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5.

For pagodas: in Ho Chi Minh City there is a hundred of pagodas in which are some popular ones as Giac Lam Pagoda in 118 Lac Long Quan Street in Tan Binh District, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in 339 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street in District 3, Xa Loi Pagoda in 89 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan Street in District 3, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda in 73 Mai Thi Luu in District 1 and Thien Hau Pagoda in 710 Nguyen Trai Street in District 5.

For museums: if you are visitors who love to visit the museums, don’t miss some popular places as Vietnam History Museum in 02 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City in 65 Ly Tu Trong, Fine Arts Museum in 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1 and War Remnants Museum in 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 1.

The weather

There are rain and dry seasons in Ho Chi Minh City. The rain season is in May to November. The climate in this time is not comfortable for travelling because it rains. However, for some visitors, they love the rain time in Ho Chi Minh City with warm drinks in café or tasting Sai Gon cuisine in some family restaurant. These things are typical hobbies that visitors love to be same with Saigonese style.

December is the beginning month for the dry season in Ho Chi Minh City and it ends in the end of April. The climate in this time is easier to visitors with its pleasant weather. However, sometimes it is hot in the end of March and April with the temperature at 36-38C degree.

The best time for visiting in Ho Chi minh city is in the time of December to February. Although December is still in the rain season but it rains not so much. This is the time for the Saigonese to prepare to welcome The Christmas time and New Year, so the city becomes very animated. The time of middle of January to February is the time for the Tet Holidays. It is considered the busiest time in the year, also the eagerest time for all people here. If you visit Ho Chi Minh City in this time, you have chane to join the bustling state of the city for the Tet coming.

Food and drink

For food: Ho Chi Minh City is a place to bring together the dishes from all regions in Vietnam. With the southern flavour mainly and change the different local tastes to suite all people, the cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City or called closely Sai Gon cuisine is very diversified and rich flavours. The typical thing in Saigonese cuisine is the street cuisine with serving dishes around the city all day.

Some popular addresses for your reference:

Pho Hoa Noodle Soup: 260C Pasteur Street, District 3; Tel: 08 38297943; serve noodle.

Com Tam Ba Ghien: 84 Dang Van Ngu Street, Phu Nhuan District; Tel: 08 38461073; serve broken rice

Lang nuong Nam Bo: 285/C145 CMT8, District 3; Tel: 08 38632309; serve dishes in Mekong Delta’s flavour.

Xoi che Bui Thi Xuan: 111 Bui Thi Xuan, District 1 ; Tel : 08 38332748 ; serve sweet soups and stick rice.

Banh Beo Thanh Nga: 45C Ky Dong Street, District 3; Tel: 08 39740543; serve Hue cakes

Hoang Ty: 72 Vo Van Tan Stress, District 3; Tel: 08 39305210; serve specialities of Trang Bang District, Tay Ninh Province.

Pao Restaurant & caffe: 158 Bui Vien Street; serve Vietnamese food.

Hoa Khai Vegetarian Restaurant: 126 Nguyen Cu Trinh Street, serve Vietnamese vegetarian food.

Ngoc Suong Marina: 19C Le Quy Don Street, serve seafood

For drink: It is same with the typical feature of food, Ho Chi Minh City is the wonderful place for drinking. You can enjoy the beverage with different local drinks in Vietnam, also the famous drinks that come from many contries in the world. Two special things relating to drink that attract people are brewery and coffee. There is a thousand of micobreweries, coffee shops, bars, clubs where you can enjoy your drinking in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some popular places for your reference:

Highland Coffee: located in different district and in some corners that you are very easy to see.

Trung Nguyen Coffee: popular branch that it is not difficult to find out in Ho Chi Minh Cioty’s treets.

Allez Boo: 187 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1; serve different drinks as beer, cocktails, wine and snack.

Vuvuzela Beer Club: 11B Nguyen Binh Khiem, District 1; serve drinks, snack and dishes.

Guru Sport Bar: 10 Ky Dong Street, District 3; serve drinks, seafood sushi, ect.

Beer Republic: 92 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street; serve wine, cocktails, beer

Beer and Grill: 37 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street; serve beer and grilled dishes.

Staying

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city where welcome a million of visitors from countries, so it is not difficult for you to find the hotel that suite your request.

For your high rank, there are some famous hotel that you may concern:

Caravelle Hotel: 19-23 Lam Son Square, District 1; Tel: 08 38234999

New World Hotel: 76 Le Lai Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38228888

Sheraton Hotel: 88 Dong Khoi Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38272828

Sofitel Plaza: 17 Nguyen Du , District 1; Tel: 08 38241555

Majestic Hotel: 01 Dong Khoi Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38295517

Continental Hotel: 132 Dong Khoi street, District 1, Tel: 08 38299201

Novotel Sai Gon Center: 167 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38224866

Duxton Hotel: 63 Nguyen Hue Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38222999

Windsor Plaza: 18 An Duong Vuong, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City; Tel: 08 38336688

Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City: 242 Tran Binh Trong Street, District 5; Tel: 08 38397777

Park Royal Hotel: 309B Nguyen Van Troi Street, Tan Binh District; Tel:

There are some hotels in middle request:

Kingston Hotel: 54 Thu Khoa Huan Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38245588

Ho Sen Hotel: 4B-4C Thi Sach Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38232281

The Luxe Hotel: 261 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38246633

Liberty Sai Gon Parkview: 265 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38364556

Blue Diamond Hotel: 48 Thu Khioa Huan Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38236167

Sophia Hotel: 36 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38256972

Hoang Hai Long 2 Hotel: 52B-62-64 Pham Hong Thai Street, District 1; Tel: 08 38245888

Shopping

There are some popular markets and trade center, shops for your shopping with diversitied products also specialities from all local regions in Vietnam.

Famous markets:

Ben Thanh Market in District 1: supply all products including clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags and specialities of local regions in Vietnam.

Binh Tay Market in District 5: supply diversified products, specialites, souvernirs and fine arts especially.

Ben Thanh Night Market in District 1: supply souvernirs, clothes, Vietnam wood shoes, night dishes including specialites, sweet soups and street food.

Sai Gon Square in District 1: suplly clothes, shoes, bags, ect.

 Trade center:

Parkson in Dong Khoi Street, District 1: high class shopping center with famous brand as Dior, Gucci, Channel, Zara, ect.

Diamond Plaza is located nearly Notre Dame Catheral: high class shopping center diversified products from famous brand.

Zen Plaza is high class shopping center which is located in Nguyen Trai Street, District 1.

Taka Plaza is located in Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1.

Thuan Kieu Plaza is located is located in Hong Bang Street, District 5.

Culture, Holidays and people

If there is a salad bowl or melting pot in USA, to be existed a salad bowl in Ho Chi Minh City in the same way with its small size in Vietnam. This happens because of diversified features in culture in here. Ho Chi Minh City is called the city of immigrants who come from many provinces in Vietnam from the North, the Middle and the South also highland are of course. So you can meet different cultural features that the immigrants who themselves bring to the city from their hometown. From the diversified culture, in Ho Chi Minh City the people who live in, be easy in their characters. It doesn’t make the gap between the cultures or characters so people become closer and so friendly.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are some popular holidays that as in all Vietnam as Christmast Day, New Year, Hung Kings Commemorations on 10^th March in Lunar Year, Liberation Day on 30^th April, International Vorker’s Day on 01^st May, National Day on 02^nd September. These holidays attract visitors so much because there are the activities that happen. They make the city to become animated more and more with some perfomances organized in the city’s center. Beside the city has its local festivals as Lang Ong – Ba Chieu Festival in August 1^st  of Lunar Year and 1^st & 2^nd of The Tet holiday, Ba Thien Hau Pagoda Festival in March 23^rd of the Lunar Year, The death anniversary of the founder of jewelry in February 6^th to 8^th of the Lunar Year, ect.