Vietnam - HCM (Thread 3)

[aceart1]

Go, in hcm now... 1st day...
Anyone know abt Louis ktv? Can go?
Wats e mkt rate for girls, drinks, mamasan & tips? Anyone? Appreciate yr answers.

[EvilG]

Hi guys

Need to ask for a question. Anyone know Kim Huong hotel near Ben Thanh market. I used to go there but not sure if it is still girl friendly. Last time I go is few months back.

[SEAJ]

Singaporeans can hold your heads high-

http://therealsingapore.com/content/...med-vietnamese

SEAJ

[jackbl]

Originally Posted by EvilG

Anyone know Kim Huong hotel near Ben Thanh market. I used to go there but not sure if it is still girl friendly. Last time I go is few months back.

Near the North gate of the market right??? My fren stayed there with gf on Sep....

[biro]

Originally Posted by hoian

I think all such policies are just their way of milking more money from unsuspecting foreigners.

I just got back frm HCMC and did not have to pay extra or show cert. My budget is usually US$30 for rooms... at most US$40.

There are more hotels than I can count around Ben Thanh, Pham Ngu Lao and in between Ben Thanh to Dong Khoi area. All within walking distance. It's very competitive and it's a buyer's market... so if one hotel refuse to lower their price or wants to charge extra, just walk next door. Unless u happen to be there during peak seasons like China's golden week, then all rooms will be fully booked.

Hope u find the tips useful.

s


Hio

i also just came back from HCM. Stayed at pullan (5star). their policy is if you bring anyone into the hotel/room BEFORE 10pm, they dont care. stay overnight also can. If you want to bring anyone in AFTER 10pm,(girl), they will require her to book a room and then she can go to your room.


FYI

chers

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by biro

i also just came back from HCM. Stayed at pullan (5star). their policy is if you bring anyone into the hotel/room BEFORE 10pm, they dont care. stay overnight also can. If you want to bring anyone in AFTER 10pm,(girl), they will require her to book a room and then she can go to your room.

chers

You meant Pullman at Tran Hung Dao, D1...

There are simply too many hotels in hcm...so impossible to discuss all here...pls move on to discuss other topics related to hcm...

[Hurricane88]

I wanted to add more FAQ to my hcm self help website...pls pm me or post here if you have any good suggestions...

I received pm asking better to change in sinkie or Vietnam...will be adding this into FAQ...

Any more...

[SEAJ]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

I wanted to add more FAQ to my hcm self help website...pls pm me or post here if you have any good suggestions...

Any more...

How about things to avoid/watch out for in Vietnam.
Scams, crimes, particularly dangerous areas/practices/people, what to do if in trouble etc.

Realize that this can be a huge topic and that one's best guide is common sense and less bravado - but a guide specific to Vietnam/hcmc would be immensely useful.

Just a suggestion/ thank you

SEAJ

[milfmilf]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

I wanted to add more FAQ to my hcm self help website...pls pm me or post here if you have any good suggestions...

I received pm asking better to change in sinkie or Vietnam...will be adding this into FAQ...

Any more...

how about a bit of market TV?
common questions or answers ... difference is the TV with pronunciation help close to singlish/dialact/english ...

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by milfmilf

how about a bit of market TV?
common questions or answers ... difference is the TV with pronunciation help close to singlish/dialact/english ...

Haha...why dun you give some example...think this is challenging...

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by SEAJ

How about things to avoid/watch out for in Vietnam.
Scams, crimes, particularly dangerous areas/practices/people, what to do if in vn

SEAJ

I dun want to issue travel advisories...this is FAQ...not meant to advise how to avoid get scam or watch out...yes big topic la...

[SEAJ]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

I dun want to issue travel advisories...this is FAQ...not meant to advise how to avoid get scam or watch out...yes big topic la...

OK - gotcha! Thanks!
And yeah, huge topic!
LOL

SEAJ

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by SEAJ

OK - gotcha! Thanks!
And yeah, huge topic!
LOL

SEAJ

usual advice to travelers who travel to 3rd world country...

1. leave all your expensive jewelleries and watches at home
2. bring only cheap phones
3. dun bring all your credit cards and loads of cash while walking on the road
4. pay using small stack or cash and not take out wallet to make payment in public...split all your cash into several pockets
5. negotiate or bargain when you buy anything in hcm
6. never leave any camera or mobile phone on the cafe table
7. try not to walk in public carrying a sling back with expensive camera, phone or money
8. dun hop on to any car or motorbike if you are not familiar with the person
9. dun go too far away from your hotel if you aren't familiar
10 any more you can suggest...

the above are my own opinion...

[SEAJ]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

usual advice to travelers who travel to 3rd world country...

1. leave a...........
10 any more you can suggest...

the above are my own opinion...

Thanks!
Some more random suggestions which are of course also just IMHO:

- Don’t talk/respond to random strangers on the street.
- Don’t trust being taken to places by newly made friends – too many over-charging bill scams.
- Try to monger with a group or at least a side-kick.
- Do not follow a girl to HER place to do the deed – traps await you.
- Watch your drinks i.e. avoid being drugged, both when you’re outside at bars etc. AS WELL AS when you’re in your room.
- Lock away/hide all valuables when with a gal in your room.
- Try NOT to get too drunk especially when in new places.
- Regularly check your bill “In the bin” or better still, pay for each drink served at bars/AGG etc.
- Avoid acting as a Big Swinging Dick (whether you really are one or not!) – BSD’s gets regularly targeted AND fleeced!
- Don’t do drugs, illegal gambling etc when in new places – too many times a sting/scam/black-mail set-up.
- At KTV’s ask the DJ to notify you when certain amount reached AND/OR to pull up the bill at regular intervals. Also best to assign ONE person authorized to SIGN off for each and every order at a KTV.
- Since there ARE many agents posing as just a KTV/clubs/bars drinking buddy, be leery of others on internet sites being too friendly/ accommodating. Very rarely is there such a thing as a free lunch!
- Remember you are paying for sex – don’t fool yourself/get fooled into thinking it’s anything more.
- Keep your hotel name card with you to get you home in new towns. And oh, your room number too!
- Some psycho or just stupid WG’s in third world countries will, in order to convince you that you are somebody “special,” suggest that you NOT use a condom; don’t do it!
- Best to stay away from discussing local politics - after all, it's really not your country anyway.
- Keep a COPY of your travel documents with you and the original in the hotel safe, even in countries requiring you to keep the original with you at all times. Anecdotally, I have never heard of anybody getting into trouble for not having originals anywhere. (Hope I'm correct on this!)

I’ll edit/add to this post if I can think of other suggestions – but I certainly appreciate you starting this discussion and hope others will also contribute.

Thanks
SEAJ

Ps. Would you mind very much if I C + P your post on my thread?

[hoian]

Add on..
Don't hop into a xichlo or xe om unless u have agreed on the price... better still avoid it unless u can speak some tv.

When taking the cab, stick to Mailinh or Vinasun.