Photos: Saigon before Tet holiday

The Tet Holiday in Vietnam will be started on Feb 3rd to 13th, 2011. This time in Vietnam, Tet is in the air,...These are some pictures that i took at Saigon before Tet holiday.
Chuc mung nam moi (Happy new year)
People Committee Hall Saigon
Thuong xa Tax




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Video: Saigon at night

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is so beautifully at night. If you have a plan to travel to Saigon, watch this video before you fly to Saigon.



Places to go in Saigon At Night:
  • Enjoy The Dinner Cruise along Saigon River
  • Shopping at Ben Thanh Night Market
  • Nightclubs and bars: Go2 Bar (Pham Ngu Lao Area), Apocalypse Now (Thi Sach Street), Fuse Bar (Ton Duc Thang St),...
  • ...

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Some bus routes in Saigon you should know

Getting around in Saigon, you can walk, ride a motor (rental), take a taxi and ... take a public bus. For a long distance, public bus is the best choice (cheap and convenient). There are some public bus routes in Saigon you should know when you travel in Saigon. I choose the departure place is Ben Thanh Bus Station (near Pham Ngu Lao Backpacker's Area, in front of Ben Thanh Market).

Bus No.152 (Ben Thanh - Tan Son Nhat Airport)
Bus from Ben Thanh to Cho Lon (China town)
1. Bus number: 1
Working time: 05h00 - 20h30
Ticket price: VND.3000
2. Bus number: 56
Working time: 05h00 - 20h45
Ticket price: VND.3000

Bus from Ben Thanh to Mien Dong Bus Station
Bus number: 26
Working time: 05h30 - 19h00
Ticket price: VND.3000

Bus from Ben Thanh to Can Gio
1. Bus number: 75
Working time: 06:15 - 18:15
Ticket price: VND.5000
2. Take a Bus No.20 to go to Nha Be (stop at Binh Khanh ferry), after you pass the ferry, you continue take a bus No.90 to go to Can Gio.

Bus from Ben Thanh to Mien Tay Bus Station
Bus number: 02
Working time: 04h45 - 18h30
Ticket price: VND.3000

Bus from Ben Thanh to Cu Chi
1. Bus number: 13
Working time:
- At Ben Thanh: 04h30 - 20h30
- At Cu Chi: 03h30 - 19h30
Ticket price: VND.5000
Note: From Cu Chi Bus Station, you take a bus No.79 to go to Cu Chi tunnel.
Bus No.79
Working time: 05:30 - 17:30
2. Take a bus No.27 or 65 or 4 to An Suong Bus Station, and then you continue take a bus No.74 to Cu Chi bus Station. From there, you continue take a bus No.79 to go to Cu Chi tunnel. It's hard to remember bur it's very important if bus No.13 stop working.

Bus from Ben Thanh to Tan Son Nhat Airport
Bus number: 152
Working time: 06:00 - 18:00
Ticket price: VND.3000

Bus from Ben Thanh to Saigon railway Station
There is no bus from Ben Thanh to saigon Railway Station.

How to take a bus:
Some tourist can't take a bus because they don't know the routes of bus (to the place they want to go or departured from that place). You should go to Ben Thanh Bus Station and ask any youth people (student) or you should write a place you want to go to on a paper. If you can speak Vietnamese, that's good.
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Top 10 places to visit in Vietnam

1. Sai Gon (Ho Chi Minh)
Attractions: Cu Chu tunnel, Chinese town, War remnants museum, Vietnam History Museum, Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, ...
Ho Chi Minh is a city worth exploring. If you don't think that? You should travel to Saigon.
The best time to travel to Saigon: The best time to visit Saigon is in the dry season – from December to April.


2. Mekong Delta
Attractions: Homestay, Floating market, Ancient Houses, Pagodas, Khmer peopal pagodas, Eco-National Park, Islands,...
With 13 provinces and 1 metropolitan city (Can Tho), Mekong Delta is the popular place to visit with travellers. If you don't have much time in Vietnam, you should travel to Mekong in one day (Tien Giang, Ben Tre province), 2 - 3 days (Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Dong Thap province, Can Tho City), 3 days - 4days (Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, An giang),...
The best time to travel to Mekong Delta (Vietnam): Travel to Mekong Delta are suitable all year round but the best time is the monsoon from June to September.
Cai Rang Floating Market
3. Phu Quoc (Kien Giang Province)
Attractions: Phu Quoc Sea, Phu Quoc National Forest, Suoi Tranh waterfall , Pepper Plantations, Ham Ninh Fishing Village,...
The same size as Singapore, the island of Phu Quoc lies off the west coast of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. A visit to Phu Quoc is a good, affordable opportunity to relax, spend time on the beach, and snorkel or scuba-dive. Get there soon and someday you'll be able to say, "I went there before it was touristy."
The best time to travel to Phu Quoc: The coolest time to go to Phu Quoc is from December to February.
Phu Quoc
Attractions: Phan Thiet Harbour, Thuy Tu Temple, The Sand Dunes, Cham Tower, Beaches,...
Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are basically the same destination. Phan Thiet is the biggest town in the area, but Mui Ne is where you're going to end up. Mui Ne is a beachside town with numerous resort-like accomodation.
The best time to travel to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet: The waves are best from August to December, and the wind is best from November to April, so never really a bad time to go.

5. Nha Trang
Attractions: Po Nagar Cham Towers, Nha Trang Bay (islands,…), The National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam, Beach, ...
Nha Trang has a split personality. One takes the form of a smaller Danang – a bustling Viet namese city humming with commerce but blessed with access to a beautiful beach.
The best time to travel to Nha Trang: Nha Trang has a warm, fair and beautiful climate nearly all year round, with the exception of late October, November and early December.

6. Dalat
Attractions: Bao Dai Palace (The last Vietnamese emperor palace), Da lat Market (night and day)
Dalat Railway Station, Falls: Prenn, Datala,…, Pagodas: Thien Vuong Co Sat (Chinese pagoda), Linh Ung,…
The best time to travel to Dalat: The dry season lasting from November to March, and the rainy season from April to November. During the winter months, the average temperature is 10 C while during summer it is around 20 C. Ideal weather is from November to March, when the air is fresh and cool.


7. Hoi An
Attractions: Hoi An District, Japanese Covered Bridge, Central Market, Riverside Museum of History and Culture, ...
The best time to travel to Hoi An: February and April are among the best time to visit Hoi an when rainfall is low and temperatures are pleasant. The temperatures can get hot during summer time and during the rainy season, particularly during October and November, rains can be frequent and heavy. If you can, time your visit to Hoi An for the full moon during on the 14th day of the lunar year each month for the Full Moon festivals, when the town becomes the stage for traditional songs, dancing, games and food, with lanterns lining all of the streets.

8. Ha Noi
Attractions: Hanoi Old Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Museum of Ho Chi Minh, History Museum, Water Puppet Theatre, Hanoi Opera House
The Tran Quoc Pagoda,...
Imagine a city where the exotic chic of old Asia blends with the dynamic face of newAsia. Where the medieval and modern co-exist. A city with a blend of Parisian grace and Asian pace, an architectural museum piece evolving in harmony with its history, rather than bulldozing through like many of the region’s capitals. Hanoi is where imagination becomes reality.
The best time to travel to Ha Noi: The best time to visit Hanoi is from September to December when it isn't so humid. The weather turns quite cold and wet in January and this continues until March. The humidity can prove oppressive from May to the start of September and there's a danger of flooding.

9. Ha long
Attractions: Virgin Cave at Bo Hon Island, Pelican Cave at Bo Hon Island, Floating Villages and Fish Farms, Sung Sot Cave at Bo Hon Island, ...
Ha Long Bay is located in the northeast corner of Viet Nam, 165 km from Ha Noi. In the Province of Quang Ninh. Ha Long Bay covers an area of 1,553 km2 with 1,969 islands, of which 90% are limestone islands. To the west and north west, Ha Long Bay stretches from Yen Hung district in Ha Long city to Cam Pha town in Van Don district; to the south-east and in the south, Ha Long Bay borders the western shore of Tonkin Gulf; to the southwest the Bay borders Cat Ba island (Hai Phong province).
The best time to travel to Ha long: It is possible to visit Ha Long Bay year-round, with the best time to visit from October through April, although during the winter months of December, January and February, the weather can be cool and overcast with low visibility. During the summer months from May to September, temperatures rise and storms are more likely during the rainy season.

10. Sapa
Attractions: Cho Phien (Weekend market): Bac Ha, Coc Ly; Silver Water Falls (Thac Bac); Cat Cat Village; Ta Phin Village and Cave;...

The best time to travel to Sapa: The dry season is from January to June with March to May the best time to visit. Temperatures in January and February are regularly around 0ºC. The rainy season falls in June and August. September marks the end of the rainy season which is a good time to visit then by mid-December temperatures start to fall significantly making this September to mid-December period the best time to be there.

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Walking tour of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

The best way to explore Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city) is walking. It's cheap and exciting. Here is my route:
Getting started
Start at Pham Ngu Lao Area (Backpacker Area) - Ben Thanh Market - Le Loi Street (Shopping at Sai Gon Trade Center, Thuong Xa Tax on Nguyen Hue corner) - Nguyen Hue Street (People Committee Hall Sai Gon) - Dong Khoi Street (Opera House) - Dong Khoi Street (Shopping) - Sai Gon Post Office - Catheral - Reunification Palace - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street - Vo Van Tan Street - War Remnants Museum - Le Quy Don Street - Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street - Le Loi Street - Ben Thanh Market - Pham Ngu Lao Area.
Walking tour of  Saigon Map (Click to see larger)

Shopping:
Sai Gon Trade Center (Le Loi Street), Thuong Xa Tax (The corner of Nguyen Hue Street and Le Loi Street), Some shop on Dong Khoi Street (near Continental Hotel), Parkson (The corner of Dong Khoi corner and Le Thanh Ton Street), Vincom Center (Dong Khoi Street), Sai Gon Post Office,  War Remnants Museum.
Drinking and Eating:
Bach Dang Ice Cream (Le Loi Street), NY Desert (Time Square, the corner of Dong Khoi Street and Nguyen Du Street, near Sai Gon Post Office), Jolli Bee, KFC (Pasteur Street).
Note:
This route take about 3-5 hours (depend on you).
I draw the route map, the blue line is back route.
Some Pictures i took:
Pham Ngu Lao Street
People Committee Hall Sai gon
Opera House
Sai Gon Post Office
Cathedral
War Remnants Museum
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War Remnants Museum, Ho Chi Minh City

War Remnants Museum is the most important places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City. The War Remnants Museum was established in September 1975 in the former premises of the United States Information Service (USIS) in Hồ Chí Minh City. 
The new exhibition hall opened in 2006 highlights the horrors of modern combat and the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the American War, with a particular focus on atrocities committed by American troops against Vietnamese soldiers and civilians. The War Remnants Museum is a comprehensive collection of the machinery, weapons, photos, and documentation of Vietnam's wars with the both the French and Americans.
When i visit War Remnants Museum, i think that: all the things we see in War Remnants Museum is the result of war and they're the past, not our present and future.
On the right of the museum, it's easy to see a gift shop that sale a lot of thing made by agent orange victims (all of them are childrens), let buy some thing to help them.
War Remnants Museum:
Add:28 Vo Van Tan, Ward 6, District 3 (28 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84 8) 3 9306325 - (84 8) 3 9305153
Prices Admission 15,000 VND
Opening hours: Closed on Monday and Friday

Some pictures:
Some kinds of bomb
Tiger cages
US - Helicopter
Inside Us-helicopter
Gun of US-helicopter
Plane
Vietnam Declaration of Independence

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Travel Tips: Taxi in Sai Gon


There are 2 kinds taxi in Sai Gon: Metered Taxi and Non-Metered Taxi.
- Metered Taxi: 
It's easy to see them on the street, some public areas, ... 
There 2 kinds of Metered Taxi: Vip Taxi and Standard Taxi
+ Vip Taxi: 
At present, there are two Vip Taxi companys in Saigon - Mailinh and Vinasun.


Mailinh Vip Taxi (Taxi Mai Linh Limousine): 
Good service, Taxi Driver is so polite, nice dress (uniform),..
Call: 08 38 36 36 36
. Camry 2007 Car (4 seats)
First fee (Open Cost): 12,000 dong/ 0.8 km
The next distance (Km) - km 25th: 15,000 dong/km
From 26th: 10,000 dong/km
Waiting fee service: 1.000dong/minute
. Innova G 2009 Car (7 seats):
First fee (Open Cost): 12,000 dong/ 0.8 km
The next distance (Km) - km 25th: 12,000 dong/km
From 26th: 19,000 dong/km
Waiting fee service: 500dong/minute

Vinasun Vip Taxi

Call: 08 38.27.27.27
Camry 2007 Car (4seats)
Fee: 30, 000 dong/ km , After 2km, 15,000 dong/ km.

+ Standard Taxi:
It's so popular.
There some famous taxi services in Sai Gon.
Mailinh Taxi: (08).38.38.38.38

Vinasun: (08). 38.27.27.27

Future: 08 38 18 18 18

Vina Taxi 08 38 11 11 11


Always use the metered taxi

- Non-metered Taxi:
They're 4 seats, non trademark, non company, ... and of course non-meter.
When you use them, you should always agree on a price before you set off.
You can see them in Pham Ngu Lao Area, Airport (somtime),...


How can to reconize them? They're often 4 seats, taxi driver don't wear uniform, car is old, 
Name of them are: Taxi  Meter, M.Taxi, ...

How can i call taxi while i can't speak Vietnamese?
You can ask your receptionist or take a taxi on the street.
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