Category: Saigon Guide
Drinking in Ho Chi Minh City: Bars and clubs
Saigon has plenty of places to drink, although to a certain degree Vietnamese and foreigners hang out in different places; however this is slowly changing as Westerners become more familiar with the ways of the East (and vice versa). Places with live music usually have no cover charge, but impose somewhat elevated drink prices (typically Read more
Drinking in Ho Chi Minh City: Coffee shops
Vietnam is the worlds second largest exporter of coffee behind Brazil, and cà phê is very popular among the Vietnamese. It’s a paradise for coffee-loving visitors. The local style is strong and sweet; key words to remember are: sữa (sweetened condensed milk), đá (ice), and nóng (hot, pronounced “nowm”). Cà phê đá is strong, sweet Read more
Eating in Ho Chi Minh City: Halal Food
Halal@Saigon 30 Dong Du Street, D1, is opposite to the Indian Jamia Mosque, near Sheraton Hotel. Phone: +84 8 38246823. Halal@Saigon offers Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisine. Four Season Restaurant 2 Thi Sach Street, D1. Phone: 8257186. Also offers Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisine. Pro döner kebab, 169 De Tham, Pham Ngu Lao Ward, Distr.1, ☎ 22005959. Read more
Eating in Ho Chi Minh City: Splurge
Hard Rock Cafe, part of the Kumho Asiana Plaza complex, which is located at 39 Le Duan Avenue, Dist. 1. Hard Rock Cafe offers the usual American burgers and grill dishes. Very expensive at around 290,000 Dong for a burger meal. Good service and friendly staff. They also have live bands on selected evenings. Great Read more
Eating in Ho Chi Minh City: Budget
Food stalls are scattered all over the city, but there’s a fair collection in the Ben Thanh market (see Money & Shopping). For local fast food, try the ubiquitous Pho 24 chain. Additionally, foreign fast food franchises Lotteria and KFC have established presences in the city. Interestingly, there doesn’t seem to be a single McDonald’s Read more
Eating in Ho Chi Minh City
You’re spoiled for choice in Saigon, which offers the country’s largest variety of Vietnamese and international food. Bargains are getting harder to find, however, and restaurant prices have been rising at up to 30% per year due to a combination of higher food prices, rising wages, and soaring real estate costs. Land in the city Read more
Ho Chi Minh City Money and Shopping: Others
Contemporary Art Galerie Quynh, 65 De Tham St., District 1, HCMC (between Co Bac and Co Giang), ☎ +84 8 3836 801. Hours: 10:00-18:00, Tues-Sat. www.galeriequynh.com. Galerie Quynh is a serious contemporary art gallery located in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Unlike the myriad galleries that focus on more decorative works, Galerie Quynh Read more
Ho Chi Minh City Money and Shopping: Souvenirs
Phuong Mai Art Gallery, 129 B Le Thanh Ton St., District.1 (near the Norfolk Hotel and the Revolution Museum). A gallery showing contemporary Vietnamese artists, both established and emerging. There’s another showroom at 213C Dong Khoi in District 1. Oil-Painting – Bui Vien Street, near backpackers area in De Tham and Pham Ngu Lao streets, Read more
Ho Chi Minh City Money and Shopping: Supermarkets and department stores
Tax Department Store, corner of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue. Formerly the Russian Market, this is now a rather sterile department store of sorts filled with stalls selling touristy kitsch, although the selections get better as you ascend the levels. There’s a good supermarket on level 2. If you are traveling here by taxi, the Read more
Ho Chi Minh City Money and Shopping: Markets
Chợ Bến Thành aka Ben Thanh Market, Southwest end of Le Lai: a den of thieves, but some great shopping. Ben Thanh is recognizable from its clock tower on the large traffic circle. The largest old-style market in the central district, with several hundred small stalls stuffed with goods on almost impassably narrow aisles. Due Read more
