When we arrived at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City on our first trip to Vietnam, there was one shop in the airport, and it sold washing machines. We found this, like many other things in the country, to be strange but interesting. In 2006 however, the airport had changed a great deal. The process of going through customs was more organized and faster, and there were many more shops in the airport selling the typical “duty free” items.
Leaving the airport by taxi, you are immediately struck by the intense energy of Vietnam. The streets are packed with bikes and motorbikes, along with increasing numbers of cars. The sidewalks are alive with activity. They're not only for walking, but also for parking bikes, motorbikes, and selling all manner of goods. You quickly realize that crossing the street is not for the faint of heart!
In 2002 we found a hotel in an area called Pham Ngu Lao in the 1 st District. As we left to find a restaurant, we were followed by a cyclo driver who after dinner took us for a tour around the city. To ease into the culinary delights of Vietnam we had decided to first try a vegetarian restaurant recommended by the Lonely Planet. Half way through our dinner a large rat ran across Birgit's feet, and we then knew the rest of our trip was going to be an adventure...
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In 2006 we stayed at the Spring Hotel in Dong Khoi. The rooms there are nice, and the location is great. The hotel is in short walking distance of the Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh Market, and many other interesting sites. The recent influx of tourists has definitely had an effect on Saigon. At the Ben Thanh Market, we felt like we were viewed more as dollar signs than people. The prices we were quoted for goods were often 10 times what a Vietnamese would pay, although it was possible to bargain 75% or more off the purchase price, and still end up paying 2 or 3 times the Vietnamese rate!
For our tastes, Ho Chi Minh City is too crowded (6 million people). It's generally very noisy, and the air smells of exhaust. Possibly because it's a larger city and more westernized than the rest of the country, it seemed to us to have less of the traditional Vietnamese atmosphere than most other areas we traveled to. But with that said, it's another world compared to cities in the west, and an interesting place to visit. We only spent a few days in Saigon, and were happy to travel onward to
Dalat.
Vietnam Hotels, Tours, Flights, and Books:
Hotels in Vietnam - Recommended hotels in Vietnam.
Tours in Vietnam - Recommended tour companies in Vietnam.
Flights to Vietnam - Includes information about our experiences on different airlines we've taken to and from Vietnam.
Books on Vietnam - Excellent books on Vietnam's history, people, and travel.
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