Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Eat, Drink, See, Do, Shop (Last updated Mar '16)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Eat, Drink, See, Do, Shop (Last updated Mar '16):

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USD 1 = VND 22,300 (informal money changer)

Taxi from the airport to home: Tan Son International Airport to  Hem 483, Le Van Sy, Quan 3 VNĐ 85k (including car park fee).

Taxi from the airport to the centre of District (Q) 1: Tan Son International Airport to Bùi Viện (8.5km) VNĐ 170 (including car park fee).

Food:

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Vietnamese street food:

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Banh Cuon and cha muc (VND 12k per big calamari piece), 347 Le Van Sy, P1, Q Tan Binh

Xuan Tu, Bun Cha and nem ran (binh thuong) Ha Noi, Duy Nhat So 2 Pham Van Hai (near the flyover at the end of Le Van Sy, P2, Q Tan Binh

Can Anh 2, (Cha Gio (crispy and tasty Nem Ran), cha vuong (big crab nem ran), and banh tom), 362 Nguyen Trong Tuyen (crosses with ), P1, Q. Tan Binh, 08 6293 5559 or 0916 330 033 (free delivery)

Banh cuon nong, 6am-1pm and 4:30-10pm, 353 Le Van Sy (near the cho), Q3

Steamed dumplings with bean sprouts (hoang thanh - pork and prawn OR suoi cao - pork), 143 Nguyen Du, Q1

Muc 280 (muc mot nang and ghe ran muoai), 280 Le Van Sy (opposite cho Nguyen Van Troi, near home), Q3

Banh Canh Cua (VND 50k one big bowl with a whole crab in), corner of Vo Van Kiẹt and Phuong Hung

Quan Ba Dang (banh canh cua + Hue food), 59 bis, Nguyen Thong, Q3

Quan Chieu-Nay (BBQ lamb, beef, pork & chicken skewer kebabs, VND 110k per long skewer, dinner (5-9pm) only), 30b Vo Van Tan, P6, Q3 (near KWP)

Thị Quán (Hanoi food), lunch and dinner (closes at 10pm), Hẻm (lane) between 46 and 58 Vo Van Tan, Q3

Banh Xeo (over-priced; expats), 46A Đinh Công Tráng, Q1

Ốc Đào (good snails with butter and pig fat sauce), 132 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Q1

Đac san cua bien (sea crab place), 94 Dinh Tien Hoang St., Q1

Ben Thanh Market food stalls, Le Loi, Q1

Hoàng Ty sac san banh trang (from Trang Banh, Tay Ninh province - pork and herbs wrapped in rice paper), 74 Truong Quoc Dung, P.10, Q Phu Nhaun

Lẩu cá kèo

All kinds of "snail" street restaurants

Non-street Vietnamese food:

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Nem nuong Hoang Mao (meats and veg wrapped in rice paper with dips), 74 Truong Quoc Dung, P10, Q Phu Nhuan

Bun bo ganh (bun va banh Hue in an old French house), 110 Ly Chinh Thang, P8, Q3

Beefsteak Nam Son, 200 Bis Nguyen Thi Minh Khai & 157 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia

Magnolia (lost recipes of VN), 190-192 De Tham, P. Cau Ong Lanh, Q1 (Viet Anh, BD Manager - Hanoian)

Bready Banh Mi Tuoi (fresh bread with soup based dish), 99 Vo Van Tan (near KWP) & 491 Le Van Sy (near home), Q3 + 77 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Q1

Ngoc Bich Chao cua quay (rice porridge with different meats and breadstick-like things, chao ga quay la VND 78k), 113 Pasteur (just after the Nguyen Minh Khai crossing and near KWP), P6, Q3

Kim Food Court (rice with lots of different meats and verge tables, place is owned by an actress Kim Thu (billionaire couple (married to Phuoc Sang) that went bust and now started again; Kim Thu works in the restaurant), 149D Duong Pasteur (just before the crossing with Vo Van Tan), P6, Q3, 090 241 99 99/0838 226 226

Steak Viet Bo bit tet (Vietnamese style beef steak, egg, and pate on a skillet with warm bread and a salad on the side, VND 55k), 30 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan (near KWP), Q3

Huong Ngu Quan (Hue food), 83 Thach Thi Thanh, P. Tan Dinh, Q1

Món Huế, 134 Le Thanh Ton, Q1

Giay Bac (aka "Foil", Central Highlands style BBQ place), 96/1 Le Thi Rieng, Q1

Nha Hang 12h (Western food for Vietnamese - steaks), 49 Tran Nhat Duat, P Tan Dinh, Q1

Duck Deli, 153 Nguyen Thai Binh, Thai Binh Ward, Q1

Gao Restaurant, 33 Le Quy Don, Q3

Food Street: Pham Xich Long, Q. Phu Nhuan

Indian food:

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Indian street food (VND 50k for a chicken curry), 191 Dien Bien Phu, Q3

Banana Leaf (Indian (roti and curry) + Malaysian + Vietnamese), Halal, 57 Vo Van Tan, P6, Q3

European food:

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Hoa Vien (fresh dark beer and good food), 16 Pho Quang (near our flat), Q. Tan Binh

Bonjour Resto' French Restaurant (very affordable, USD 5.50 for a steak, salad, bread, and fries), 195B Hai Ba Trung (near Novotel), P6, Q3

The Hungry Pig (bacon sandwiches with cheese chorizo, ham and rocket, British owner, free beer with every sandwich over VND 70k from 4-10pm), 144 Cống Quỳnh, P. Pham Ngu Lao, Q1

Tapas Saigon, 53/26b Tran Khanh Du, P. Tan Dinh, Q1

Zeus (Greek souvlaki, dolmades, gyros..., average prices), 164 Cong Quynh, Q1

4P pizza place (stone oven), Le Thanh Ton, Q1

Buzza Pizza (Gorgonzola pizza & 4 cheeses pizza, both VND 129k), 5-7-9 Nguyen Trung Truc, P Ben Thanh, Q1

Le Crespo Pizza (12" 4 cheeses pizza on thin stone-baked base with honey and chilli oil on the side for VND 200k, friendly host chi Ophely, grew up in Genova), 63 Truong Dinh (where it meets Vo Van Tan), P6, Q3

Au Parc (French), 23-25 Han Thuyen, Q1

Chinese food:

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Nha Hang Saigon (Dim Sum), 877-279 Tran Hung Dao, P1, Q5

Japanese food:

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4Ps Japanese pizza, 168 Võ Văn Kiệt, Quan 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Blanchy St. (Japanese fusion in a former opium factory courtyard), 74 Hai Ba Trung, Q1

Tokyo Deli, 240 Le Thanh Ton, Q1

Sushi Bar, 2 Le Thanh Ton, Q1 OR 2F Saigon Court, 149 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Q3

Uraetei BBQ, 2A Ngo Van Nam, Ben Nghe, Q1

Tokyo Town (bright lantern decorations), 188 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Q3

American Junk:

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Dominos Pizza, 2A Cao Thang (near crossing with Nguyen Minh Khai and near to the office), P.3, Q3, +84839393030

Hard Rock Cafe, Kumho Asiana Plaza, 39 Le Duan Street, Q1

McDonalds (24/7), big roundabout at the northern end of Dien Bien Phu.

Cafés:

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Nha ga 3A (creative space), 9am-9pm, 3A Ton Duc Thang, P. Ben Nghe, Q1

Minus 180 degrees tra sua (flavoured milk with jelly and tapioca balls), 2 for 1 Thursdays, 74 Vi Van Tan, P8, Q3.

Miền Đồng Thảo, , Q1 (near the cathedral)

Cafe Trầm, , Q1 (near the cathedral)

Cafe Nến, , Q1 (near the cathedral)

Du Miên, , Q1 (near the cathedral)

Drinks (bars and clubs):

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Pasteur Street Brewing Co. (IPA is best), Hem 144 Pasteur, Q1

Hops Beer Garden, 43 Nguyen Dinh Chieu (just before hitting Hai Ba Trung), Q3

Cobalt rooftop bar, Pullman Saigon Centre, 31st Floor, 148 Tran Hung Dao, Q1

Chill Sky Bar, 26-27th Floors (happy hour between 17:30 and 20:30), AB Tower, 76 Le Lai St., Q1, +84838272372

Shri Rooftop Bar, 23rd Floor, Centec Tower, 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St., Q3, +8438279631

Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar, Caravelle Hotel, Lam Son Square, Q1

OMG Rooftop Bar (David and Antoine know the French owner), 8th Floor, Tan Hai Long Hotel, 15-19 Nguyen An Ninh, Q1, +84937200222

Cube Bar Saigon (D&B nights - Hugh G, Will H, & Dan K), 31B Ly Tu Trong, Q1

Caramen Flamenco Bar, 8 Ly Tu Truong, Q1

Balchy's Tash Bar (DJs), 95 Hai Ba Trung, Q1

The Observatory, Corner of Le Lai and Ton That Tung, Q1

Yoko Bar, 22A Nguyen Thi Dieu, Q3

Saigon Soul Pool Parties, The New Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai, Ben Thanh Ward, Q1

La Fenetre Soleil, 44 Ly Tu Truong, Q1

Woodstock Live Music (every night, gets busy on Fri and Sat at around 8-9pm), 39 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, P6, Q3

Acoustic Live Music Bar, 7pm-midnight, 6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem, Q1

Cargo (DJs), 3pm-midnight Weds to Sun, 7a Nguyen Tat Thanh, Q4

Sights:

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Leisure:

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Ticketbox.vn - event ticketing site

Galaxy Cinema (VND 75k per ticket late show weekday), Nguyen Du (one-way street after Dang Tran Con, Q1.

Chợ Lớn (China Town), It lies on the west bank of the Saigon River, having Bình Tây Market as its central market. Cholon consists of the western half of District 5 as well as several adjoining neighborhoods in District 6.

List of swimming pools in HCMC - http://www.kinhboi.com/thong-tin-huu-ich-boi-loi/thong-tin-be-boi/danh-sach-be-boi-hcm

Lam Son swimming pool, Q5

Phu Tho swimming pool, Q10 or Q11

Dam Sen Park & Water Park, No. 3 Hoa Binh Street, Ward 3, Q11

23/9 Park, Le Lai Street & Pham Ngu Lao Street, Q1

Museum of Fine Arts, 97A Pho Duc Chinh, Q1

War Remnants Museum, 28 Vo Van Tan, Q3

Reunification Palace, 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Q1

Museum of Vietnamese History, 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Q1

The Ho Chi Minh Museum (Nha Rong Harbor), 1 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Q4

Blind massage (em Chieu, sinh nam '94, nha o Tien Giang, em hoc va lam o dai 14 nam roi), VND 60k per hour (tip VND 40k), VN Institute of the Blind, 185 Cống Quỳnh, Nguyễn Cư Trinh, Q1

Ho Boi Lao Đong (Lao Dong swimming pool, VND 16k + basketball (free) + tennis), 6 Huyen Tran Cong Chua (near KWP), Q 1

Mach's Gym (modern with AC, VND 680k/month, 06:00-21:30 mon-sat and 10:00-18:00 sun), 1 Huyen Tran Cong Chua (near KWP), Q 1

Bollywood dance classes on Tues, Thurs & Sat (19:35-20:35) for VND 500k/month @ Dang Ngoc Spa, 1 Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Q 1

Food Shopping:

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Indian spices from Cari anh Hai in block 867-875-919 (North-East corner). In Ben Thanh market. If you cannot find the shop you can ask around, they will show you. The shop is quite famous.

Annam Gourmet Foods (cheeses and cold-cuts), 16-18 Hai Ba Trung (crosses wih Dong Du), P. Ben Nghe, Q1

Big C Supermarket, 38a To Hien Thanh, Q10

Coopmart Nhieu Loc, Truong Dinh Street, Q3

Chợ Lớn (China Town), It lies on the west bank of the Saigon River, having Bình Tây Market as its central market. Cholon consists of the western half of District 5 as well as several adjoining neighborhoods in District 6.

Beer/soft drink wholesalers, Hẻm 666 Đường 3 Tháng 2, P14, Q10

Non-food Shopping/Services:

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Board Games Saigon, 796/2a Su Van Hanh, Q10

Board game shop, near Snap Cafe, 32 Tran Ngoc Dien, P. Thao Dien, Q2

Cobblers, Tran Quang Dieu (North-side of Le Van Sy), Q3

Nice embroided shirts and dresses for elder ladies, Anh Vy Fashion, 402B Hai Ba Trung, Q1

Mattresses st, Bach Dang, Q Binh Thanh

Ti Ly Hair &Nails Salon, 60/66 Ly Chinh Thang, P8, Q3, 0902 35 09 90

Average design and quality Ao Dai fabrics, 57 Thu Khoa Huan, Q1

Bacchus Corner Wine & Spirits (Laphroaig 10yrs VND 1,815,000), 9am-9pm, 158D Pasteur, Q1, +84838293306, info@bacchuscorner.com

Dong Ho Sai Thanh (watch and watch strap change shop), 246 Huyen Van Banh, P11, Q Phu Nhuan

Wedding planning - www.marry.vn

Wedding photos/video - www.muacuoi.vn

Print shop, banners, and signs street - Hoa Hong Print Shop (colour laser, wedding invitations), 156 Ly Thai To, P1, Q3

Glass bottle/jar seller, 189 Vo Thi Sao (before the crossing with Ba Huyen Thanh Quan), P7, Q3

Non-electrical home appliance shop, Thanh Uyen, 198 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, P6, Q3

Audio Technicians (cables, speakers...), 97 Truong Dinh, P6, Q3

Tissot + Lammy + Cohiba Showroom, 115 Nguyen Hue, Q1

DOJI diamond and jewellery shop, 161 Hàm Nghi, Q1

Sports shops, 1-12 Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Q 1

Standard Chartered Bank (2nd floor) VN, 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, Q1

Chợ Lớn (China Town), It lies on the west bank of the Saigon River, having Bình Tây Market as its central market. Cholon consists of the western half of District 5 as well as several adjoining neighborhoods in District 6.

Helmet fixer, corner of Đường Châu Văn Liêm and the roundabout, Q6

Pen refills + Duck tape, Ngoc Tuyen, 151 Hai Thuong Lan Ong, P13, Q 5

Photocopy Trung Shop, 213 Đường Trần Quang Khải (near corner with Ba Le Chan), Q1.

Viet Uc Translation Company (anh Thanh), 8am-5:30pm, 95A Pasteur, P. Ben Nghe, Q1, +84862565777

Goodwill safe shop, 81 Vo Van Tan, Q3

Fan fixer, fan and padlock stall in Cho Nguyen Van Troi (small street side), opposite the Vinamilk shop (approximately 276), Ly Van Sy, Q3

Hotels:

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Budget:

Madame Cuc Hotel (VND 250-300/night twin/double/triple; most staff speak good English; 8 floors and no lift), 64 Bùi Viện (next to the police station), Q1, m: +84903906250, t: +84838365073, @: madamcuc@hcm.vnn.vn

Mid-level:

Golden Rose Hotel (3 Star, nice decor, good English service, clean, quiet, gym, USD 25 (long-term rate > 1 month)-30 per night, wifi pw: 38233378), 3A Vo Van Tan St. (Close to the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, and Cathedral), Ward 6, Q3, +84382 333 79

Top-end:

Churches:

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Agape Church (Sundays in VN: 9-10:30am; EN: 5:30-7pm), 15 Tu Xuong, P7, Q3

The Well (Evangelical but interdenominational English service at 11am on Sundays, led by Tom Castor), Khanh Hoi Church, 98 Le Quoc Hung St., Q4, HCMC

Kỳ Đồng church (Mass is held at 5:00 am, 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm), 38 Ky Dong, Q3

Notre Dame Cathedral (Nha Tho Duc Ba), English service at 9:30am, Ben Nghe Ward, Q1

International Christian Fellowship (Methodist foundation but interdenominational led by Pastor Albert Low), Sunday Service in English at 10:30AM, smart casual dress code, 4th Floor, Nha Tho Tin Lanh, 625D Cach Mang Thang Tam Str, P15, Q10

New Life City Church, 9am Sundays, 

Permanent Living:

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Hi Chi Minh Justice Department (7:30am-11am and 1pm-5pm, certified translation, certified copying, criminal record check), 141 Pasteur (between Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Dien Dien Phu), Q3

Van Hanh General Hospital (4th Floor, Blue Cross), Hẻm 781 Lê Hồng Phong 781/B1, P14, Q10

Chi Yen (Antoine's state agent) - +84937532678

For living area, if you look at HCMC map, you will see that the city area is large and unlike Hanoi, the population is very dispersed. 

Many people live far away from their office. The easiest thing is that you live right in the District 3. Otherwise, you can live in district 4, district 10, district 7, district 2. However, the district is also large itself, some areas are crowded, some areas are not.

Standard Chartered multi-currency account (passport and visa), Mon-Fri 8:30-18:30, Saigon Trade Center, 1st Floor, 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, HCMC, 0839110000, Swift code: SCBLVNVX.

Bệnh Viện Từ Dũ (HOSPITAL), 106 Cống Quỳnh, Phạm Ngũ Lão, Q1, Hồ Chí Minh

Benh Vien Tam Than (Mental hospital),  766 Đường Võ Văn Kiệt, Q5

Resources:

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Any Arena - Events

TNH - All

Day/weekend trips:

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Kê Gà cove and lighthouse, travel on national highway 1A from HCMC to Thuan Nam, turn right, and go straight for 20km

Vuon Xoai Activity Resort (Paintballing, ostrich racing, small water park), Bien Hoa, Đồng Nai

Phan Rang former Champa capital (Coastal) city (architecture and people), overnight train ideally over 3-day weekend

Can Gio: beach (not very clean and large but still ok), mangrove forest, monkey island and cheap fresh seafood (60km from Dist 1 - can go by motorbike, it would be fun)

Viet Cong's Cu Chi tunnels: historical site (35km from Q1)

Giang Dien Park: http://giangdien.com.vn/gioi-thieu/gioi-thieu-chung/gioi-thieu-ve-thac-giang-dien/ (60km from Saigon)

Ba Ra Mountain (720m high; start trek at Thac Mo village; 1,767 steps on the trail up), Phuoc Long Province, 180km from HCMC

Vung Tau beach: 2 hours by bus

Suoi Tien Park - Amusement park for kids

Dai Nam (Binh Duong province)

Cat Tien National Park - trekking, cycling, kayaking, crocodile lake, stay in a park rangers' stilt house, elephants, bears, gibbons, gaur - Tai Lai Longhouse (hire traditional houses 30 people), Tan Phu, Dong Nai, +84974160827, info@talai-adventure.vn, www.talai-adventure.vn

Other provinces (easily reach by bus): Mekong Delta like Can Tho, Vinh Long, My Tho, Ben Tre..., Da Lat, Mui Ne beach, Dong Nai...

Phu Quoc island - Sao beach and Long beach for swimming and snorkelling, Dinh Cau beach for sunsets, and Khem or "kem" beach (narrow and only reachable be motorbike or foot) for a more local and chilled out beach, and Ong Lang jungle beach