Saigon Accommodation
(Referent
information from Wikitravel)
Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in
Vietnam and is located near the Mekong Delta. Under the name Saigon, it was the
capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, and later of the regime of South
Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. In 1975, Saigon was merged with the surrounding
province of Gia Dinh and renamed Ho Chi Minh City (although the name Saigon is
still frequently used, as a habit by the old people)
The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers from
the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.
The metropolitan area, which consists of Ho Chi Minh City metro area, Thu Dau
Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa and surrounding towns, has more than 9 million people,
making it the largest metropolitan area in Vietnam and Indochina.
There are plenty of nice and reasonably priced
local hotels available for tourists as well as the very expensive international
chains like Sheraton and Hyatt. Do take note (especially lonely male travelers)
that most hotels do not allow you to bring back a local female companion to stay
overnight. Inquire about their 'guest privileges'. Many of the non-international
chain properties (that are very nice) do allow guests.
The main backpacker hangout is Pham Ngu Lao in District 1, just a short walk
(10-15 min) from Ben Thanh Market. The lanes and alleys in the area between Pham
Ngu Lao and Bui Vien are jammed with 5-10 room mini-hotels offering prices
around US$12 per room (fan room with hot shower and cable TV). There is no
difference in price between single or double occupancy so if you are travelling
alone you might want to try finding a dorm bed for around $7 (but there are not
many of them around.) Keep heading southwest away from the backpacker hustle
closer Nguyen Thai Hoc, you'll likely find that as the alleys get smaller the
rooms get quieter and owners more friendly. The area swarms with touts and other
nuisances - be warned that the area is not the safest, and it'd be wise not to
run around carrying around your expensive accessories (therefore making you a
target).
If you can find one of the ladies dressed in a blue uniform, stating something
about tourist rooms - half the battle is won. These ladies will find you a room
in the Pham Ngu Lao/ De Tham area in a matter of minutes, eliminating much of
the standard "do you have a room" hassle.
Luxury hotels are popping up faster than mushrooms in the monsoon rains. Expect
to pay closer to US$200 for any of these unless you marry the owner's daughter.
The Caravelle, Sheraton, and Hyatt are all within site of each other near the
Opera House, in the heart of the city-centre tourist district . New high quality
boutique hotels are popping up around the city, an example being Villa Thao Dien
in the city's most elite neighborhood.
Hotel scams are very common, even in the mid-range price level US$~20-70. The
hotel will remind you once that you should place your valuables in the room safe
or the hotel safe. Be sure that hotel staff cleaning may steal it faster than
you can think since they can get into your room any time, and they will use the
chance. Lock up everything that is more or less valuable. Some robberies have
been known to happen in the middle of the night, while guests are sleeping. It
would be wise to do your research.
