Travel Vietnam | Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by admin on November 24, 2008 under Vietnam Travel Guide | Be the First to Comment

1.  I’m going to Vietnam for the first time. Where should I go?

Vietnam is favored by Nature with a number of beautiful beaches, mountainous regions, and other beauty spots scattered along the country. Ha Long Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, etc. are top places to visit in Vietnam. For detailed information, please click here (Before You go> Further for Foreign tourists> First time to Vietnam). Read more of this article »

Hanoi Only in Hanoi

Posted by admin on under Attractions | Be the First to Comment

By http://www.vntraveltips.com: Each street has its own hallmark, ones full of hustles and bustles as SaiGon commercial ones and others lined with greenery shadows, tinged with its own tranquility, soothing Hanoi suns. Nothing can be compared with a morning walk around Sword Lake (Hoan Kiem Lake) which refreshes us after hardworking hours and guides us to ancient Tortoise Tower, taking us back to an enduring legend i.e. Kim Quy God ascending from Lake Floor, holding a gold sword in his mouth that LeLoi king gave back after conquering enemies.

Sublime Pen Tower (Thap But), Red The Huc bridge, TranQuoc Pagoda with its bells toiling in tune with thin misty layers in early Hanoi winter mornings, all seem to take visitors out of the mundane world.

Afternoons, basking with sunshine, walk around West Lake to see the Lake’s immenseness, radiant faces of youngsters flocking to an August Quan Thanh, evocative of Hanoi highs and lows, and enjoy the blowing winds. Back to Quang Ba area across Phu Tay Ho, nestling in luxuriant gardens are now inviting villas and luxurious mansions. Read more of this article »

Shopping in Saigon

Posted by admin on November 12, 2008 under Shopping In Vietnam | 3 Comments to Read

Since the monumental policy shift to create a market economy in Vietnam, buying and selling is as ubiquitous as breathing. Housewives shop the market by the day or even by the meal, rather than weekly.

Street-front shop houses abound and sidewalk vendors don’t hang their shingle, they just lay down their mat and display their wares. Everywhere!

[read more] You will fill your suitcase when shopping in Saigon. Read on and we will tell you all you need to know to get the best deals and learn about the best places to shop in Saigon. If you get hungry during your shopping spree, stop for some finger food or relax in one of the Saigon Restaurants along the city’s shopping streets. For things to see and do during your stay, our Saigon Destination Travel Guide will point you in the right direction. More general information about shopping around the country can be found at our Vietnam Shopping Guide .

Saigon Shopping Guide

The range of merchandise available in Saigon is truly fantastic. It’s true; if you can’t buy it here, you don’t need it! The list we have collected below should give you a place to start looking for that special something. We’ve divided into categories to make it easier for you to find a place in Saigon that sells what you are looking for.

Bargaining is still the most common way to buy things in Saigon. Some people relish bargaining, others loathe it. The rules are not very complicated if you think of it like this.

The whole thing is a harmonious Yin-Yang balance. You want the item. The vendor wants your money. Yin-Yang! The maximum price you are willing to pay is the value of your desire for the item. The minimum price the vendor is willing to accept is the value of their desire for your money. Yin-Yang! Bargaining is simply a search for the Yin-Yang balance between your desire and the vendor’s.

If items for sale have price labels there is normally no bargaining (the vendor might lose a cent or two on buying the labels!).

Antiques

Bags

Books and Journals

Clothing

Embroidery

Ready-made

Silk

Sportswear

Tailors

Crafts/Souvenirs

Glass/Crystal

Huynh Mai
32 Le Cong Kieu, Dist. 1, tel: 822-4316

Pottery/Ceramics

Cosmetics

Interiors

Jewellers

Music CDs, DVDs and VCDs

Shopping Centres

Food Stores

Vietnamese Covered Markets

Big shopping centers

• Tax Department Store – Intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Streets, Dist.1, HCMC
• Ben Thanh market – Dist.1, city center, HCMC
• Binh Tay market – Dist.5, one of the main markets of Cholon
• Diamond Plaza – 37 Le Duan, Dist.1, HCMC

Bags

Clothing

Silk

Crafts & Souvenirs

Pottery & Ceramics

Supermarket

Supermarkets

Shopping in Vietnam

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As a general principal, items sold in touristy areas, with no visible price tags, must be bargained for – expect the vendor to start the bidding at two to five times the real price. Tagged items may be negotiable, but more often than not the prices are fixed.

Please don’t buy souvenirs taken from historical sites, or made from endangered wildlife such as turtle shells. Read more of this article »

Tips and Things to remember Before You Go to Vietnam

Posted by admin on November 3, 2008 under Vietnam Travel Guide | Be the First to Comment

Source: Vietnam Travel Tips

Frequent Questions to answer:

Why should I contact my credit card companies before I leave?
You want to notify them of your trip. They may delay you if they are unaware you are traveling. The unfamiliar spending patterns might cause them to suspect that the card is being used fraudulently and delay your approvals.
They will be able to explain many of the services that they can provide while you are on your trip.
How can my credit card company help prepare me for my trip?
You can arrange to pay bills that will come due while you are gone.
They will be aware that you will be making charges from another country.
They will be able to give you an idea of how acceptable their credit card is in that particular country.
They can verify acceptance at certain foreign locations.
They’ll be able to see if your PIN number will work in the countries you are visiting. They can also issue you another PIN number if your current PIN is unacceptable to the foreign bank’s system.
They can explain cash advance, ATM, foreign purchase and foreign exchange rate policies and fees.
They can explain any services they offer, such as, extra insurance for your rental car, luggage or purchases. Make sure the coverage offered extends outside the United States and will be valid in all the countries where you’ll be traveling. Also, be sure to note any other exceptions.
They may need to give you another phone number to call in case you need to reach them. The 800 number listed on the back of your card may not work from foreign locations.
You can find out if they charge a currency conversion fee, so you can find the most economical card on which to place your foreign purchases.

Should I use my ATM card while traveling?
Yes, you’ll have access to cash during your trip so you won’t have to take as much cash with you and using your ATM card can also be a good way to get cash in foreign countries.
The ATM will issue money in local currency.
You should exchange at the bank’s wholesale exchange rate. You may still want to shop around to different banks since some will charge a high usage fee for their ATMs. Although, even high ATM fees may be less than others will charge for currency exchanges.
Don’t wait until you’re out of money to go to an ATM, the machines can run out of money or break down.

What should I know about using travelers checks?
If the particular brand of travelers checks are accepted in the country you’ll be visiting.
How widely they are accepted within the countries you’ll be visiting.
Any fees for purchasing and using the travelers checks.
The travelers check company’s loss, replacement and refund policies.

How can I protect my travelers checks while traveling?
Take the same precautions you would to protect your cash. Be sure to learn and follow the procedures required if you lose your travelers checks. You’ll also need to make copies of your travelers checks before you go and keep separate from them the following information.
The serial numbers of the travelers checks.
The denomination of the travelers checks.
The date and location of their purchase.
The phone number to call to report them missing.