Trip to Ho Chi Minh

[KelCastro]

I'm planning a trip for 4 adults (2 couples) to Vietnam on a "budget". We're originally planning to go to Ho Chi Minh and doing the main attractions: War Remnants Museum, the Tunnels & Palace. We're not interested in seeing temples which I know there are a lot of. Don't plan on flying/taking train to Hanoi per expense & time constrains. We're going for about 8/9 days.

Specific Questions:

What other attractions are there in Ho Chi Minh/vicinity?

How is the Vung Tau Beach (looked into the ferry there)?

Are there any other beaches relatively close by?

Any overall suggestions for a good trip filled with "activities" (we don't want to just sit around, unless it's at the beach).

Thanks a lot.

[craigt3365]

I did a 2 night tour of the delta. It was fantastic.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

How is the Vung Tau Beach (looked into the ferry there)?

Are there any other beaches relatively close by?

Vung Tau is a lovely, clean, well kept beachside town, very relaxing, with good restaurants and bars. But expats there say the beaches are dirty. (I"m not a beach guy.) The hydrofoil ferry reaches VT in 1.5 hours. $200,000 dong/$10, except on weekends when it's 250,000 dong.

Many Viets recommend Mui Ne beach, closer to HCMC than far away Nha Trung.

[bikkalad]

Vung Tao ??? No thanks .....May Lin Taxi/ police beware .... keep your belongings close at hand..... shit hole........ Been around S/E Asia many years.... Dodgy. Dodgy.........Give me Cambodia any day ......

[bikkalad]

Greenlanes Hydrofoil..... on time ????? No.... Leaving earlier than time specified on board.....had to catch the other company moored up at more cost??? bite bite bite....... watch out ...... Buff said.......

[KelCastro]

Thanks for the advice.... still trying to put this trip together.

[hanno]

I never did like Vung Tau itself, but there are very nice beaches a little North of it.

The Mekong Delta is very nice; one of my favorite places is Chau Doc. A bit of a drive but very scenic and a mix of three cultures (Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham). Very nice floating market in Can Tho, halfway between HCMC and Chau Doc.

[craigt3365]

I never did like Vung Tau itself, but there are very nice beaches a little North of it.

The Mekong Delta is very nice; one of my favorite places is Chau Doc. A bit of a drive but very scenic and a mix of three cultures (Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham). Very nice floating market in Can Tho, halfway between HCMC and Chau Doc.

I did a 3 day trip of the delta. What I liked is how they would drop you off in one place, you'd get on a boat for a few hours, then they'd pick you up elsewhere. Did that several times. Nice transport, good travel partners and we had a great guide who had lots of stories. Not sure where we stayed, but we did visit that floating market in the river, bought fresh pineapples from the ladies. Great fun. Like going back in time 30 years.

[KelCastro]

I never did like Vung Tau itself, but there are very nice beaches a little North of it.

The Mekong Delta is very nice; one of my favorite places is Chau Doc. A bit of a drive but very scenic and a mix of three cultures (Vietnamese, Khmer, Cham). Very nice floating market in Can Tho, halfway between HCMC and Chau Doc.

Do you remember the name of the floating market? Are there tours from HCMC?

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[KelCastro]

I did a 2 night tour of the delta. It was fantastic.

What do you do? We did a quick tour up by the golden triangle. Would rather not repeat if it's the same.

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[KelCastro]

Can anyone recommend a good part of town to stay in? We like to go out on foot and experience. Night markets (items, not food) a plus!

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[hanno]

Can anyone recommend a good part of town to stay in? We like to go out on foot and experience. Night markets (items, not food) a plus!

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There are a number of floating markets but I think the one in Can Tho is the best. Cai Be is nice but totally overrun as it can be done as a day trip.

With good part of town I guess you mean HCMC? Well, District 1 is where all the action is. District 5 is also nice but a little further away from Dong Khoi which is the unofficial center of town. Having said that, taxis are cheap. There are plenty of 3-star hotels around the Benh Thanh market area.

[careless]

VungTau is a great place to visit. We took the hydro foil out of HCM. They leave all the time different companies different times, same price for the three of them. We had no problems. Stayed at a hotel called the Ruby booked through Agoda. I think it was like $6 bucks a night clean and built in 2010. We were a short half a block to the beach. On the weekend the beach fills with locals and is a great and friendly place to party. There is two casino's in town with free food and drinks if your gambling. Oh yeah on the beach at night its fun to watch the locals fish and share a beer with them. I would totally go back there. Super friendly, felt safe, never once got ripped off by a taxi. We were there for a couple weeks in March of this year.

[BKKdreaming]

how is the "antique" shopping , original or new made copies ?

any market areas like BKK weekend market ?

[hanno]

how is the "antique" shopping , original or new made copies ?

any market areas like BKK weekend market ?

I'd say 99.9999% of the antiques came of the press yesterday.....

There is Benh Than market in District 1; just watch out for pick-pockets and do NOT take a taxi from outsdie the market; they are all scammers.