Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Accommodations In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)

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Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, as more people call it) is full of hotels. Everywhere you look, you will find accommodations. The problem – if you can call it that – is choosing one. You may opt to go the “normal” route and search hotel web sites such as Asiarooms. I tried this before a month before our trip, but ended up undecided. Lucky for me, my friend found two options that were not that expensive.

You see, the countless hotels in Saigon offer good rates – anywhere from USD15 to USD40. The really big names, like Sheraton and Continental, are out of my league. I would have loved to stay at the Sheraton but it was just too much. Anyway, we ended up staying at Blue River Hotel for the first two nights, and then moved to Blue Diamond for the last three nights.

We chose Blue River Hotel 2 (there IS a Blue River Hotel 1) because it was very cheap – USD30 for a family room (good for at least 4 people). They have WiFi (free), hot water, cable TV, a bathtub (for this particular room). The only problem I had with the hotel is its location – about 10 minutes of walking to the bars and Ben Thanh Market (more about this in another post). There’s nothing to complain about regarding the staff – they are amazing!

Entrance to the alley going to the hotel.

Entrance to the hotel.
Blue Diamond Hotel is a bit more upscale, and it opened about two months ago. It is very very new and for $40 a night, it is very much worth it. It’s located just behind the Ben Thanh Market, making it ideal for tourists.

Their breakfast buffet.

With all the choices available to visitors, picking out a single hotel can be confusing. If you’re heading to Saigon anytime soon, I suggest checking these two hotels out. You really won’t regret doing so.

Itching To Discover Saigon

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In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!

So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), and banh mi (French baguette with all sorts of stuffing). I am fairly new to their cuisine, so we’ll see what else I will discover! Oh yeah, I shall let Anthony Bourdain’s Vietnam feature guide me for a week.

I also read this article in the New York Times about “following the beer trail in Vietnam.” I didn’t know it, but Vietnam has quite a good selection of beers, many of them local! I wouldn’t call myself a beer connoisseur but I can appreciate a good brew anytime! Now I have printed out the article and will go around HCMC looking for some of the best beer in the city.

Of course, there is shopping. From what I hear, I can find tons of shawls, bags, and other apparel for dirt cheap.

I seriously am beside myself with excitement now.