The Entrepreneurs
Ho Chi Minh City is alive with entrepreneurs birthing their own start-ups. We met up with a young friend of my travel partner who just opened his roof-top bar in the heart of the old market area. His plans are in process to open a restaurant in the lower level and a bed/breakfast next door. Start ups are everywhere and Ho Chi Minh City is growing. Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans living abroad are returning to the country to open businesses and the movement is affecting the country dramatically. If you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, check out the incredible view from the roof-top bar and have an inspiring conversation with the up and coming. I highly recommend the rice paper pizza.
The Visa-on-Arrival Process Is Easy
Although US citizens do require a visa to enter Vietnam, securing one is quite simple. First, an approval letter must be obtained in advance of departure. This letter can be provided by any Vietnam International Tour Operator as a complimentary. When we arrived in Saigon, we presented the letter along with one passport photo and $25 US cash for a thirty-day single-entry visa.
Affordable
Transportation We found an affordable airfare and secured it with Chase Ultimate Rewards points but you can also use frequent flyer miles. Once in Ho Chi Minh City, transport is very inexpensive. A 15-minute taxi ride will cost about $2 and even less with Uber. An entire day on the hop on/off bus is around $9. Affordable ferries connect the coastal cities. The Food I could go on and on about the inexpensive and incredible food in Vietnam. We dined very well on all types of grilled seafood, rice paper pizza, fresh veggies and noodle dishes. You can buy an entire meal for $3-4. Beer is very cheap, 75 cents to a dollar.
The Food
I could go on and on about the inexpensive and incredible food in Vietnam. We dined very well on all types of grilled seafood, rice paper pizza, fresh veggies and noodle dishes. You can buy an entire meal for $3-4. Beer is very cheap, 75 cents to a dollar.
The Vast Lodging Selection
No matter your budget, you will find lodging that is perfect for you. If you have hotel loyalty program points, there are plenty of Starwood, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott properties available for free rooms. The local hotel scene is a bargain however, with three-star properties from $30/night.
The Hospitality
You might wonder how an American is treated in Vietnam. After all, the Vietnamese only see around 500,000 American tourists each year and that is in the entire country. While I can’t speak for the country as a whole, I know that in Ho Chi Minh City, we were treated very well. We were often asked if we needed help when we stopped to look at a street map and were never approached for a hand out or touted to buy things.
The Affordable Variety of Activities
Where else could you be picked up at your hotel, driven two hours through the Mekong Delta and visit an ancient conclave of several giant Buddhas? Then, you’re taken on a boat ride across the Mekong River into the jungle to visit a coconut candy factory, watch bees making wild honey and experience being serenaded by lovely Vietnamese singers while dining on exotic fruits and drinking local tea. After a visit to the gardens and your opportunity to play with baby pythons, your day continues with another boat ride to an island where a local feast is prepared for you. You’re then transported serenely by row boat down a tributary of the Mekong River with giant palm leaves creating a natural canopy above you. Peaceful and relaxed you eventually arrive back at your hotel. The day was long, the lunch was delicious but the entire experience sets you back only $25. This is what you can expect in Vietnam.
The History
You shouldn’t visit Vietnam without learning about the history of the Vietnam War from the Vietnamese Government perspective. Painful but necessary, the country’s history is reflected in the Vietnam you see today so you’ll want to learn more about their story. Don’t miss the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, both in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Spas
It’s time to take a deep breath and be pampered. Relish in $4 pedicures/manicures, $10 massages, and endless inexpensive spa treatments. It’s a great way to take a break from the heat and pamper yourself much more than you could afford to at home. Having just explored some of the southern parts of Vietnam, I’m anxious to see how the north compares. I set up an airfare alert for Hanoi and hopeful an affordable airfare will surface. One thing for sure is that if you want a welcoming, exotic, and affordable holiday, you should try Vietnam.
By Christine Krzyszton
Northern Michigan, USA
