Frommers ShortCuts - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

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ISBN 9781118193105 (ebk); ISBN 9781118193099 (ebk); ISBN 9781118193112(ebk)

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Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).

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The Best of Vietnam

Clinging to the coast of Southeast Asia like a rearing dragon, Vietnam is a fiercely independent country, as anyone familiar with its history will know. Its unique culture is evident in the dress, cuisine, and manners of its hospitable people, and the countrys varied topography creates the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable adventure.

Cities Vietnams two major cities provide convenient bases for exploration of this long, thin country. In the south, Ho Chi Minh City is an unlikely mix of ancient, Chinese-style temples, fancy French colonial architecture, and modernist glass and steel. Thousand-year-old Hanoi in the north is the countrys administrative capital, with a bustling Old Quarter and tranquil lakes that reflect gleaming office towers.

Countryside Vietnams countryside runs the gamut from mangrove swamps in the south to rugged peaks in the north, with a huge variety of landscapes in between. Trekking to villages around Sapa is a popular activity for visitors; Dalat is the countrys adventure-sport capital; and the Mekong Delta provides an endless panorama of rice paddies and fruit orchards.

Coast Nha Trang, located about halfway along the coastline, is Vietnams leading beach resort, though nearby Mui Ne is giving it some fierce competition these days. The offshore islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao are making a name for themselves as idyllic getaways, but the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay is still the top attraction along Vietnams coast.

Eating and Drinking Whether slurping spicy noodles from Saigon street stalls or savoring French croissants in a Hue patisserie, youll find Vietnamese cuisine to be full flavored, fascinating, and affordable. The national dish is pho bo, sliced beef in an aromatic noodle broth, garnished with a fistful of herbs.

The Best Vietnam Experiences

Eat on the Street: Real Vietnamese food is best at street side or in small market areas, and though it might be a little grungy or off-putting to some, dining alfresco in old Indochina offers the most authentic and delicious meals. Prepare yourself for some adventurous dining. In either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, try Quan An Ngon Restaurant ( and ) for a safe overview of Vietnamese fare.

Get Lost in the Markets: In Vietnam, the marketspelled cho and pronounced like the beginning of the word could is the epicenter of culture and commerce. The most convenient market for tourists is Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, which caters to foreign visitors with low-cost T-shirts, souvenirs, and local treats, though everything there now is sadly fixed price. Every town has a market: check out Dalats market, with its delicious strawberry preserves; Hoi Ans busy riverside fish market and wholesale silk market; Hanois sprawling Dong Xuan Market ; and the hilltribe markets of Sapa and Bac Ha in the far north.

Visit Hilltribe Groups: Vietnams remote mountain regions, the Central Highlands and the far north, are home to a patchwork of ethnic minorities. Ethnic hilltribe people still practice animism and wear colorful traditional clothing. Travelers among them, in places such as Sapa and Bac Ha in the far north or near Buon Ma Thuot or Kontum in the Central Highlands, can even experience a homestay in some villages through eco-tours and trekking companies.

Witness a Water Puppet show: This is a bit touristy, but the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi and the Golden Dragon Theater in Ho Chi Minh City present a magical performance. Intricate puppets controlled by an ingenious system of rods and pulleys dance across the surface of a watery stage, telling tales of old Vietnam. Dont miss it.

Take a Wild Ride: Whether through Hanois narrow alleyways and mazelike neighborhoods or on the broad boulevards of busy Ho Chi Minh City, the traffic in Vietnam is a trip. Darwinian road rules mean that any ride by motorcycle, car, or bus is a test of faith, as drivers swerve and angle through some of the worlds craziest traffic. In Vietnam, getting there is an adventure in itself. See Getting There sections in the following chapters for more information.

Celebrate the Tet Holiday: This Lunar New Year celebration in late January or early February is the most important event on the calendar. Should you be in Vietnam at this time of year, youll experience a wave of excitement throughout the country. However, its not the best time to travel around, as seats on planes, trains, and buses are booked up long in advance.