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• Review: California Guesthouse, Ho Chi Minh City

  First published: 25 May 2013
  

  Just a few blocks from the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, in a small alley between the streets of Co Bac and Co Giang jam-packed with yet more places to stay, Guest House California offers decent rooms but in a relatively quieter atmosphere. The first building you’ll notice as you walk into the alley, California … read the full post

• Saigon’s best Western restaurants

  First published: 21 May 2013
  

  If you’ve been travelling for an extended period, you may hanker for a taste of the West rather than chowing down on local cuisine for yet another meal. In the last year Ho Chi Minh has been flooded with fast food joints, but if you’re craving a meal that reminds you of home — you … read the full post

• Saigon street food: Banh trang

  First published: 19 May 2013
  

  While most street food in Saigon could almost be classified as fast food, where you sit down and pretty much immediately start eating, some dishes from the streets make you work a little harder: banh trang is a case in point. In the world of Saigon street food, a restaurant advertising banh trang is where you … read the full post

• Cu Chi Tunnels day tour

  First published: 11 May 2013
  

  As one of the most popular daytrips from HCMC, finding a way to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels is as easy as a walking through the Pham Ngu Lao backpacker district. Almost every travel agent in Saigon offers a one-day tour of the tunnels but some are light on the details. If you’re considering … read the full post

• Review: Al Fresco’s, Ho Chi Minh City

  First published: 07 May 2013
  

  Even though you may be surrounded by a load of delicious local food in Saigon, sometimes you just want a pizza or hamburger; if that’s the case, it might be time to find the nearest Al Fresco’s. As the name might suggest, the menu at Al Fresco’s offers plenty of Italian food, particularly pastas and … read the full post

• Custom-made shoes in Saigon

  First published: 30 Apr 2013
  

  Finding shoes that fit a Westerners feet in Saigon can be a tough proposition. We’ve covered shopping for shoes in Vietnams’ commercial capital, mentioning some spots where you can find bigger shoes, but the town also has cobblers who can make you a shiny new pair of tailor-made shoes. These cobbler shops will make a … read the full post

• Saigon parks: part 2

  First published: 28 Apr 2013
  

  Though Saigon’s streets can feel grey and congested, scattered throughout the city are green spaces worth seeking out. We’ve highlight some parks around HCMC before, but really barely scratched the surface of what there is to find. If you’re looking for some green places to relax, here are a few more to choose from. Following … read the full post

• Review: Scott and Binh’s, Ho Chi Minh City

  First published: 22 Apr 2013
  

  While you won’t struggle to find delicious, Vietnamese food every which way you turn in HCMC, a prolonged trip on the road can make you miss a solid, home-cooked meal. If you have a craving for Western cuisine, take a trip out of District 1 to Scott and Binh’s in District 7. Sharing the streetfront … read the full post

• Visa on arrival at Saigon, Vietnam

  First published: 15 Apr 2013
  

  Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, getting into Vietnam is slightly more difficult, requiring most foreign travellers to apply for a visa weeks before visiting. Instead of visiting their nearest Vietnamese embassy, many fliers opt for Vietnam’s visa on arrival. However, the visa on arrival process at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat can be confusing, especially … read the full post

• Review: Aston Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

  First published: 08 Apr 2013
  

  With a prominent location on busy Bui Vien, which runs down the middle of Saigon’s backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, the clean facade of the 2012-opened Aston Hotel stands out among some of the dingier competition — and it represents great value compared to its neighbours as well. From the outside, the Aston looks … read the full post