We’ve recently done a few posts on common Vietnamese scams from Hanoi; one about avoiding general scams in Hanoi and the other about avoiding taxi scams. Saigon has many of the same problems, but here are some things to look out for that are specific to the city. The most common place to be scammed … read the full post

Contrary to what it may seem, Saigon does actually have some traffic laws. If you plan on using a motorbike yourself to get around the city, we suggest brushing up on these laws as well as how to deal with Saigon’s police. One of the most important laws to abide by is HCMC’s helmet law. … read the full post

Traffic in HCMC is ridiculous: it’s noisy, congested and totally awesome to navigate. To look at the traffic from the outside it would most certainly seem chaotic; people driving on the sidewalk, almost no regard for traffic lights, people swerving around people at whatever speed they desire. It’s so crazy that most people would be … read the full post

Saigon isn’t much of a city for famous world-class landmarks — though certainly there are a few, it’s really the food on the street that’s something special. But despite the street food being great some people, rightfully, are concerned about the safety of food sold on the street in a country where you can’t drink … read the full post

The best way to travel in Ho Chi Minh City is by motorbike. While it is easy to catch a xe om, and have them taxi you around, it is even cooler to drive yourself. Luckily, if you cruise around Pham Ngu Lao it is easy to find a shop that will rent you a … read the full post

Ho Chi Minh City is quite safe for cities of comparable size. Very few violent acts have been reported against foreigners, but it can still be dangerous to walk around flaunting your wealth. Here are a few commonsense steps you can take to ensure your safety while in Saigon. First, be cautious of wearing jewellery. … read the full post

Every day in Saigon around four million motorbikes hit the street, and for every bike you also get an extremely hot exhaust pipe.  Whether walking by a parked bike on the footpath or riding on the back, even the most careful traveller may bump into one of these accidents waiting to happen. The first motorbike … read the full post