The holiday season in Saigon sees grandiose decorations line the streets, people dressed as Santa Claus zip by on motorbikes and major downtown streets temporarily shut down. If you’re in town for Christmas and New Year’s, here are a few places where you can properly celebrate. Leading up to Christmas, decorations come out in full … read the full post

In the middle of Saigon’s backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, the Saigon Mini 5 on busy Bui Vien offers a clean, affordable option for flashpackers and families. As the name would suggest, HCMC is home to several Saigon Mini Hotels, most of which are relatively close together, but offering different amenities and prices. Saigon … read the full post

Saigon has an active and relatively cheap nightlife. If you’re wound up from your travels and want to unwind, you’ll find plenty of places where you can get the party started; here are a few places to kick back. Open since the early 90s, HCMC’s most famous, or infamous, nightclub is Apocalypse Now. Hidden on … read the full post

In the midst of Saigon’s downtown areas of interest, walking distance from the Reunification Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral, you might suspect Nha Hang Ngon is a highly priced tourist trap. However, with surprisingly low prices and a large selection of well-made Vietnamese dishes, it’s a good spot to introduce you to the city’s … read the full post

You don’t have to head north from Saigon to enjoy quality renditions of specialty dishes from that region, as proper northern establishments have set up shop in the big city down south. One such joint is Quan Nem, a restaurant specialising in the crispy, northern crab spring roll nem cua be. Occupying a two-floor building, … read the full post

Purchasing a SIM card is a top priority for many visitors on arrival in HCMC. While the cards are readily available, prices and options can vary wildly and many sellers have set themselves up to take advantage of the less than savvy travellers. If you can manage to steer clear of purchasing an overpriced SIM … read the full post

With an easy to find, prominent location on the busy street of Bui Vien in Saigon’s backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, An An Hotel is one of the better choices in the immediate area for flashpackers searching for that needle in a haystack of low-end guesthouses, hostels and dodgy hotels. A tall turquoise and … read the full post

Hidden away down a sidestreet in Saigon’s Phu Nhuan district, Com Tam Ba Ghien is known far and wide for their specialty com tam suon, or a pork chop served over broken rice. About a 20-minute taxi ride out of downtown, eating at this street spot will require you to overlook some grungy conditions, with … read the full post

Nam Son Beefsteak, which has two locations in downtown Saigon within short walking distance of the Reunification Palace, is a great no-frills Vietnamese beefsteak restaurant. If you can get past the barebones setting, and the limited menu, you’ll find some of the best steaks in Saigon. Both locations are surprisingly close to each other; recently … read the full post

What better way to take a break from sightseeing or shopping in Saigon than a massage and facial? My Spa is a well-located, mid-priced spa, and if you can make your way safely through their dark and crowded hallways you may be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the treatments. On a recent trip to … read the full post