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

Saigon is a big city with plenty of high-dollar, splurge restaurants ready to take your hard-earned vacation money. Luckily for the thriftier of travellers, however, it’s still easy to eat on the cheap in HCMC. Here’s how to eat for less than 100,000 VND (US$5) a day. You can start strong during breakfast. Just head … read the full post

Cha ca, a fish dish of legendary reputation made famous by the Cha Ca La Vong restaurant in Hanoi, has been listed as one of the 1,001 dishes to eat before you die. If you’re in Vietnam though, you don’t have to go all the way to Hanoi to get a taste; a restaurant of … read the full post

A relatively new craze sweeping Saigon’s accommodation scene, particularly in the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, is the hostel –  it seems that every month a new one opens its doors. With similar prices, amenities and general location it may be difficult to pick one hostel from another. Here are our nominees for the … read the full post

Packed onto the busy street of Bui Vien in Saigon’s backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao, Koniko Backpacker Hostel, also known as Binh An Hostel, is one of the only hostels in town not located down a narrow alley. With its low prices and overall cleanliness, you may not want to hunt the others down. … read the full post

In Saigon’s backpacker district of Pham Ngu Lao you won’t have to walk far to find an ice cold beer. However, in hopping from one bar to another, you’ll quickly notice that prices vary widely from establishment to establishment. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find where, and how much you can expect to pay. … read the full post

When most people think about Ben Thanh market, they think about shopping. And while the market is a great spot to find souvenirs, it also happens to be a great spot to grab a bite to eat. If you’re planning on a visit to Ben Thanh, and you happen to be hungry, here’s where to … read the full post