Vietnam forum

Internet Cafes in HCMC

hsoa

backpacker
Posts: 18

Can anyone recommend a good internet cafe in Pham Ngu Lao or nearby?

I will need to use Skype for a few hours.
Cost is not too important, as long as the service is fast enough for at least good audio and the location reasonably well-maintained.

I am unfamiliar with HCMC and the country, and I won't have much time to look around before I need to use it, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
TIA

#1 Posted: 19/4/2011 - 23:59
eastwest

som tam seller
Posts: 699
Private message

There are plenty of internet cafes in that area. None of them upmarket though. They're mostly full with kids playing games or backpackers sending emails. I think the connection is good enough for skype because i've seen & heard enough people using it.

Well-maintained is difficult anyway and highly subjective in that area. Wifi spots are plenty though and probably your best bet would be an internet computer in your guesthouse/hotel. There are plenty who have them but usually for guests only.

However, if it's really important and you want to be absolutely certain (and money is no objection), you're looking in the wrong area. Then your best bet would be a business center in any of the real upmarket hotels (Hyatt, Caravelle, Sheraton) in district 1 near Dong Khoi which is roughly 5-10 min away from Pham Ngu Lao by car/motorbike.

#2 Posted: 20/4/2011 - 18:10
daawgon

som tam seller
Posts: 552

This website has a list of internet cafes in Vietnam - good luck!

#3 Posted: 22/4/2011 - 00:29
violets

tuk tuk driver
Posts: 148

Free wifi is available at most hotels these days and I found that the best way to skype. Because travellers so often carry their own laptop or netbook there are fewer travellers internet cafes now, most are local ones full of kids playing games.

I gather that the expensive hotels charge for wifi.

#4 Posted: 23/4/2011 - 07:21
69bertie

beach masseuse
Posts: 90

Posted from within Vietnam.

Just be aware in the backpackers area that they are renewing the phone cabling everywhere. It really is a case of them cutting the wires and the internet goes off for a couple of days while they transfer people over to the new cables. No prior warning is given to the business's either.

#5 Posted: 23/4/2011 - 22:55