I had a really good travel deal flying into HCM on Jetstar, with zero airfare cost!!! Only payable was the airport taxes and fuel surcharge, which cost me $150 for a total of 7 days 6 nights. It was my first time to HCM, and needless to say, I did plenty of homework.
My pride was indefinitely the value-for-money hotel which I have booked through asiarooms.com at an amazing room rate! We stayed there for 7 days 6 nights, at USD 19 or SGD 23.75 equivalent per night. Located conveniently in District 1, 137 De Tham Street where the backpackers area is, Sunny Hotel on the outside looks just like the local budget hotel chain - Hotel 81.
We were given a room upgrade just because of the many days we were staying in their hotel. Simple decor, spacious, and with a tiny bit of muskiness in the furniture, the room was nothing to brag about; but we were more than satisfied.. especially on the following day, when we had our breakfast served in a little cozy area near the reception. It was nice and warm, the perfect starter for our first day in a foreign city.
The adventurous pair of us, would read from our iPhone maps, figure out locations and directions of where we want to go; and just start walking. We chanced upon this superb minced pork noodles place, which is walking distance from Sunny Hotel. The price of the noodles range from around VND 40,000 - 60,000 (equiv. SGD 6 - 8), and it comes with a big plate of vegetables which you can just garnish as you wish into your noodles. We basically ate the noodles every alternate day during the trip! You will understand why when you try it yourself!
Shopping was quite a treat as HCM has several day and night shopping markets. The most well-known would be Ben Thanh Market (day & night). Personally I think the day market, though very much like a shopper's paradise, is a little overpriced. I guess that is because of the number of tourists this market attracts. The market opens until only 6-ish in the evening, but fret not; the night market which is an open-air bazzar located just on the side roads outside the Ben Thanh Market will open from 6pm to 12am daily.
The stuff you can expect from these 2 markets are those "I Love Saigon" t-shirts, imitation sportswear like Nike, Adidas, etc, fake goods like bags and watches, and the Vietnamese souvenirs. There are quite a few stalls that sell really nice handmade accessories and the hair accessories for both adults & baby girls. It will do you more advantage if you buy in bulk quantity.
A tip when you are shopping at Ben Thanh, do not buy from the first stall you see something you fancy. Ask for the price and move on to check the same with the following stalls. It is not surprising when the same stuff can be sold at different prices, even the little coconuts from the mobile drink peddlers! You should not be paying more than VND 20,000 for it..
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