Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant, interesting place and should definitely be explored during your time in Vietnam. It is a vast and busy city that at times makes New York feel like a small, quiet town.

Where to stay

Mai-Sky's awesome Airbnb

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We stayed in two of Mai-Sky's apartments in HCMC and they are definitely amazing options for anyone who is looking for a great, central locations with a chic, local feel. A huge plus is the over-the-top service, which included city tips and guides as well as a free WiFI hotspot to take with you while touring the city. Approx. $44 per night. She also has bigger places you may want to check for more $$$.

Where to eat

 L'usine

HCMC has tones of French influence, from its beautiful architecture to some of the food. This French-owned restaurant is a great example of that. Awesome menu and tasty French flavors. Pro tip: The restaurant is located on the second floor and the entrance is through a "hard-to-find" alley, so don't give up if you miss it at first.

Secret Garden

Great authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Tasty stir fries. Beautiful rooftop view of HCMC.

Hum

Do not let their 100 page menu fool you, this vegetarian restaurant is one of the best we've ever had. Ever. And their cocktails! An absolute must-have: Cinnamon and Star Anise Spiced Margarita. Seriously. And an additional plus is the service - they have the sweetest manager and staff.

Workshop Coffee

True to its name, this place is a work hub for many of Ho Chi Minh's freelancers. It is a great place for breakfast and some artisanal pour-over coffee while catching up on some online reading or work. Coffee culture in this place tops most places you can find in NYC or SF.

What to do

 Back of the bike tours

Do yourself a huge favor and do not miss their street food night tour! It was one of the best experiences we've had during our travels. The "tour guides" who also drive the scooters with you in the back seat are young local girls that are sweet, knowledgable, and attentive beyond words can describe. Plus, they give you a real peek into the local Vietnamese life and food culture. We learned a lot of fun facts and even some Vietnamese slang! On the tour, you get to visit some of HCMC's most authentic and off-the-beaten-path food spots, and everything is absolutely delicious. A few other team members drive alongside you throughout this 4 hour tour and take care of you like royalty -- including constant hand sanitizer before meals, beers, and photographs. Pro tip: when booking you have the option to add $30 per person in order to make the tour "private" instead of possibly being accompanied by other people on the same tour. This is a completely unnecessary expense, as each individual gets their own driver/tour guide and the experience is nothing less than exclusive anyhow.

Cost $67 per person, worth every cent. Duration: 4 hours.

XO Tours

Another awesome company with an equally awesome staff. We opted for their morning Site-Seeing Tour and had a blast. Highlights include: Getting to meet and chat with the sweetest 86 year old legend, who has been working at the city's Central Post Office for 70 years, since he was 16! Visiting the intersection and monument where the Buddhist monk burnt himself to death in protest against the [...]. A very sad, very moving site to this day. We also stopped in HCMC's largest food market right at lunch time. This is THE place for a peek into real Vietnamese city life.

Cost: $34 per person. Duration: 3 hours.

What we didn't have time to do but is worth exploring:

• Visiting the Mekong Delta in the south (4 hour drive so might be worth spending more than one day there).
• The historic Cu Chi Tunnels (about an hour and a half drive from HCMC).
• American War Museum

Have fun and comment below or email us with any questions or feedback!

Vietnam Travel Guide

Vietnam is a large country. Even a month won't be enough to explore all of its beauty. We spent two weeks in Vietnam and will definitely be back. We didn't want to run around like chickens without heads trying to push as much as we can into the two weeks so we focused on 3 main places in Vietnam, we started in the south (Ho Chi Minh), and made our way north through Hoi An Ancient Town and then checked out to Thailand through Hanoi. Below you will find awesome recommendations and tips, all of which we've collected first hand.

GETTING AROUND

• Visa: American citizens need to obtain a visa in order to enter Vietnam. While a pretty simple process, it is one of the only countries in East Asia that requires a visa and some planning in advance. You first must obtain a pre-approval visa letter from a Vietnamese agent in Vietnam, it may sound complicated but this is a very standard and straight forward process and there are many different companies that provide this service and can be found online. We used a www.vietnamvisa.com and paid $17 per person. The turn around time was 3 days and you can opt for a "rush" service at an extra cost. You will have to provide them with your nationality, full name, DOB, and passport number/expiration date, as well as purpose of visit and address of where you plan to stay. Once you get the letter in the mail they will include instructions. They also offer a service where an agent of theirs will meet you upon arrival at the airport and will help you thorough the visa obtaining process, this service is unnecessary. Make sure to print your letter and also have one passport photo available to provide the visa agent with (they do have a photo service at the airport but it is probably expansive and will be a hassle). Lastly, it is wise to carry US dollars for the visa payment as their exchange rate if paid in local currency can be poor. Now, how much do they charge for the visa? A steep $135 per person. It used to be $25 for a one month single entry visa but effective September 1st, 2016 they changed it to $135 for a one year multiple entries visa. Although you may not need this extensive option, you don't really have a choice, it is the only one at the moment. Read more about Vietnam visa policies for all nationalities here. Don't be discouraged by the airport's officers strict and cold attitude, it gets better the moment you step out of the airport.

• Main international airports in Vietnam: Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi MInh (South Vietnam), Da Nang International Airport (DAD) in Da Nang (Central Vietnam), and Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) in Hanoi (North Vietnam).

• VietJet Airlines is a low cost airline in Vietnam, we used it several times and it was great. Domestic flights are around $50 each.

• Two most reliable taxi companies: Vinasun and Mai Linh.

• Best option from Airport to your hotel is probably a private car company called Songviet. Booking in advance will get you 30% discount.

• Uber is operating in Vietnam.

• In the big cities, do not wear any fancy jewelry or easy-to-grab bags and be careful when using your phone on the street, there are thrives on motorbikes that may try to snatch it out of your hand.

• I do not reccomend renting a motorbike in the big cities. It is to busy/risky. Taxis are pretty cheap and walking around is easy.

MONEY

• Local currency: at the time of writing this the exchange rate for 1 USD is 22,300 VND (Vietnamese Dong). Click here for current exchange rate.

• The Vietnamese 10,000 and 100,000 (LINK) bills are similar in color. We met two different people that accidentally gave a few 100,000 (about $4.5 each) bills instead of 10,000 (about 45 cents each). Unfortunately, in most cases they won't mention the mistake and will pocket the extra cash, so be sure to be careful and take your time when paying.

• Getting local currency: I find it best to withdraw money from the ATM. Usually best exchange rates. Be sure to inform your bank of your travel plans.

• Credit cards are widely accepted with a surcharge of 2%-4%.

• Cost of living is low in comparison to what we know. We've had great meals for under $10 (for two including alcohol) and awesome accommodations for $20-$50 per night.

• If you plan to exchange foreign currency at one of the counters at the airport, definitely do not settle on the first offer you get. Know the correct exchange rate in advance and negotiate to the closest rate. Jump between the counters, one of them will gives you the fair rate you deserve. 

CULTURAL TIPS

• Vietnamese aren't fans of standing in lines, they will cut thorough you like thin air. Prepare to protect your spots in lines. Obviously stay positive and cool while doing so, you are on vacation. :)

• They love honking in Vietnam, just get used to it.

• Crossing the street can be a real challenge, the roads are very busy with hundreds of scooters and cars. There is no such a thing as courtesy to pedestrians, if you will wait for drivers to stop for you to cross a crosswalk you better be prepared to stay in the spot for the rest of your life. So how do you cross? You just do. Look both ways and then start crossing slowly and confidently while keeping your eyes at the direction of traffic and on the drivers. It will feel like crossing through a huge pack of salmon in a gushy river, but you miraculously make it to the other side every time. Once you start crossing, never step backwards. 

MISC.

• While many know this city as "Saigon", its official name since 1975 is Ho Chi Minh City. "Saigon" is still widely used though. 

• Electrical outlet...

• Fun fact: Vietnamese are big on karaoke!

Our route:

We started in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), from there we flew to Da Nang and stayed in Hoi An (40 minutes car ride from Da Nang). We then flew to Hanoi, stayed in Hanoi's old quarter for a few days, took and awesome two day, one night trip to Halong Bay, and lastly went back to Hanoi for a couple of more days before flying out to Thailand. I am currently writing this sitting on a flight to Bangkok.

Choose and click on a place below to find out where to stay, where to eat, and what to do!

• Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

• Hoi An (Ancient Town)

• Hanoi

  And the cherry on top of this Vietnamese cake:

• Halong bay!

Seminyak

With its close proximity to the airport and the wide access to any type of activity, Seminyak can easily be your home-base when visiting Bali, or maybe the place you spend the first/last few days of your Bali vacation. Seminyak is located north of Kuta and is known as the more relaxed, less hectic area in comparison to Kuta (where you will mostly find a party-hungry crowd). There is plenty to do in Seminyak and it is a cool area that should definitely be explored, but keep in mind that (in our opinion) it is less of an authentic Bali experience and more of a fun, good-vibe vacation spot.

Where to stay

Jeje's Secret Wooden House
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Great value for the price, these uniquely designed Balinese cabins with AC are located on a beautiful property. 10 minute scooter drive from the center of Seminyak. Approx. $38 per night.

Where to eat

La Favela

Owned by the same guys who own La Laguna in Canggu and a few other spots on the island, there are no words can truly do justice to describe this place. Take your time walking around to explore the one-of-a-kind unique design and art. The different floors and the many hidden rooms will leave you jaw-dropped. Food and cocktails are great. Pricier for Bali but nothing too crazy, and it's certainly worth it. Take note: At night the furniture disappears and the place turns into a well-known bar/club.

What to do

Shopping - WE'AR Yoga Clothing & Off Duty Wear

If you are looking for some unique yoga and casual wear, definitely check out this designer from New Zealand. Everything made in Bali.

Escape the Room

Whether you've played one these games before, or even if this is your first time, you are guaranteed to enjoy this cool experience! Nice activity for a way-too-hot, or rainy day.

Uluwatu

Uluwatu features some of Bali's (and the world's) most unique and beautiful beaches and surf spots. Be sure to spend at least a few days there to relax and soak up some sun, surf or watch the awesome waves. Good food also guaranteed!

Where to stay

D'Padang Home ST
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Pretty basic rooms with AC, cool pool and a great location. Approx. $38 per night.

Where to eat

The Mango Tree Cafe

An awesome, laid-back restaurant with great prices. Definitely try the the zoodled carrot and beet vegetable salad with tahini dressing!

Bukit Cafe

Cool place for brunch. Service can bit a little hit-or-miss. 

Single Fin

Great spot for beer or cocktails while watching an amazing sunset and some great waves. Weekend nights can get pretty wild so if you're into it, this is a bar with a party scene. A bit pricier for Bali.

What to do

Uluwatu Temple

A beautiful temple with amazing views on the edge of a cliff. They have a traditional Balinese dance performance daily at 6pm (approx. $8). It costs about 7 cents to enter the parking lot with a motorbike or 15 cents with a car. Entrance fee to the temple is about $1.5. Pro tips: You must wear a Sarong in order to enter the temple, bring your own or get one for free while buying your entrance ticket. Arrive around 5pm so you can walk around for 45 minutes before getting a seat for the show. They start selling tickets at 5pm and it can get pretty hectic pretty fast. Stay calm, have the exact cash ready (100,000 IDR per person), push your way through the many tour guides and wave the money while yelling the number of tickets ("two tickets please!!"). Kind of like Wall Street. Important: There are monkeys walking around the temple. Unlike the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forrest in Ubud, these ones are pretty aggressive. Absolutely do not wear sunglasses, jewelry, hold a bottle of water, or generally have any loose articles. These monkeys will snatch your stuff in no-time, and there is no getting it back. Try to avoid these monkeys and do not make eye contact, there are plenty of other opportunities to meet some nice monkeys in Bali. :)

Bingin Beach

The many steps that lead to this magical beach are surely worth it. Spend the day there and as the evening unfolds watch all the fishermen set up tables on the sand for an awesome seafood feast. You will be able to choose your fresh fish on the spot, and sip a beer while they grill your selections.

Padang Padang Beach

As you drive across the main street (Jalan Labuansait) and cross a small bridge, you won't miss this gem of a beach. It is the one where many people stop on the side of the road to snap an awesome photo from above. If you pass the bridge driving east, the entrance will be on the left. They charge about 75 cents to enter but it is certainly worth it!

Suluban Beach (AKA Uluwatu Beach)

Although a bit difficult to find (take the left lane at this fork and follow the "Uluwatu Beach" signs), this one is truly a hidden paradise. Pro tip: when arriving down there, do not miss the even-more-hidden beach nicknamed "Sunny Beach". You will have to go through the cave on your left. Not to worry, it's really easy! And wait until you see the beach that gets revealed!

Surf

Bali, in general, and Uluwatu, specifically, features some of the world's most amazing waves. Whether you are a pro-surfer or just interested in taking some lessons, Bali has you covered. We spent a few days at Rapture Surf Camp and had fun. Things to note: they have two camps in Bali. Their "Padang Padang" surf camp is better-situated and generally has a warmer feel to it. I don't think this company is a good choice if this is your first time surfing. Also, be sure to surf with lycra on, no matter what they say. Even though the water temp is great, wax + salt water + exposed chest = a painful experience.

Ubud

Located in the heart of Bali, this jungle of a place has some amazing restaurants, boutiques, as well as nature treks. Many people who visit Ubud on a quick day tour seem to find it underwhelming. We are guessing that it's due to those people being dropped off on the main street, which is a serious tourist hub (to give you an idea, that street is the home of the only Starbucks we saw in Bali). The real magic of Ubud is hiding in the side-streets and the outskirts. We seriously believe that Ubud and its environs are places not to be missed.

Where to stay

To get the most out of this place you should definitely check out the many Airbnb's and homestay villas available in and around Ubud. We stayed in Tegalalang which is a 15 minute scooter drive from central Ubud.

Christina's villa in Tegalalang
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A private loft-style villa with a pool, Approx. $70 per night, suitable for a couple.

Taman Thai Villa
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A cool, newly built villa with with traditional Balinese design and wonderful rice field views. The villa features a large living room and kitchen, plus 3 bedrooms with en-suite private bathrooms. Rooms can be rented separately, approx. $40 per night. Great Thai restaurant on property.

Where to eat

Atman Cafe

Try the coconut pancakes with caramelized banana for breakfast and the chickpea-beetroot falafel for lunch!

Kafe

Quaint outdoor seating. Perfect for having a meal while people watching on Hanoman street. 

Earth Cafe

Vegan hotspot, Mediterranean and East-Asian menu items. Awesome views of Ubud's rooftops.

Sari Organik

Be sure to dine at the one on Subak Sok Wayah Street, located in a rural area surrounded by rice fields. Wonderful organic dining experience for lunch and dinner.

Warung Sharaswhaty

Great Indian food with a very relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. Sit on the second floor, cross-legged on pillows.

Yellow Flower

The many steps that lead to this hidden gem will well be worth it. Beautiful place with breathtaking views, delicious vegetarian-only cuisine.

La Pachamama

If you're missing some Mexican flair, this is a cool, vegan place with great cocktails. Expect higher prices compared to other spots.

Dapur Bunda

Indonesian tapas? Yes please. Authentic cuisine and beautiful homestyle experience.

Bali Buda

Our go-to grocery store!

What to do

Hike Mount Batur

This volcano is located in northern Bali so it is suggested that you book the tour while staying in Ubud. Highly recommended to hike it over-night so you can watch the sunset at the top. Be sure to bring warm clothing! Do it with a private guide. There are many options on Trip Advisor or get in touch with us and we can share our guide's information.

Alam coffee plantation

Ever watched the movie "The Bucket List"? Go try Jack Nicholson's favorite coffee - world-famous Kopi Luwak. Great experience where you will get to taste many types of unique coffees and teas in a beautiful setting. Only costs a few dollars! 

Chez Monique silver jewelry class

A silver welding and jewelry making class where you'll leave with your own finished creation, ready-to-wear. Chez Monique is an ever-unique experience inside a family's home and business that will tap you into the craftsmanship culture of Ubud. Cost: approx. 33 USD. Time: 2-3 hours.

Five Art Studio wood carving or painting class

Come to learn the ancient ways of Balinese woodwork or tapestry painting, and leave with your own art piece + memories of Ubud's cutest family; all of which will surely last a lifetime. Wayan's passion for life, art and education is contagious. We can't wait to come back to volunteer in his English-speaking classes for his community, coming soon! Cost: approx. 30 USD. Time: 3-4 hours.

Ubud Traditional Spa

A hidden gem and true bargain. It's difficult to choose the best thing about this place: their on-site fruit and herb garden is the source of your tea, massage oil, and fruit plate; their staff is another special extension of Balinese warmth and hospitality. If you're looking for a traditional spa experience in Bali, the name says it all. $14 for 60 minutes.

Ubud Yoga House

Open-air yoga studio in the middle of Ubud's rice fields? Yes, please! $10 per class, or less, if you opt to buy the 3/5/10/20 class cards.

Sacred Monkey Forest

A beautiful place to visit and walk around. Friendly monkeys all over the place, guaranteed. Be sure to pass the entrance quickly in order to venture to the less touristy areas and have some 1 on 1 (or 5 on 1) time with the monkeys. There are ladies who sell banana bunches so you can feed them, approx. $2 for a small bunch and $4 for a large. Pro tips: Don't wear any jewelry or sunglasses as the monkeys snatch them for their own. Go earlier in the day, as the monkeys can get over-indulged by the hoards of tourists—to the point they won't interact. If you want to snatch a photo with a monkey hold a banana above your shoulder or your head, and they will climb you like a tree. Nothing to fear! These guys are cool. Entrance cost is $3 per person.