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| This is a very basic guidebook. |
| The information in it was compiled from various reliable sources to serve as a quick reference for your journey. |
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| Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide |
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| What's inside? |
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Looking forward to an affordable and enjoyable getaway to Ho Chi Minh City? Let us help you with the plans. Our guidebook and its well-drawn maps will help you find the best places to visit, stay, eat and shop. It'll also give you tips on transport, tours, culture, festivals and the local language.
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| Help Save the Hairy-nosed Otter! |
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| Fund collecting in progress... |
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| The Hairy-nosed Otter is a small brown carnivore, with a long, slender body, flattened tail, fully webbed feet and a waterproof coat of rough fur. It is one of the rarest otter species on earth, currently listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. In 1998, it was thought to be extinct, because there had had been no sightings of it in the wild for many years. Since then, a few small populations of them have been rediscovered. At present, it is believed to live mainly in two nature reserves in Vietnam, the Toa Daeng peat swamp forest in southern Thailand, in Sumatra, and Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia. Although it is a strictly protected species, it still faces many threats, including hunting, habitat loss and pollution. |
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| What's an a4trip guidebook? |
| An a4trip guidebook is a travel guide that'll provide you with the information you'll need to plan your trip and to find your way around. Our guidebooks are downloadable in PDF format, and are designed to be so compact, you can take it with you everywhere you go. |
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| How can I pay for a guidebook? |
| We accept credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express (USA only) and Discover (USA only) via PayPal. Your transaction will appear as 'PAYPAL*A4TRIP' on your credit card statement. |
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| Help! Why can't I download the guidebook? |
| Don't worry, just get in touch with us and we'll deliver the guidebook right to your inbox. |
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| Just how often do you update your guidebooks? |
| We try to update our guidebooks at least once a month. |
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| Have more questions about a4trip? |
| Just Contact Us, we'd love to hear from you. |
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Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon, started out as a small fishing village surrounded by swampland. Today, however, it is the largest city in Vietnam and a major tourism hub in the region. During the French occupation, the city was dubbed the 'Pearl of the Far East' or 'Paris in the Orient', due to the strong colonial influence of its architecture. The elegant boulevards and prominent structures of that era have survived to become important landmarks, such as: the City Hall, the Municipal Theatre and the City Post Office, which form the core of the city.
Steeped in history, Ho Chi Minh City has quite a number of museums and sites of interest. The most popular perhaps, is the History Museum, which houses artifacts that span Vietnam's 2000 years of recorded history. The Ho Chi Minh City Museum, the Museum of Vietnamese History, the Revolutionary Museum and the War Remnants Museum are also a must for tourists. If you would like to get in touch with the local culture and religion, do visit one of the city's Buddhist temples. Many have beautiful pagodas, but one of the most interesting and lavishly decorated is the Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda.
An important historical landmark, which you simply can't afford to miss, is the Reunification Palace. It once served as the official residence of the Presidents of the former South Vietnam government, and was also the site where the Vietnam War ended in 1975, when the North Vietnamese Army stormed in and forced the President to resign. Although the palace is open to the public, not may seem to venture inside. If you do, however, you'll be rewarded with views of: the war room, lavish banquet and receptions halls, basement tunnels and even the president's office.
While an air of solemnity still prevails over parts of the city, Ho Chin Minh has also become a treasure trove of handicrafts and knick-knacks. All you need for a good day's worth of shopping is a good eye and to polish up your bargaining skills. Streets like Dong Khai and Le Thanh Ton are well known for jewellery, antiques, furniture, apparel, ceramics, amber and silks. But, if you're looking for something a little more offbeat, head onto Le Loi Street for war paraphernalia. Here, you'll find wacky items like toys made of Coca Cola cans and lighters made from M-16 ammunition.
The more discerning visitor, however, may prefer to bring home some lacquerware, rosewood carvings or Vietnamese coffees, which are touted by locals as the best in the world. They make thoughtful gifts and can easily be found in shopping areas like District 1, Ben Thanh Market and Cho Lon a.k.a. the city's Chinatown. While on the hunt for those best buys, however, don't forget to soak up the atmosphere, because your personal glimpses of daily Vietnamese life will probably be the best souvenir of all.
Most visitors reach Ho Chi Minh City via Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is located about 6 km north of the city center. Though the roads are in constant need of repair, taxis and buses are available for travel to and from the airport and within the city. Traffic congestion and air pollution are major problems, caused by the maddening number of motorcycles and automobiles. Visitors, and especially pedestrians, are advised to be extra cautious on the street because the lack of consideration by motorists can make the roads quite hazardous. Alternative forms of transport to neighbouring regions include railroads and waterways, which no doubt promises scenic and unforgettable routes.
Your journey will become even more memorable with the addition of food. Those familiar with Vietnamese cuisine will already be looking forward to steaming broths and noodle soups liberally garnished with fresh herbs. Some of the most popular eating joints include Thi Sach Street and Dinh Cong Trang Street, which are packed with tiny restaurants and open-air kitchens serving everything from seafood to steamed silk worms. If you're not keen on eating on the sidewalk, however, there are many authentic Vietnamese restaurants to choose from. There are also upscale eateries that cater to the business crowd, some with live music to entertain diners.
To visit Ho Chi Minh City, apply for a Visa at any Vietnamese embassy or consulate. If there aren't any in your country, opt for a Visa on arrival, which requires an application to the Immigration Department. A single entry visa to Vietnam, which may be valid for up to 3 months will cost from USD50 to USD85, depending on your country of origin. If you're traveling in a group, your Visa will likely be less expensive.
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