Vietnam Travel Guide and Information: My Tho-Ben Tre Upper Mekong River Cruise Tour Package

If you haven't been to any South East Asian countryside, then having this river cruise is worth the time. On a personal note, however, this tour was a disappointment to me. Maybe because I'm from the Philippines, an Asian country,  this tour did not offer any "new sights" for me.

Vietnam Tour Day 2: 

Just like on our first day, we were fetched by a van at around 8:15 in the morning. Another hour was spent in getting other people who will also join the tour.

The city of My Tho is about 3 hours from Ho Chi Minh. It was a long drive considering that the traffic was very light. It is in My Tho where the river boats are docked.

Along the way, we stopped in a handicraft store where people with disabilities make wood engravements just like where we've been to the day before.

sample artwork

We then proceeded to My Tho City. Personally, there's nothing unique about this place. The port is located on the edges of the city proper.

striking a pose near the dock

We rode a motor-powered boat to get to the four islands. From the dock, it would take about 20 minutes to get to the first island. Take note, the Mekong River looks very dirty- brownish and muddish. Good thing it's not stinky.

First stop, we were treated with fruits grown in Vietnam- papaya, watermelon, chico, pineapple and star apple, together with tea. We were also serenaded with Vietnamese folk songs and music.

fruits, fruits, fruits!

vietnamese folk singers

Next stop is a short boat ride in the midst of a narrow river. Two people were rowing for us.

boat rowing or rowing boat?

Then we proceeded to the Honey Bee farm where we were shown how the bees make honey. We were also given sample organic sweets- ginger candies, banana chips, etc.

sticking my finger on a bee colony to get honey

After the Honey Bee Farm, we went to see Coconut Place. This is where various coconut products were showcased- coconut candies, bags, figurines, etc.

covering coconut candies

figurines made from coconut

From the Coconut Place, we rode a horse-drawn carriage to usher us into the place where we'll have our lunch.

elephant fish (optional lunch)

There were three girls in our tour who thought that we'll get to swim during the trip which did not happen. Just an opinion, you can forego this trip and choose instead to have another tour package.

EXPENSES:

10 USD - Tour package fee (Tropic Tour) with lunch
3-5 USD - Tips

REMINDERS:

1. Wear something light.
2. Bring water and a hat or cap.
  

Vietnam Travel Guide and Information: The Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnel Tour Package

Vietnam has a proud history of successfully resisting the US Forces. This was largely due to the genius creation of their tunnels. At the same time, Vietnam is also a melting pot of Asian religion such as Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Hence, its worth to visit the infamous Cao Dai Temple and the Cu Chi Tunnels for historical and religious appreciation of Vietnamese culture. 

Vietnam Tour Day 1: 

The tour to the Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnel started at around 8:30 am when an airconditioned bus fetched us from our hotel. Another hour is spent from fetching other tourists in their respective hotels. So it was about 9:30 am when our bus was officially bound for Cao Dai Temple.

Along the way, we stopped at handicraft factory and store where people with disabilities create beautifully-crafted maches and engravements. For budget travellers, however, cheaper versions of these handicrafts can be bought in the city. 

making art pieces with egg shells

sample art pieces on lacquered wood

It was before lunch time when we reached Cao Dai Temple. Initially, I thought that Cao Dai Temple is just one big temple. I was surprised that Cao Dai Temple is actually a community of temples. There were even housings for volunteers and members of the community. The Cao Dai Temple is about 3 hours from Ho Chi Minh. 

the main temple of Cao Dai Temple

Footwear should be taken off before entering the main temple.  

leaving his footwear behind

We were just in time to witness their noon prayer. 

the devotees' at Cao Dai Temple

From Cao Dai Temple, it took us another hour and a half to reach Cu Chi Tunnels. (We also had our lunch first on a roadside cafeteria.)

There's an entrance fee of 2 USD in the vicinity of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Upon entering the area, we watched an old  20-minute video about the historical significance of the tunnels.

1

while watching a historical video 

 Then our tour guide showed us around the area including the various uses and sizes of tunnels, the traps and the shooting range. 

vietnamese trap made of sharpened bamboos

an entrance to a tunnel

a US tank captured by the Vietcongs

firing some shots

After an hour and a half, we were led into the tunnels to really experience going through them. It was the best part of the day!

inside the tunnel trail

It was almost 6:30 pm when we reached Ho Chi Minh after a day of peeking through the pages of Vietnamese history. 

Expenses:

10 USD -  Tour Package (Tropic Tours)

 2 USD  -  Entrance Fee to the Cu Chi Tunnels

 4 USD  -  Lunch

 1 USD  -  Share for the Tour Guide and Driver's Tip

17 USD  - Total Expenses

Reminders: 

1. Wear a light shirt. Sleeveless are not allowed in the temple. 

2. Wear a hat or bring an umbrella. 

3. Bring water!

Vietnam Travel Guide and Information: Going Around the City

A guide on maximizing your time when going around Vietnam 

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam is generally a walkable and safe city. Traffic is also light compared to other countries. There are a lot of trees and greenery everywhere.

Here are some tips to enjoy the sights of Ho Chi Minh: 

1. Take ONLY the Mai Linh and Vina Sun taxis.  As a lot of blogs and websites have mentioned, the taxis in Vietnam are the worst scams esp. if they sense that you’re a tourist.  They would take you around to see some tourist spot although you’re not interested to see them. So just make sure to take only the trusted names in Vietnam- MAI LINH and VINASUN. Make sure to check if the meter is working. Flag down rate is 10.000 VD. From the aiport to District 1, fare would be about 110.000 to 140.000 VD or about 7 USD.

Mai Linh Taxi in Vietnam

Photo Credit: http://www.vietnamtravel.org/taxis-saigon-avoid-being-taken-ride

 

2. Print out the address of your hotel.  It was a good thing that I took note of the exact address of the hotel where I stayed. Because of it, the taxi driver who picked me up from the airport was able to locate the hotel.  I just showed him the address and he drove me there since we cannot understand each other. (Haha!)

3. Wear light and airy clothes and always bring water. Just like the Philippines, Vietnam is a tropical country so the weather is either hot or humid.  So it makes sense to wear shorts and sleeveless or shirts during tours. Also, bring huge amounts of water although there are a lot of stores where you can buy bottled waters. The heat could be dehydrating. Wear a hat or bring an umbrella.

Boating on Vietnam's countryside

4. Ask for a city map. So you can have the freedom to move around the city, print out a city map or ask a map from the hotel where you're staying. If you're in District 1, you can actually visit the historical places on foot. 

5. Watch out for motorcycles! Ho Chi Minh is like a motorcycle city. The motorbike is their primary means of transportation- female or male, young or old. So be careful of whizzing motorbikes when walking along the streets. 

blurred motorcycle traffic in the background

And just like in any other place, always be mindful of your things especially in busy and crowded areas!

Vietnam Travel Guide and Information: Budget Travel in Vietnam

This article discusses relevant tips on handling money when visiting Vietnam. 

Here are some tips on handling your budget while visiting Vietnam:

the Vietnamese Dong

Photo Credit:  http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/asia/vietnam/2008/06/24/162405/Vietnam-trade.htm

1. Exchange your dollar bills to Vietnamese Dong. The value of Vietnamese currency is about USD1 to VD 20.000. In effect, large dollar bills would not be helpful if you plan to shop and dine around the city. For less than a dollar you can already buy a meal. Some Vietnamese tend to withhold change if you pay them in dollars. Don’t fall into letting go of your few bills by changing your dollars to their currency. 

goods sold at Ben Than market

Photo Credit: http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-photo/ngrick/13/1282250917/3_inside-ben-thanh-market.jpg/tpod.html

 

2. Know the prices of goods. Admittedly, I am not a good in haggling so I was fooled a lot of times when I bought some items in Vietnam. For example, I bought 25 sachets of coffee for 80,000 VD when I could actually buy 50 sachets for 100,000 VD. Then I bought a small cake along the streets for 10,000 VD when the actual price is 5,000 VD. I really felt bad when I realized my foolishness that I stopped buying anything during my stay.


3. Forego shopping , if you can. Since I am from the Philippines, I am familiar with cheap goods which are also sold in Vietnam. The clothes,bags and other goods that they sell on the streets and the overrated Ben Than Market can be bought at a cheaper prices in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The values of shirts and bags that we saw are twice or even thrice as much as the price in other countries.


4. Look for cheaper tours. The tour packages advertised on the net are twice as much as those you can find along the streets of Ho Chi Minh. I highly recommend Tropic Tours with several offices scattered around District 1. They offer one of the cheapest tour packages in and around Ho Chi Minh. 

tips, tips, tips

Photo Credit: http://soshable.com/social-networking-for-business-8-tips-on-how-to-relate-and-communicate/

 5. Include tips in your budget. Just like in the Philippines, people expect tips after they have served you. Hotel porters tend to linger in the room after they brought your bags waiting for tips. Tour guides also tend to remind you to give him tips. Even waiters from roadside food stalls expect tips. To save yourself from embarrassment, include tips in your budget. I usually give them 30.000 VD or 1 USD. 

Cheap Hotel in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam: Duc Vuong Hotel

Duc Vuong Hotel is a 2 –star hotel located along the vibrant Bui Vien street in District 1. Compared with other hotels in the area, Duc Voung Hotel is tucked on the edges of the quiet part of the street. Hence, this hotel is ideal for a taste of a Vietnamese night life yet also a place of rest. For discounts and other perks, book directly at Duc Vuong Hotel instead on hotel booking sites.

Duc Vuong Hotel facade

Photo Credit: http://www.ducvuonghotels.com/wp-content/plugins/flash-album-gallery/facebook.php?i=1&f=default_old&h=320

On my first night in the hotel, I stayed in a Junior Suite worth VD840,000 or around USD 40.  I only paid the half day fee since I arrived at the hotel past midnight. The next two days of my stay in the hotel was spent in their Bed and Breakfast rooms which cost about USD 11 per person. If you don’t have anyone to share your room with, you have to pay for 2 people. Both rooms are clean and have the same amenities- hot and cold shower, toiletries, towels, cable TV and WiFi access. The only difference is the size of the room. The Junior Suite is bigger. But then again, who needs a bigger room when you’ll only spend the night in your room.

bed at junior suite room

The beds of both rooms are of the same size. The linens and towels are changed everyday including the toiletries. They also provide free coffee for two. There’s also water dispenser on every floors so you can refill your bottles before going around the city. Comfortable sofas are also scattered on every floor should you want to hang out with other guests. The best place to drink coffee (since I am a coffee lover) is on their rooftop garden. It’s a small patch of land overlooking District 1. It’s soothingly relaxing esp. at night when you just want to look at the bright lights but not necessarily take part on it.

computer area

 Photo Credit: http://www.hotels.com/ho394831/duc-vuong-hotel-ho-chi-minh-city-vietnam/

Aside from the usual hotel amenities, Duc Vuong also has several computers on the ground floor for guests who need to browse the internet. They also have a buffet restaurant that provides free breakfast for all their guests and free dinner for guests in selected rooms. Tropic Tours, one of the cheapest tour packages you can avail in Vietnam, has an office on the basement area of Duc Vuong. Airport transfers are also available but for a cheaper cost, there’s no need to avail them.

reception

Photo Credit: http://realtravel.com/h-86166-ho_chi_minh_city_hotel-redsun_hotel

Lastly but most importantly, Duc Vuong has a very friendly and helpful staff. They were ready to answer all my queries including things to buy for pasalubong. Every time, we return to the hotel, the staff would ask how we were and would cater to our needs whether we give them tips or not.

Credit card is accepted but they don’t change money. If you want to change dollars to dong near the area, there’s Albatross Travel and Tours , a few blocks away from Duc Vuong. They also provide cheap tour services.

The only thing that may stop you from booking in this place is maybe the knowledge that there are other cheaper accommodations around the area.