Fiona, I got stuck in the CuChi tourist tunnel and found it hard to get out backwards with wonky knees. Stupid for trying, I suppose, but it was an experience! I went with Delta Tours, on a somewhat crowded bus. On the way,our guide told us his harrowing story - sent to America as a child to escape the French, worked for the Americans during the war although his sympathies must have been with his own people etc. He was so compelling, I felt I had to look at him instead of the scenery, as I really wanted to. But I would go again.
The trip with Delta to the Mekong Delta was great - much smaller bus. boat trips, lunch, ricketty bike ride, candy tasting etc was great fun and great value - under $US 10 as I remember. It was interesting to see the wonderful bridge paid for, the guide said, by Australia - and he thanked us!

I can't wait to go back!

yes we are def planning a trip to the Mekong- not sure if we can overnight in the time we have.( also going to Hk and Bkk!)
Carabella- stuck! Oh dear!

For a magical sunset drink, try the Saigon Saigon bar at the top of the Caravelle Hotel. It is open air with great views over the square - probably my favourite bar in asia, if not the world!

I stayed there back in Feb. A very classy hotel and the way its designed, it is very quiet as the rooms are separated from the lobby so regardless of which floor your on. You'll never hear any noise from the lobby. Didn't check out the hotel restaurants since there are so many places to eat outside of the hotel. Nice location and great view of the river. If you didn't get a river view, just go to the rooftop pool for a view. Massages at the spa were $20 per hour if i remember correctly. Enjoy if you end of staying here.

Also might want to check out the Sheraton which has a great rooftop bar with a view of the city.

Hi fiona

For places to eat in Saigon, have a look at www.noodlepie.com - it's a food blog of a travel journalist who is based in Saigon. I followed a couple of his recommendations (Pho 24 and Ngu Vien) on my last trip there in May 2004 and they were excellent.

ttn7311, for $20 an hour you can expect to get much more than a massage. Not speaking from experience, of course.

Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is not my cup of tea -- too big, congested, and not much that is interesting. Can be a terrible sweatbox, too.

We found The Grand Hotel there to be just right for us -- old-style French that has been updated beautifully, marvelous food, reasonable prices, central location, and few American tourists. Not that there's anything wrong with the last...it's just difficult to appreciate the old atmosphere when all you can hear are Texas twangs, California y'knows, and NYawkahs honking at the top of their lungs.

Cu Chi tunnels? What a joke. An underground faux Disney-ish re-creation of what must have been hell under the earth. And wait until you crawl across a snake down there. Fun.

Take a boat tour up the Mekong to the Cambodian border. See the floating fish farms.

Danang and Marble Mountain are nothing but memories. Almost everything has been reclaimed by the underbrush and tourist traps. But the drive north along the coast is spectacular. Go north to Hue. What a great place and what friendly people. Just wander. Take a pedicab ride all over town for only a couple bucks. The Citadel has almost been rebuilt. Sure must have been a huge mess after Tet.

Fly on to Hanoi, our favorite. See some of the national parks in the nearby countryside. Take the train northwest to the Chinese border and then the bus uphill into the mountains to Sapa. A genuine Shangri-La.

There is SO MUCH to enjoy in Vietnam. But you have to get out, get away from the plastic-and-chrome watering holes, and see village life up close. VN is indeed a movable feast of ever-changing experiences. Wear comfortable shoes, pack along DEET, and leave your judgmental ideas at home. "The American War" (as they call it) is just history...of which, VN has too much.

thanks for all the replies. We have now booked the Renaissance. I appreciate all the tips of things to do-keep them coming! I'm off to look at noodlepie!

I'll second USNR's vote for the sedate Grand - but if you like modern 5-star hotels (I don't) it may not be for you. We didn't eat there, but the location is indeed very good.

Suggestion: rent the video of the most recent version of "The Quiet American", the one with Michael Caine, for a flashback to the French War, which of course became the prelude to the American War.

Anybody knows how is the New World Hotel location wise?
Is the Renaissance Riverside better located?

Stayed at the Caravelle too, just loved the rooftop Saigon Bar as well. Don't usually like hotel food but here it was scrumptious and inexpensive and the breakfasts were so marvellous that I could hardly bear to leave the breakfast room. Incredible variety. We booked Mekong Delta overnight trip, hotels in Hoi An and Hue, flights, Reunification Express to Da Nang, transfers to hotels with Go Vietnam in Saigon, much cheaper than booking from home (Oz). Maybe it was just the luck of the draw but enjoyed food in Saigon and Hoi An much more than Hue or Hanoi.

Rennanisance Riverside Hotel is much better location than the New World. They are located in different distict. RRH is quite central & has riverview rooms. Yet, RRH aged. I stayed in Sheraton with a very good rate 2 months ago. The room is HUGE and very new. Try to get a room there if you can. Majestic is a good choice too. Both Majestic & Sheraton are the most central located, RRH is about 5 to 7 minute walk from the other two. BTY, there are tons of hawker food stands around that area in the morning. Make sure you try that. I had hawker food very morning for a week, and didn't get sick. A great experience.

The Sheraton is the superior hotel choice in Saigon if you are looking at high-end hotels. I was in Vietnam three times last year (and will be back again in 2 weeks). I stayed at the Sheraton each time, and I would not think of staying anywhere else. The hotel is new, which means that everything is state of the art and in great condition. The service is great; wonderful pool area, workout room and tennis court. The hotel backs onto the Caravelle Hotel. Lastly, you can't beat the views at the Sheraton. Not only do you see the river, but you get excellent views across Saigon.

You should also look for information for Ho Chi Min City as this is the new name for Saigon.

just wanted to say thanks again for the help- we loved Saigon and the Renaissance. The food in Saigon is fantastic.We used the Sinh Cafe to book our trips- very efficient and ridiculously cheap!

What a wonderful thread.

We will be in Saigon for just the day, our cruise ship docks at the port of Phu My. We are considering taking the cruise transportation to Saigon and then would like to do our own thing. We are Canadians, so although older enough to remember the Vietnam war we would rather just experience Saigon as it is now. We would like somewhere to have a light lunch, drinks, view of the city and any thing else that might be doable in our short time there.

We would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks

Could you elaborate for another Canadian of the cruise you mentioned?
I have looked unsuccessfully for a cruise that goes to Saigon.
We want to spend a week in Bangkok, and do not care if it is the beginning or end of our trip.
This would be January.