Hi,

Looking for opinions. I currently have three nights on the Mekong (Chau Doc, and then two nights on a river boat), followed by two nights, one full day in Saigon.

On these boards there doesn't seem to be much love for Saigon, and among my travel partners no one seems to care much if we ditch it. So I am thinking that maybe we should add another (hotel) night on the Mekong (maybe in Can Tho? or two nights in Chau Doc? Other ideas?)

But I also don't want to make a misinformed decision. Any Saigon lovers out there who want to make the case for keeping one full day there?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Amy

I loved the hustle and bustle of Saigon! Crossing the road is as much fun as a Disneyland ride.
The markets and shops were fun, great cheap books, Vietnamese coffee at one of the old fashioned cafes on the river, the interesting and disturbing tour to the Cu Chi tunnels, watching the early morning activity in the park opposite our hotel - I'm dying to go back!

We only had a day trip to the Mekong Delta, and that was great too. We also had a hydrofoil ride to VungTau.

I too love Saigon and totally agree with the previous poster's comments. The prime sights to visit/things to do are:
- Reunification Palace,
- The War Remnants Museum,
- The Post Office (yes really!).
- Lunch at a food stall in Ben Thanh market,
- A trip to Cholon
- Sundowners in Saigon saigon the rooftop bar at The Caravelle

Chu Chi is great but IMO a bit far out of town if you only have one day

I enthusiastically agree with Carrabella. Saigon has a "buzz" about it, a bustling energy that is completely different to Hanoi. The shopping is better than Hanoi, especially for lacquerware and shoes. Ben Thanh market is worth several hours alone. Excellent restaurants in Saigon. Cu Chi tunnel trip takes half a day and we felt it was well worth it. I was also surprised at how much I enjoyed just walking some of the shady boulevards enjoying the shop windows and street life.
We spend 2 days and one night (the daytime was mostly on boats and the overnight at the Victoria Can Tho)in the Mekong and that felt sufficient to me. Life on the river is very interesting, but it's incredibly hot there and after a while, the villages and markets start to look alike. Can Tho is just a city with some hotels on the river. Not much to see there.
What would you do in Chau Doc for 2 nights?

Lindsey--

We are also doing the one night Mekong with Vietnamstay. Did you find the arrangements satisfactory? Is there anything I should request--new car--air con--? Did you have a guide & driver for the whole trip or just a driver? If only a driver, did he speak English? Anything you would change?

Twofortheroad - vietnamstay organized our Mekong trip and we were very satisfied with it. We had the same guide and driver with us the whole two days. We also did a half day, Cu Chi tunnel trip with them while we were in Saigon. They both did a very good job. Driver spoke no English....the guide spoke enough that we could understand about 75% of what he said and he was patient about repeating explanations if we started to look blank. At one point, because the water was low, our boat was unable to reach the restaurant on the river where we were scheduled to have lunch. Our guide hopped off at another landing spot and quickly organized motor bikes to get us the rest of the way. For my daughter, it was the highlight of the trip!

After driving past a couple of the less expensive options in Can Tho, I was really glad we spent the extra $ on the Victoria. By the time we arrived, we were sweaty, filthy and very tired. Having a comfortable place to clean up, have a very nice dinner and a good night's sleep was well worth the money. The food at the Victoria was very good and there was free internet access in their little business center. We tried out the "spa" after dinner and that was the only disappointment. The young women who gave us our facials were completely clueless.
Can't really think of anything I would change. It's a nicely organized trip.

It would be a mistake to skip HCMC. Those on the board that usually bad mouth HCMC are Hanoi lovers. They are very different cities, but both are well worth visiting. Traffic in Hanoi is worse than HCMC. If you can cross the street in the Old Quarter, HCMC will be a breeze.

Re CuChi Trip - Lindsey. Our driver was TOO interesting, and I felt I had to watch him instead of the countryside as we drove! He had been sent as a child to USA for safety, and at the start of the "American" War, returned to Vietnam to work for the Americans. I really got a feel of what it is like to have your country invaded, even if they are on your side.
Do read "The Quiet American" by Graham Greene.

That said, I had four days, and if I had only two, I wouldn't use up one for this trip, though the War Museum at the end of the tour could easily be visted alone.

I vote for a day in HCMC.
Crellston put a good list together.

People watching at Cholon Market. Watch the young and older men and young women carry heavy items; a wonderment.

Buy peanut candy at Ben Thanh Market.

Note you indicate you are not a shopper but Dong Khoi Street, Pasteur Street has boutique type shops. A store on Pasteur Street showed me a magazine advertisement of a leather purse they sold in NY.

Even the famous roof top terrace bar at the Rex Hotel. It's kitchy. And has history. Take a picture in front of the big Crown on the roof top terrace.

Drop by the Post Office before heading on to the Reunification Palace for a tour. So much history.

We also went to the Opera House and saw Swan Lake. Not like NY of course.

Recommend a mix of Mekong and the "city".

Definitely do not skip Saigon. As others have noted, Saigon has a fabulous buzz about it that you won't find elsewhere.

Visit the Ben Thanh Market, Cholon and take advantage of the fabulous variety of food in the city. If you can visit a nightclub that is mainly visited by locals you may be lucky enough to stumble upon ballroom dance classes. Late nights at the most popular clubs are fun just to people watch.

There are tons of cafes to visit, movie theatres and restaurants where the locals go. These are great places to see what the locals are doing.

Take a cyclo tour of the city, go to incense alley and enjoy the sites of this great place!

hi all,
thanks so much for taking the time to write with your opinions. I think the day in Saigon will stay! It is so helpful to have your feedback and may get back to you with more specific questions as I start planning details..

-Amy