HCM City welcomes the 3 millionth visitor

HCM City’s 3 millionth foreign visitor arrived in Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 8.30 am, December 21, on a flight from Moscow.

More than 200 visitors on the flight were warmly welcomed. Three lucky visitors were presented a return ticket for the trip as the city’s gift to the 3 millionth visitor.

At the welcome gate, visitors were presented with flowers and enjoyed Vietnamese traditional dances.

“I’ve been to many countries. This welcome ceremony is very impressive. Vietnam has beautiful landscapes, long coast and warm weather so I decided Vietnam as the destination for my holiday. I’ll surely return here many times,” said Mrs. Nina Fedorova, the 3 first millionth visitor.

This is the first time HCM City holding a welcome ceremony to international tourists.

The city’s Tourism Department deputy director La Quoc Khanh said the ceremony marked the important development of the city’s tourism sector, with a 20 percent growth rate over 2009.

According to Khanh, the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam is rising. Their spending in Vietnam is also very high, which increases from 50-80 percent annually.

The city has also launched a promotional month for tourists from December 15 2010 to January 15 2011.

The 3 millionth visitor – Mrs. Nina Fedorova.

PV

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Tourism vibrant

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam tourism has great potential for sustainable development, and the country could become one of the most-visited countries in Asia by 2020, according to experts who spoke at an ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum held yesterday, Sept 29, in HCM City.

Foreign tourists visit a forest in Buon Don District in the Central Highlands province of Dac Lac. Experts at the ASEAN Tourism Investment forum yesterday said Viet Nam could become one of the most-visited countries in Asia by 2020. (Photo: VNS)

“The number of tourists to Viet Nam shows a consecutive increase with an average of 10.1 per cent a year for international tourists, and 4.8 per cent for domestic tourists,” said Professor Pham Trung Luong, deputy director of Institute for Tourism Development Research.

The forum discussed tourism investment opportunities and investment in ASEAN-member countries.

Last year, international tourists to Viet Nam decreased by 10 per cent year-on-year due to the economic crisis. However, the number of domestic tourists increased from 20 million of 2008 to 25 million.

The development of tourism had contributed positively to socio-economic development, Luong said.

Earnings from tourism increased from VND20.5 trillion (US$1.1 billion) in 2001 to VND70 trillion ($3.6 billion) in 2009, with an annual growth rate of 16.6 per cent.

According to the General Statistics Office, foreign currency earnings from tourism reached $4.02 billion in 2008, making tourism the fifth highest field in foreign currency earnings (following exports of crude oil, garments, shoes and aquatic products).

Tourism created 450,000 direct jobs and 1 million indirect jobs by 2009, contributing to poverty alleviation.

The development of tourism has played a part in the growth of other sectors, including airlines, construction and handicraft villages.

Total investment capital from the national budget in tourism was VND3.516 trillion ($1.8 billion) in the 2001-07 period. This was focused on provinces with national tourist areas, Luong said.

In addition, enterprises have invested an average of VND800 billion ($48 million) yearly into resorts and hotels.

Viet Nam has seen success in attracting foreign investment, especially FDI, based on the advantages of political and socio-economic stability and brisk and steady economic growth. Also, the country is a transport hub for Southeast Asia, and has membership in the World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC), ASEAN and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

In 2008, Viet Nam’s FDI capital flow increased to $64 billion, three times higher than the 2007 investment pledge.

Tourism was ranked fourth in sectors that attract FDI investment in Viet Nam, Luong said.

Foreign investment in Viet Nam tourism began in 1988 with a $7.765 million project, he added.

There were 431 FDI projects totalling $18 billion in the period of 1988-2008.

These projects were in the fields of resorts and hotel construction, golf, entertainment, transportation, travel and tourism services.

The explosion of foreign investment into Viet Nam tourism can be seen clearly during the period of 2002-08, with 307 projects and total registered capital of $15.454 billion.

According to statistics, most of the FDI projects were resorts and hotels in all seven central coastal provinces and southern islands of the country.

“This trend is likely to continue,” Luong said.

FDI projects in Viet Nam tourism all produced the desired effect, he added.

Annual turnover from FDI companies were around $800 million. Of the number, $100 million contributed to the national budget.

FDI companies also created 40,000 direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs.

Investment lure

Nguyen The Hung, acting director of the Southern Investment Promotion Centre under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said the country should continue to review investment and business laws and policies to ease cumbersome procedures and attract more investors.

It should also maximise all resource mobilisation for infrastructure development, give priority to the water supply and drainage areas and to environmental protection.

Other areas that need more attention include roads, railways, bridges, power production, solar power, wind power and the information technology industry.

The country should create policies on promotion and FDI attraction, and set up investment promotion representatives in key markets abroad, Hung said.

In general, in order to foster the ASEAN Tourism Investment Environment, ASEAN needs to internalise economic returns through tourism cluster growth, according to Professor Dr Wong Kong Yew, director and tourism economist of Malaysian Tourism Research Institute for Policy Studies.

“In the medium term to long term, this strategy encourages physical infrastructure development and promotes connectivity of resources,” he added.

Creating a business-friendly tourism investment environment would also increase growth.

Focusing on increasing opportunities to develop human capital would help develop the manpower to support that growth, he said.

He proposed the creation of the ASEAN Tourism Investment Fund and suggested that the Government encourage the participation of commercial banks and financial institutions in providing loans for tourism projects.

Last year, there were 65 million international tourists travelling to ASEAN countries, 1 per cent higher than the previous year, and 59.7 per cent higher than in 2000, in spite of the global economic crisis.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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Child “pirates” make chaos on Saigon River

VietNamNet Bridge – A section of Saigon River near Dieu Phap Buddhist temple in Binh Thanh district, HCM City was overrun by dozens of kids who competed to “rob” the fish released by Buddhist followers.

Kids sit on boats to wait for people releasing fish. They use electric tools to catch fish.

Some people row boats to the middle of the river to release fish, but the kids follow closely.

Over ten kids from Thu Duc district caught all the fish to sell at market.

Hoang Men-Nhat Tan

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Exploring the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vietnam

The Ho Chi Minh trail, made famous as a supply route for the North Vietnamese in the Vietnam War with America, is actually a network of trails and dirt roads roughly paralleling the Vietnam/Laos border.

Motorcycling on Ho Chi Minh trail, Vietnam

These trails were originally developed during the resistance movement against the French and were used to move troops and supplies during both conflicts.

There is no “official” Ho Chi Minh Trail because it is a loose network of trails, and there are no official tourist opportunities available on the trail, but the trail is available for hiking or biking as a traveler sees fit.

Danang is a good place to start. Flying into Danang will help you get your bearings in this country, and someone will help point you in the right direction. Going to villages to the west of Vietnam is your best bet, but understand that nothing official has been set up regarding the Ho Chi Minh trail. There are no museums or cultural exploration sites, nor are there marked trails or visitor’s centers. Renting a mountain bike and exploring the trails on your own is your best bet to experience the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Some war relics remain in these areas, destroyed tanks, shrapnel, etc.; anything that is too large to take to a recycling facility easily. These can be found lying in the open or buried under jungle growth. Keep in mind that it is important to stay on the trails as some of the U.S. bombs and mines may still be live in the areas.

A good place to explore is in the southern part of Vietnam near Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi tunnels that were built to infiltrate enemy lines were built in conjunction with a few of the supply trails. Many of these tunnels have been developed into attractions for visitors; they can tour almost 200 kilometers of tunnels built during the Vietnamese – American war.

Because the trails meander between Laos and Vietnam, it is important to know where you are and where you are going. This will keep you from breaking your visa agreement and being fined or kicked out of the country. Visas must be applied for at least six months prior to entry date. Tourist visas are granted for one month, but may be extended after arrival in Vietnam, and only allow one entry into the country.

Tourists must fill out arrival/departure papers and declaration papers, keeping both with the passport at all times. It is also recommended having a few extra passport-size photos with you as local authorities may request these and it is always a good idea to stay on the good side of authorities.

With over two-thirds of its roads unpaved and those paved roads sporting an abundance of potholes, the road conditions almost require a mountain bike. Most hotels, cafes and GHs will rent bicycles while also providing fairly dependable service options at the same time.

Source: bootsnall

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Traders in city lukewarm to grand sale program

VietNamNet Bridge – As the clock is ticking to the launch of the Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010 meant to woo travelers, traders in HCMC are still not ready to join the list of shopping venues to benefit from the program, a tourism official said.

The two-month program due to kick off in early August and last through September will offer both locals and foreigners discounts of 10 to 40% at shopping centers, supermarkets, and retail outlets among others in the major cities of Hanoi, HCMC, and Danang. Dozens of venues in Danang and Hanoi as of on Tuesday were available via the website of the Vietnam – Your Destination program at http://www.impressivevietnam.vn, while a list from HCMC was still not present.

The Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010 is part of the national tourism marketing campaign called Vietnam – Your Destination launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), with other stakeholders to include air carriers and tour operators and hoteliers as well. Under the guidance of VNAT, the departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the departments of Industry and Trade of the three cities will team up to carry out the program.

While Hanoi and Danang have made the first move, a tourism official in HCMC simply said the list was not completed.

“We have yet to bring out a list because it’s not completed,” said the source from the Travel Division of HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

He explained that the city met difficulty when calling traders to join the program as they are still confused whether to join it given several similar activities taking place in the city each year.

“VNAT has just launched a program this March while HCMC is having the yearly promotion program of its own in September so traders are still considering whether to join in,” he said.

The city’s Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the department of Culture, Sports and Tourism every year runs a promotion program, using the State budget to organize this year’s event scheduled for this September.

Preparation like marketing activities and budget for the program had been fixed before VNAT announced the Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010, the official said.

According the Travel Department under the national tourism authority VNAT, the department needs some days for preparation before officially promoting the program to customers. That means time has virtually run out for the three cities to submit their lists of shopping venues.

VNAT has said that it will petition the Prime Minister to give visa fee exemption to international travelers during the two months as well as refund the value added tax (VAT) to such visitors.

However, the incentive policies along with detailed contents of the Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale 2010 until now are not available and disseminated to both local and foreign tourists although the kickoff has four days to go.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Hundred of twins get together in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 100 twins joined the Festival for Twins at HCM City’s Dam Sen Cultural Park on July 18.

Rising at 4am to travel from Long An province to HCM City for the festival, twin brothers Tuan Khanh-Tuan Khang, 12, were very surprised to see so many people like them.

Mrs. Anh brought twin sisters Truc Linh and Yen Linh and prepared similar clothes and accessories for the sisters.

The festival began with games for kids and then competitions for twins and finally a twin fashion show.

This is the fourth festival for twins organized at Dam Sen park so far.

Some twins at the festival:

Source: VNE

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HCM City to host ASEAN Tourism Investment forum

VietNamNet Bridge – The ASEAN Tourism Investment forum will take place in HCMC as part of the annual International Travel Expo slated for September 30 to October 2 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in District 7, the organizer said.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told the Daily on Tuesday that the organizing committee had held the forum for Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in the last event. However, the committee has decided to expand the forum’s scale to all ASEAN countries as host Vietnam serves as chair of ASEAN in 2010.

Under the theme "Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the three countries, one destination," the travel expo will feature a tourism exhibition, meetings between travel buyers and sellers, free-show tours and seminars.

The organizer has invited Myanmar’s tourism minister to join discussions on cooperation with the tourism ministers of the three Indochina countries. Such agencies expect to reach common ground on tourism cooperation for the four countries.

"If the agencies agree to joint activities to tout the four countries as a common destination for international tourists we can start a new move to create a new theme for the next travel expo," Khanh said.

He said tourism agencies of Vietnam and Myanmar had since early this year started the first cooperation activity. Flights that link the two destinations are now available, so tourism stakeholders can further expand cooperation to include Laos and Cambodia to promote the single destination to woo international travelers.

At the event in 2007, the tourism ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia inked a joint declaration on tourism cooperation to make the three countries a common destination for international tourists.

Regarding this year’s event, Khanh said the organizing committee was calling for registrations from exhibitors and international travel buyers. Eight airlines have agreed to support to the event.

More than 200 buyers from 41 destinations have registered to join the event along with buyers invited by the organizers, he said, and around 160 buyers would be selected due to limited space, up 50 from last year.

The city’s tourism department is also collaborating with IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd and VINEAX to organize the international travel expo.

VietNamNet/SGT

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HCM City to develop riverside tours

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City plans to offer a new tour to a painting village along the Saigon River in District 2 in September and will also inaugurate the Saigon-Cu Chi-Binh Duong route as part of its plan to develop riverside tourism over the next ten years.

HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has conducted a survey along the Saigon River to develop the city’s riverside tourism from 2011 to 2020.

At present, some travel firms provide short-distance riverside tours in HCM City like Ben Nghe-Nha Be, Bach Dang-Binh Quoi, with six floating restaurants and three yachts.

Medium-distance boat tours include Saigon-Dong Nai, Saigon-Binh Duong, Bach Dang-Cu Chi while long-distance boat tours comprise HCM City-My Tho-Can Tho-Chau Doc-Kien Giang and Phnom Penh, Shihanuville (Cambodia).

The city is working on a project to develop three waterway bus routes in the city, including: Nha Rong wharf – Sai Gon river – Vam Thuat river – An Loc bridge; Ben Nghe canal – Tau Hu – Cho Dem; Nha Rong wharf – Saigon Port – Te canal – Doi canal.

HCM City has 87 river routes and a tangled network of canals that are favourable for developing develop waterway transport, but they have yet to be utilized fully.

PV

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Up to highlands, getting lost in nature

LookAtVietnam - In the summer, going to the highlands must be an ideal option for tourists to getting closer to nature and escape from the hot and muggy of the tropical summer in HCMC. Visiting magnificent waterfalls, poetic vegetable and flower gardens and strolling around endless pine hills will be nice experiences in Dalat, the city in mist and pine trees.

Prenn Waterfall, or so-called Tien Sa Waterfall, about 10 kilometers from Dalat City, is the first destination for everyone touring to Dalat. The fall is about 10 meters high and is surrounded by a primeval forest. Under the fall is a stream flowing along limitless pine tree lines and wild flowers trees. Therefore, after posing photos with the fall, tourists can hire plastic boats to drift along the stream or coaches to tramp around the park.

A view of Prenn Waterfall.

Scattered in the park are ethnic bamboo houses that travelers can stop for some food and drinks or some kinds of souvenirs. There is also a restaurant that serves revelers indigenous specialties made in highlands cuisine.

To get close to the fall, tourists must cross a small bamboo bridge spanning to the stream below or travelers can pay VND25,000 to take a cable car trip to admirethe fall.

In the park, excursionists can also explore Long Mach Lake, Au Co Well, Than Lua Temple. Nearby mountain is nestled Au Lac and Au Co temples where tourists can contemplate old ancient architecture that imitated Hung King Temples complex in Phu Tho Province and can see old artifacts such as musical instruments, weapons, jewelries, labor tools dating back to Hung Kings time.

Taking an elephant trip through pine hills or once try to seat on ostrich and make a round must be amazing experiences at the park. Here, tourists can also have a chance to contemplate of many types of orchid flowers and can purchase them as gifts for friends and relatives.

At night time, tourists can join camp firing. In the flickering fire, tourists can enjoy gongs performances and dances of ethnic peoples such as Chil or K’Ho and Lach, and taste ruou can (wine drunk through a jar via bamboo pipes).

After leaving Prenn Tourist Park, tourists must stop Dalanta Waterfall, Elephant Waterfall or Hang Cop (Tiger Cave) Waterfall to once indulge in nature and forget daily worries and stresses.

VietNamNet/SGT

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Ho Chi Minh City Travel Guide

Ho Chi Minh City

Area: 2,095.2 sq. km
Population: 5,891,100 habitants (2005)
Administrative divisions: - Districts : District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu. - Rural districts : Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.

Climate:The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.

History
Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China,Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6 th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2 nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.

Tourism
Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.

Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

Transportation

Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination.

- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina.

- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.

- Air: Tan Son Nhat International airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.

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Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam drawing tourists

For enthusiasts of ecological exploration, bird watchers , forest trekkers and river adventurers, Cat Tien National Park is a rewarding destination.

Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

About three hours from Ho Chi Minh City on National Highway 20, Cat Tien is in a winding section of the Dong Nai River in Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces.

The park is not only an attractive eco-tourist site but also an archaeological project associated with culture, history and religion.

Cat Tien’s waterfalls create large sand banks like beaches. The biodiversity includes bamboo woodland, grassland, wetland and primeval forest. The park has over 1,360 species of flora including 34 listed in the Red Book and many types of precious woods. There are 77 species of mammal, 320 species of bird, 58 species of reptile, 26 species of amphibian and 130 types offish. Some are threatened with extinction such as the Java rhino, bull, Asian elephant and fresh-water crocodile.

Watching the birds looking for food and then bringing it to the tops of the green trees is a nice experience. So is discovering the green forests and the secrets of the plants.

Some tree-trunks are hollow but still stand imposingly with other normal trees. Some have giant roots tied together like greeting gates.

After passing through the forest, travelers should relax on the large rocks and listen to the birds sing in harmony with the murmurs of the streams and be dazzled by the waterfalls. Tourists can also visit artifacts of Oc Eo Culture and many cultural and historical features of ethnic people.

Source: VNN/SGT/Vietnam

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Why travel to Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh city ?

A vacation to Southeast Asia is a bargain hunter's paradise, once you get past the airfare prices. Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City can provide travelers with worldwide cuisine, tailor-made shopping deals, and bustling nightlife, all on the cheap.

The U.S. dollar will get you about 18,685 Vietnamese dong (as of press time), and many travelers can comfortably get by on less than the equivalent of $50 per person per day. The region's countless options for affordable food, accommodations, transportation, and tours make sticking to a budget easy. The city's infamous street food carts offer delicious options for all three meals, but there are also plenty of higher-end establishments if you want to splurge.

Airfare from Los Angeles starts around $900 in April and May, and I found a three-star District 1 downtown hotel from $49 per night. For two people traveling together, base prices start at $2,143 for a week's vacation.

Let's compare prices to New York City, another major metropolis, commercial center, and major entry point for overseas travelers. Flights from Los Angeles start at $230 in April and May, and I found a three-star hotel in the Financial District from $175 per night. For two people traveling together, the base price comes to $1,685 for a week's vacation.

At first glance, Ho Chi Minh City seems more expensive—$458 more, to be exact. But let's take a closer look at your per-day costs. Realistically, travelers in Vietnam can expect to spend about $50 per day for food, attractions, and transportation. In New York City, that daily budget may be tricky (if not near impossible) to stick to. Consider that the average cost of a meal in the city is roughly $42; you're already planning for an inflated per-day budget. And back in 2007, the average price of a cocktail was $10. Going out for dinner and drinks could quickly cost you upwards of $100. Of course, there are ways to find cheaper eats, attractions, and transportation deals, but you've got your work cut out for you. That extra $458 in New York City may only go as far as a few meals, museum fees, drinks, and cab rides.

Consider, too, that Ho Chi Minh City provides the chance to travel halfway across the world for not much more money, as well as the opportunity to experience a different culture up close. Leaving your comfort zone and seeing a new country firsthand offers a whole host of benefits that can't be replicated stateside.

Once again, look at your travel habits critically when comparing possibilities. Do your tastes and activities tend to inflate your budget? How far will your money go once you're at your destination? Comparing average costs is a smart way to get the true value of your chosen location.

Source: usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2010-04-01-six-affordable-hot-spots_N.htm

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Cruise ship brings 2,000 foreign visitors to HCM City

The Saigontourist travel services on November 16 received over 2,000 visitors from the Costa Classica cruise ship docking at Navioil port in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Costa Classica, which belongs to the European leading company, Costa Croiciere S.p.A, plans to carry passengers to Vietnam every two weeks.

The tour includes visits to Ho Chi Minh City and some places such as Da Nang, Hoi An, My Son and Hue in Central Vietnam.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the tourists, mostly from Italy, Spain, Japan, Britain and German, will visit the Cu Chi underground tunnel and some businesses, go shopping in Ben Thanh market and take a ride on tri-shaws.

In central Vietnam, they will visit Da Nang City, Ngu Hanh Son marble mountains, Thien Mu pagoda, Minh Mang tomb, the ancient city of Hoi An, and Sa Huynh museum, and take boat trips along the Huong and Thu Bon rivers.

Saigontourist received over 62,000 sea tourists in the past 11 months.

Source : VietNamNet/VOV

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Introducing Ho Chi Minh City

Fasten your seatbelts as Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolis on the move – and we’re not just talking about the motorbikes that throng the streets. Saigon, as it’s known to all but city officials, is Vietnam at its most dizzying: a high-octane city of commerce and culture that has driven the whole country forward with its limitless energy. It is a living organism that breathes life and vitality into all who settle here, and visitors cannot help but be hauled along for the ride.

Saigon is a name so evocative that it conjures up a thousand jumbled images. Wander through timeless alleys to ancient pagodas or teeming markets, past ramshackle wooden shops selling silk, spices and baskets, before fast-forwarding into the future beneath sleek skyscrapers or at designer malls, gourmet restaurants and minimalist bars. The ghosts of the past live on in the churches, temples, former GI hotels and government buildings that one generation ago witnessed a city in turmoil, but the real beauty of Saigon’s urban collage is that these two worlds blend so seamlessly into one.

Whether you want the finest hotels or the cheapest guesthouses, the classiest restaurants or the most humble street stalls, the designer boutiques or the scrum of the markets, Saigon has it all. The Saigon experience is about so many things – memorable conversations, tantalising tastes and moments of frustration – yet it will not evoke apathy. Stick around this conundrum of a city long enough and you may just unravel its mysteries.

Souce: Lonelyplanet.com

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