Accomodation
Accomodation: LeSoleil 3 bedroom apartment
Address: Chung cu BMC 422 Vo Van Kiet, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Cost: $90 SGD for 2 nights per pax
Currency rate: $1 SGD : 16,200 VND
Power plug: 2 round pin
Temperature: 36-37 / 26-27 degree celsius
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The apartment is really as nice as what is in the photo, and water and snacks are provided complimentary to us. Thumbs up for the apartment.
What to do in Tan Son Nhat Airport
Allocate at least 40 mins to clear the custom in the airport. The Q is terrible and processing is slow. I appreciate much more with Changi Airport for its efficiency.
The most important thing to buy in airport is definitely the data sim card. Either Viettle or Song Viet, a 3G data sim card with unlimited data from Viettel that cost 190,000VND. It is located on the both ends left side or right side near the exit, right after the custom scan.
Go to the money changer in the airport to change some VND first. Exchange rate is 1SGD to 160,00 Dong, located at the front after exiting the arrival hall.
We bought our 4G data SIM card from the most end stall on the left after exiting the baggage collection hall. Vinaphone 4G 3 in 1 sim card with 5GB for our trip that costs 105k dong each.
From the airport, either you travel by taxi or go for uber/grab. Uber/grab usually are 2/3 of the usual taxi fare. Ask the driver to arrive at Column 10 for private car pick up. Estimated cost: 100,000 VND
As for the taxi, there’s a taxi stand located at the exit. Please go with meter taxi. Recommended taxis: Mai Linh (green) and VinaSun. Estimated cost: 150,000 VND
We booked private transport that can cater 9 of us who are traveling together to our apartment in the city for 400,000 dong. The traffic in HCMC is pretty bad, estimate a 30 mins ride took us about 50 mins to arrive.
About HCMC
The central area of Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, mainly to shop, and go for relaxation package. Tailor made mens shirt and pants, the north face jacket is popular buy. We shopped around at Dist 1 on our first night.
Tailor made men’s shirt and pants are relatively cheap at Silk Bao. Where you have to pick the cloth yourself among the huge selection. Shirts are selling at 400k dong each while pants are at 600k dong. 50% deposit required after confirmation of order. There is another tailor made shop Phuoc tailor which is just 3 stalls away from bao silk. Their cloth material are of better quality however, they are charging at USD and a little more pricey compare to the one at bao silk. Shirts range 17 to 22 USD depending of the material, while pants range 28-32 USD. If you opt to pay in Dong, they multiply 23 for the conversion. The plus point is that they just require one day to process the order.
The outcome of the products are in good shape and fitting, auntie has been very friendly and ask where we are from and she has quite a number of Singaporean patronize.
Bao Silk
233 De Tham St., Dist 1, HCM City Vietnam