Visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant city, rich with culture and historical sights, where French colonial style blends with Vietnamese architecture, traditions and daily life.


Tan Son Nhut International Airport is about 4 miles (7 km) from downtown Ho Chi Minh City.


You should change your money into "Vietnamese Dong" in the Airport as the exchange rate offered by the banks in the arrival terminal is 9.5% more than what I change in a Singapore money changer. US dollars are acceptable everywhere and is at exhange rate of US1 to 16,000 Vietnamese Dong.


You should not buy taxi voucher from one of the travel agent in the arrival terminal as they are expensive (240,000 Vietnamese Dong) compared with what you pay meter taxi outside the arrival terminal to downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
You should not pay more than 100,000 Vietnamese Dong or between US6 -US7.


Sofitel Plaza Saigon is a deluxe hotel, located on historical Le Duan boulevard, on which stand the US and British Consulates and the splendid colonial style residence of the French Consul General.


The hotel is in the heart of the city's commercial and business district and close to the Reunification Palace and the Majestic Notre Dame Cathedral.


The hotel provides shuttle to the Cho Ben Thanh market and Saigon Tax Trade Center daily at 9.00 am and 2.00 pm.


The lobby of the Sofitel Plaza Saigon.


This is the first series of a week in Ho Chi Minh City covering city visit and day visits to Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta.