Thread: A Fist Full of Dong

Originally Posted by boatboy

Almost best not to even look, almost.

Originally Posted by Koojo

Don't wait for a break in the never ending river of bikes to cross the road, it'll never come, instead, wade across at a steady pace, not too quick but consistent. Somehow they just flow around you.

I'm notoriously crap at crossing roads so this should be fun.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Originally Posted by boatboy

Almost best not to even look, almost.

Originally Posted by Koojo

Don't wait for a break in the never ending river of bikes to cross the road, it'll never come, instead, wade across at a steady pace, not too quick but consistent. Somehow they just flow around you.

I'm notoriously crap at crossing roads so this should be fun.

Just be confident and don't stop or hesitate.


even better

Originally Posted by boatboy

Just be confident and don't stop or hesitate. Saigon Roundabout - YouTube

Piggy backs it is then!

Off peak traffic.

If you manage to get across the road get the ladies to make you a nice sanga.Bloody brilliant street food.

After a feed go see these Bints and down some beer.

These handsome gentleman speak good English and act as free lance Tour guides. you'll find them around the palace area.

If crossing the road makes your hair fall out you can always buy some more. Need to do my Vietnam thread.

As far as changing money goes don't fuk around, just change $100 at a time.

Cant go wrong with the conversion then.

Unless you are a dumb fuk that is.

Originally Posted by terry57

Wake up Willy, he's going to Saigon not foking Hanoi.

Originally Posted by Koojo

He's going to HCM, not Hanoi.

whoops, my bad.

Good advise Koojo, best to cross as if you own the street.

Originally Posted by gusG

You probably know already, but here it is anyway. Vietnam Visa On Arrival | The Official Website Vietnam-Visa.com

Originally Posted by boatboy

I have used and recommend Vietnam Visa Application, Business & Tourist Visa Vietnam Very easy and worked perfectly Cheaper than the above site as well

To Gus & Boatboy, how long do these sites take to send you the email conformation? My mate that I'm traveling with is worried that it ill take to long. We fly Sunday.

I haven't used them, just read about them.
But I think 2 days.
Google it up and get some feedback.

Yep, just checked both sites properly.

The first site said 1-2 Days or 1 day if urgent

and the second site says 4-10 Days

go to a travel agent in town, get them to get your visa, costs a couple hundred baht extra.

sorted.

Will be interested to see how this goes FP as I will need to start doing visa runs again later thus year and have never got round to seeing Vietnam yet.

Usually done an overnighter in Pnom Penh.

Cambodia is not currently guaranteeing 2 days visa anymore. It is taking up to a week to get a visa so you may want to double check before heading to Cambo

Originally Posted by Sir Wilson

go to a travel agent in town, get them to get your visa, costs a couple hundred baht extra. sorted.

This is the best option as then you don't have to deal with the grumpy " Visa on arrival " Nazi's.

Also you clear Immigration quickly as theres heaps of Muppets getting there Visa on arrival so they have to piss around before they clear Immigration.

Definitely a better Idea.

Change $50 at the Airport to get you started and then use the Official money changers in the city. Heaps around the joint.

Go eat at the central markets, the foods blinding as is the eye candy.

Go check out the " War Reminance Museum ".

Incredibly moving account of the American war and the atrocities committed in the name of stopping the spread of communism in Vietnam.

The yanks fuked that one up.

Heaps to do in the city.

Originally Posted by rawlins

Usually done an overnighter in Pnom Penh.

The wife won't let me go there. She thinks it's too dangerous.

If you care to save money, always use and think in dong, not dollars. The Vietnamese will gladly accept dollars everywhere, but they'll charge you $1-$5 for anything that costs under a dollar. That's a lot of things, including most motorcycle (xe om) rides, street food/drinks... and they add up. One exception are hotels -- if they state the price in dollars, it's marginally cheaper to pay in dollars.

For exchanging, use an ATM, they give by far the best rate. You can use any foreign card, including Thai ones (e.g. Kasikorn), and the int'l fees are not too bad (20-40k dong, which is 30-60 baht, compared to 150 baht in Thailand). Money changers sometimes cheat, so beware.

For the exchange rate, 100.000 dong is 150 baht, and 20.000 dong is $1. Not too hard to remember.

Vietnam is generally ~30% cheaper than Thailand, so when judging value of hotels, food, moto rides and such, you can treat 100.000 dong as 200 baht, and you won't be far off.