Advice needed for 4D3N HCM Trip

We%26#39;re a group of 3 Asian young ladies and will be in HCM end of March. I%26#39;m now looking for a hotel and perhaps sketch a bit of the itinerary. Need some advice here...

I%26#39;ve read through several reviews and some much-raved options like:

An An (is An An 1 or 2 better?)

Bich Duyen (is there a website for this hotel?)

Lavender (is there a website for this hotel?)

Hong Han Guesthouse (any reviews?)

Lac Vien (any reviews?)

Luan Vu Guesthouse (any reviews?)

Thien Xuan Hotel (any reviews?)

I see Elios is highly recommended but is it supposed to be on the higher end? Saw triple rooms going for US$100. We%26#39;re not particular on accomodation and it could even be a simple guesthouse, as long as location is good and rooms are clean. Any other recommendations is much appreciated!

OK heres the bit on itinerary - Intended to book the Sinh Cafe tours when we reach there on a Saturday morning. I understand there are many copies around, so how can I make sure its the right one? Any landmarks, pictures of distinctive features?!

I also see many of you do overnight Mekong tours. If i do a 2D1N does that mean I need to check out of my District 1 hotel for the day?

Advice needed for 4D3N HCM Trip

We stayed at An An. At the time (Jan last year) it was a bit better then An An 2 as it had been more recently renovated, but that may have changed by now. Rooms were very clean (we stayed there twice) and staff helpful and friendly. They have at least one room with three twin beds- we stayed in it.

Sinh Cafe (the real one) is just around the corner. As you leave the hotel turn right and go to the next major corner, De Tham (not the little alley next door). As I recall there is a little pharmacy on that corner. Turn right again, without crossing the road. Sinh Cafe is about 50m up the street, there is an actual cafe (not surprisingly called Sinh Cafe) selling French type pastries etc next door.

Advice needed for 4D3N HCM Trip

Thanks Yorkfoodie for the very detailed directions and advice! Is there any preferred day tours from Sinh Cafe?

I was thinking of:

Cao Dai / Cu Chi Tunnel (1-day)

Cai Be / Vinh Long (1-day)

And the remaining 2 days around the markets and self-tour

I stayed in Lac Vien in October 2008 but will try An An 2 for my trip next week - thought Lac Vien location was OK but thought it was a bit over priced for what you got.

I kept the room while I was away on a 2 day / 1 night Mekong Delta trip (and paid accordingly) but the hotel would have kept the luggage, I just didn%26#39;t want to check in and out again.

Sinh Cafe tours are basic but very good value for money.

In my opinion ....

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt; Cao Dai / Cu Chi Tunnel (1-day) %26gt;%26gt;%26gt; I thought Cao Dai was not worth the time spent on the bus. Cu Chi Tunnels was OK but it rained as soon as we got there and didn%26#39;t let up. It looked like there were very few tour groups that went in the afternoon and things seemed a bit quiet. I%26#39;d go on a Cu Chi tour in the morning if I was to do it again and then a self guided walking tour around HCMC in the afternoon.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt; Cai Be / Vinh Long (1-day)%26gt;%26gt;%26gt; If you have time think about a 2 day / 1 night Mekong Delta trip. I really enjpyed it and will go for longer this trip.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt; And the remaining 2 days around the markets and self-tour %26gt;%26gt;%26gt; I found HCMC quite pedestrian friendly (despite the traffic) with wide footpaths, good street signage. It is very easy to cover most of downtown HCMC on foot and 2 days would go quite quickly.

My suggestion would be .... 1/2 day Cu Chi tunnels and then walk to Re-unification Palace and Ben Than Market area. A 2 day / 1 night Mekong Delta trip next with an extra day to take in HCMC other sights.

I found the www.reidontravel.com web site very good for general information and great maps and suggested walking tour.

Thanks Stekmer too!

I%26#39;ve checked for available rooms for my trip and has shortlisted Lac Vien (US$28), Elios (US$63) and An An 2 (US$25). Welcome any feedback on these choices! I%26#39;ve read reviews and Elios seems to top in popularity but of cos its price is the steepest of the lot. Still considering if its worth paying that much! Lac Vien seems good except I%26#39;ve read much about it being really small. An An 2 has also several great reviews.

Another question will be the airport buses. Any directions on how to get to Lac Vien and Elios on them? Is it easy to identify the street to alight? Elios offers transport arrangement at US$25; Lac Vien US$15 and An An 2 i believe is free...

Hullo,

I%26#39;m currently staying in An An 2 Hotel. The standard rooms (US$25) a little small but great quality fittings and fixtures, even a safety deposit box and flat screen TV. The deluxe rooms for US36 look very nice.

I got a taxi from the airport for US$8, from any of the 4 or 5 money changer booths just as you walk past customs. It was a grat service and evn a personal escort to the large and new car. I think the company logo was SAG .... or perhaps SGA.

The location is great of An An 2 is very good. The free WiFi reception in my 4th floor room works well enough to be sending this reply. Be wary of the free PCs downstairs though - virus and spy ware ridden (as are all the free PCs I%26#39;ve come across in Vietnam hotels)

The Elios looks very flash but I will stay in An An 2 again without hesitation. I like it more than Lac Vien. They reply to emails, held my booking for me evn though I arrived just after 6 pm (Fri 13th)

I%26#39;m booked with Sinh Cafe for 3 days / 2 nights to Phnom Phen - leaving tomorrow. The cost is 815,000 VND and another US$5 for the bus at the end of the boat ride.

Hope you have a good trip :-)