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AssociatedLpierpointgroup @ Amazon Cloud Reader on 21/10/2013 - 20:38 amazon.com (2091 clicks)
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You’re finally taking that trip to Vietnam, a land of breathtaking beauty and sparkling seas. Vietnam has created an identity for itself that encompasses a powerful yet graceful culture, people and environment.
Yet there are many pitfalls and landmines to avoid as a visitor to any foreign land. This condensed volume combines the essentials of both a guidebook and travelogue in one indispensable package. Save thousands of dollars, avoid countless scams and never have to wonder what that bucket of water in the bathroom is for. Take it from an experienced traveller who spent over a year in Saigon and learned so much about life there he had no choice but to put pen to paper to bring you this book.
Part reference and part prose, this volume is filled to the brim with information and suggestions no other book will have a clue about. Most importantly, the honesty of these experiences will ring true with any fellow globetrotter. As we all know, one of the best parts of exploring the world is the invaluable advice, as well as the unbelievable stories, we get to share with one another. Travelers take the good with the bad and bravely forge ahead in the name of adventure, but why not take along a secret weapon?

From the author: "Saigon Survival is a multimedia heavy guidebook. The book is approximately 40,000 words of wisdom as well as many maps, photos, illustrations, tables and graphs. It includes a little bit of video and as well as mp3's of a native Vietnamese speaker voicing the translations. This is mainly in the language section, but is also scattered throughout the book so that you can pick up some of the vocabulary when it is relevant as opposed to memorising it by rote. Throughout the book are many 'Survival Tips' which are based on real life experiences to help you get the best out of your trip. Each section also ends with a list of 'Survival Links' which include other related and useful resources. "

Travel Asia eBook Ho Chi Minh City Southeast Asia Vietnam

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closed Comments

  • webtherapist on 21/10/2013 - 20:44
    +1

    i can be your live tour guide ;)

    • sweefu on 21/10/2013 - 20:59
      +6

      Your username makes that statement seem very creepy…

      • webtherapist on 21/10/2013 - 21:25
        +1

        never judge a book by its cover ;)

        • EarlyBird on 22/10/2013 - 08:57

          Or a person by his/her user-name?

        • save my dollarydoos on 23/10/2013 - 00:14
          +1

          put in spaces. Web The Rapist. His name is Web.

          Hi Web!

      • justtoreply on 22/10/2013 - 12:21
        +1

        Unfortunately with that username it takes me a moment to realise it's "web therapist" and not "webster the rapi…"

  • watty on 21/10/2013 - 21:00
    +6

    Interesting read but pretty sure you are going to need more than an ebook to survive Vietnam.

    • MrLeE on 21/10/2013 - 23:35
      +3

      My only tip is:

      • If your crossing the road. Don't stop walking. Don't make sudden movements. Focus on walking at one pace, and forward.

      Like water around a rock, all the bicycles will flow around you. Mind the Taxis.

      • watty on 22/10/2013 - 01:27
        +8

        The taxis are ruthless in Saigon. When I was there, I used probably 10 taxis in 2 weeks and once the driver (I remember his name was 'Minh') bumped another motorist that was on a scooter. You would expect them to go "alright mate, I'll need to take your details and insurance blah blah blah" but it was actually - rolls window down- "Where the 'f' are you going? HONK HONK DAU MA!".

        So moral of the story:

        1) Take the taxi when you can.
        2) If not, watch out for Minh.

        • tomleonhart on 22/10/2013 - 15:28

          LOL. So true that i laughed my ass off over this comment

  • kspec on 21/10/2013 - 21:02

    Do u need a kindle to read this ?? Or can work on iphone and android too??

    • dan0909 on 21/10/2013 - 21:05
      +4

      just download kindle app & then you can read this on iphone, ipad, android, pc or read online(kindle cloud reader).

  • Aceboy884 on 21/10/2013 - 21:27

    7 boys going to Saigon for bucks

    I'm sure we will survive, unless everyone of us is blind drunk

    • Third_Gear on 21/10/2013 - 21:48
      +4

      You will survive and come back as men. Have fun!

    • Mahogany Granger on 21/10/2013 - 23:09

      After Vietnam, go to Phuket for the REAL bucks party

      • Bugs on 22/10/2013 - 03:26

        Just what anyone needs…more sleazy guys using poor girls

        • Mahogany Granger on 22/10/2013 - 07:09
          +1

          Please do not be a generaliser. Just what everyone needs, another generaliser.

        • Bugs on 22/10/2013 - 08:55
          +1

          I thought I was being specific…

          What else can you do in thailand that you couldn't do in Vietnam? Maybe a group of men visiting for a bucks party really just love thai food and are taking cooking classes?

          If they are just partying….why do they need to travel so far…and without the women? The expense of all those airfares would make a awesome time…even in Australia.

        • Mahogany Granger on 22/10/2013 - 10:10
          -1

          Please refer to the included definition from the Oxford dictionary. "Generalise: verb, make a general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases: for example, it is not correct to generalise about the actions of tourists in Thailand."

        • Bugs on 22/10/2013 - 10:21

          Re read the comments professor. I wasn't talking about general tourists. I was being specific. "Come back as men" and "go to Phuket for the REAL bucks party"

          Pretty obvious now, right?

        • Mahogany Granger on 22/10/2013 - 10:39
          -1

          Please note, that the example incorporated in the above definition was merely a quote from a primary source. Good dictionaries use examples to help the reader better understand the definition of words.

        • DarwinBoy on 22/10/2013 - 11:19
          +1

          A bunch of guys going somewhere without the girls. The price of booze in Thailand compared to Australia.
          What that means is after a week in Thailand the super cheap drinks have paid for the airfares.

        • FabMan on 22/10/2013 - 19:07
          +1

          Screw bugs, go for the sex. In their culture sex for money isn't frowned upon. I don't like other cultures forcing their values onto others, especially when it's the fun parts they are ruining.

        • Wyzard on 23/10/2013 - 01:12

          Edit

        • Wyzard on 23/10/2013 - 01:14

          Mahogany Granger: Thank you Proffessor (sic) Mosby.

  • scrimshaw on 21/10/2013 - 21:50
    +6

    While HCMC is awesome for shopping, there are many other parts of Vietnam that are worth looking. I wouldn't go to Vietnam just for HCMC city alone… there's actually not much to do there apart from drinking, shopping and clubbing.. you can do that anywhere in the world!

    Some places I recommend putting into your itinerary:

    1. Cu Chi Tunnels (explore tunnels used by the Viet Cong, also get to see and fire a few guns at rifle range)

    2. Bike riding tour at Hoi An. Best to do this in a large group.

    3. Eat live seafood at Hoi An beach after bike ride.

    4. Red Bridge Cooking School. Hoi An. The chef there is a real gentleman (and a comedian).

    5. Ho Chi Minh's tomb for you history buffs.

    6. Sen Tay Ho restaurant. in Hanoi

    7. Halong Bay — probably one of the best bits in Vietnam. Go on a cruise, fish on a boat, go kayaking etc.

    • Make it so on 21/10/2013 - 22:35
      +1

      The Cu Chi tunnels can be visited by day tour from Saigon. I would strongly recommend a trip of a few days to the Mekong delta. It is very beautiful.
      I personally did not think Saigon was great for shopping, but it may depend on what you are after.

      Don't get tricked into buying tours at great cost before you leave - it is very easy in Saigon to book the tours there and then, for a very low cost. Plenty of backpacker-style travel agents around which sell the tours.

      • scrimshaw on 21/10/2013 - 22:46

        Yeah, the stuff they sell in Saigon can be bought in other capital cities as well. things like trinkets, toys, articles of clothing, these aren't really unique and you can get them everywhere you go.

        Be prepared to hear a lot of the saying: 'same same but different' when you enquire about the differences in the goods they sell..

      • spinferno on 22/10/2013 - 14:07

        I have relatives that actually served in the defence of Saigon - they scoff that the cu chi tunnels are a short drive from Saigon tourist hot spots, because the tunnels never reached Saigon.

        If hedonism isn't your thing and you want a folksy experience, travel to Hoi An or a smaller city. Personally, I can't deal with dudes trying to hustle a sale with me 24/7.

    • dasher86 on 22/10/2013 - 16:44

      I personally thought the Cu Chi tunnels was definitely over rated. C'mon guys a rifle range in a historical war site is a bit insensitive (and quite expensive).

      Mekong Delta was pretty cool but i'd recommend doing it yourself as it's more fun and less touristy.

      One thing that wasn't mention above was Sapa. Light easy trekking in Sapa with incredible sites - must add though Sapa is no where near HCMC, neither is Hoi An for that instance.

      • scrimshaw on 22/10/2013 - 17:37

        You'd have to fly all over the place to visit all the 'good' spots in Vietnam. I didn't go to Sapa. Would have liked to.

        Only managed to go to HCMC, Hoi An, Danang, Halong Bay and Hanoi.

        • dasher86 on 23/10/2013 - 10:42

          I didn't fly once. I got the bus around most parts of the country and a train to Sapa.
          However I did have loads of time on my hands and an 15hr sleeper bus is not everyone's idea of fun. However nothing compares to the bus Hanoi - Luang Prabang…

          Can Tho > HCMC > Vung Tao > HCMC > Dalat > Danang > Nha Trang > Hoi An > Hue > Hanoi > Halong Bay (Cat Ba) > Hanoi > Sapa

          Took the entire one month VISA and I moved pretty quickly if I didn;t like the city. Hoi An was fab maybe spent a little to much time there…

  • jong on 21/10/2013 - 22:10

    The ITA tip in the preview looks very handy - I've downloaded the whole book just based on it.

  • JepunK on 21/10/2013 - 22:35
    +3

    Imodium….keep it handy

    • scrimshaw on 21/10/2013 - 22:48
      +5

      Also don't get ice in your drinks, the water they use to make ice is not boiled and is usually straight out of the tap.

      While you're there, drink beer and cocktails. Cocktails cost a bomb in Australia so go there and drink em' till you drop.

    • Bugs on 22/10/2013 - 03:31

      If you eat street food, make sure its fresh or well cooked. Or you will pay like I did.

      • watty on 22/10/2013 - 08:13

        Street food is never fresh. Even if it is well cooked it remains not safe to eat there. I paid as well.

        • Bugs on 22/10/2013 - 09:42

          Restaurants are safer but boring…street food is interesting and fun. Better yet…make friends with some locals and eat real local food

        • J4MMI3 on 25/10/2013 - 06:52

          Street food is fresh, even fresher than in restaurants since there is no large left-over cooking in small scale, it's just food is not processed in a hygienic way and nobody was there to take care for your food safety so prepare some med and go for the real fresh food, if you dare!

        • Make it so on 30/10/2013 - 15:07

          Street food can be risky. But I found restaurant food severely overcooked (presumably to avoid people getting sick). So maybe streetfood is better after all….

    • COR80 on 22/10/2013 - 12:20
      +2

      I toured SEA for a month and ate the street food all the time without any problems. If there are locals lining up to eat it then you should too. I got the trots only once, following a late-night room-service meal at an expensive hotel.

  • frewer on 21/10/2013 - 22:44

    geez the places you guys visited are more than my 22yrs lived there put together. Even now, im being supa tight-arse, yet still cant afford the ticket to go back

  • gstfree on 21/10/2013 - 23:11

    booked flifht to visit Shanghai and Saigon next year, thanks for the handy book.

  • Joxer on 22/10/2013 - 01:33
    +1

    Having just come back from Vietnam after riding bikes from Saigon to Hanoi in 10 days… It's no problem to survive :)

    • none on 22/10/2013 - 08:37

      it must be a great ride.

      • Joxer on 22/10/2013 - 12:39

        It sure was… certainly an experience but 2 weeks just isn't enough time to do the journey comfortably.

        Ironically I think riding a motorcycle in Vietnam is easier than riding one in Perth. Drivers are far more reasonable and predictable.

  • Temporary username on 22/10/2013 - 02:15
    +3

    remember to take care of your bag , camera and mobile phone .plenty robbers, thieve there.:)

    • theworks on 22/10/2013 - 08:09
      +4

      Where there are tourists there are thieves. Rule of thumb.

    • COR80 on 22/10/2013 - 12:24
      +1

      I never had a thing stolen from me in SEA until I checked in my bags 3 hours before my return flight. Got back to Oz to find that the Thai Airways staff had helped themselves to a heap of clothing and gifts I had purchased for family and friends.

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