Hostels in HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

City Ho Chi Minh – The Historic City of Vietnam

One of the largest metropolitans and the commercial capital of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh is situated on the banks of Saigon River. The city is quite dynamic with its bygone pagodas, towering skyscrapers, museums, markets, cafes and dilapidated yet active wooden shops with a wide range of baskets, handmade furniture, silk products and spices.  Also known by its traditional name ‘Saigon’, the city is named after the great Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.

Accommodation Options
The spacious, luxurious 5 star hotels in the city ensure a comfortable stay with world class facilities. Every hotel room provides AC, refrigerator, telephone, TV, wireless internet access, safe and a balcony. A mini-bar, restaurant and room service are also open to customers for 24 hours. The other services include babysitting, laundry, car rental, conference halls, currency exchange and Xerox. you can also choose from bed & breakfast, hostels, and guesthouse.

History
Ho Chi Minh City originated from a tiny fishing village ‘Prey Nokor’ dominated by the Khmer people. In 1698, Prey Nokor became a Vietnamese territory and was renamed as Saigon. It became a French colony in 1859. At that point of time, Saigon was coined as ‘Paris in the Orient’ or ‘The Pearl of the Far East’.

Saigon was declared as the state capital in 1949 by Emperor Bao Dai. It was called the Republic of Vietnam in 1955 when Emperor Bao Dai was overthrown by the government. In 1975, after the Vietnam War, it came under Vietnamese People’s Army, which is known as the ‘Fall of Saigon’. Thereafter, Ho Chi Minh was formed by combining Saigon, Gia Dinh and other close provinces in 1976.

Popular Places
To name a few - Reunification Palace, City Hall, Municipal Theatre, City Post Office, State Bank Office, City People's Court and Notre-Dame Cathedral – represent the historic French structures in the city. Few of the hotels are the best hangouts for gastronomes interested in architecture too.

There are several museums such as the Museum of Vietnamese History, War Remnants Museum, Revolutionary Museum and Ho Chi Minh City Museum. Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens made in 1865 is ideal for the flora and fauna lovers.

Getting Around
Boat is the most preferable mode of transport due to Saigon River. The easiest and fastest mode is the motorbike, available in plenty, anywhere in the city. Bicycles, buses and mini buses are the most economic options to travel around the city. Taxis take charges by meter. One can also hire a motorbike on rent but the company of a tour guide is required to explore the city.

Places of Entertainment
A bibliophile tourist can spend hours together in the HCMC General Library. An ardent follower of history and culture can take refuge in any one of the museums in the city.  Theatres and art galleries quench the artistic and creative thirst of the tourist.

The other recreation centers include Suoi Tien Amusement and Culture Park, Dam Sen Tourist and Cultural Park, Lan Anh Music Stage and Can Gio eco beach resort. The huge shopping plazas attract the travelers for shopping and entertainment.

Language(s) Spoken
Apart from Vietnamese, the natives here speak English, French and Chinese dialects (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hainese, Hakka, Teochew and Hokkien).  

Currency
The Vietnamese Dong is the principal currency of Ho Chi Minh. The currency exchange facility is available in most of the hotels and banks. The currency exchange rates are displayed in online news or printed in news paper.

Group accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City | Cheap hostels & budget hotels