Banging your head against the bus window on a boring tour isn’t an adventure. Challenging yourself with getting to the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own is an experience. I’ve crafted this article featuring all you need for getting to the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own.

Selecting a guide can be expensive and time consuming. The Cu Chi Tunnels supply free guides for visitors with an admission ticket. Read on to learn about how to get to the Cu Chi Tunnels, then follow their free guide for a money saving adventure.

Visit the Cu Chi tunnels on your own by calling a taxi, renting a Car, or hop on the local bus. Every option above has its own merits. Follow my recommendations found below, and you will be climbing through those elaborate tunnels in no time at all.

If you are adventurous but on a budget, I believe you are not looking at hiring a taxi or renting a car. Renting a Taxi or Car is a great option though for some that are not on a tight budget. I’ll give you options to pick and choose the best transportation for your Cu Chi Tunnel experience.

Hiring a Taxi

Standing on the sidewalk, waving your arm to flag down a taxi isn’t what I have in mind. Mai Linh, one of the most reputable Taxi companies in Ho Chi Minh City, offer some roundtrip fares to Cu Chi.

Be clear with the taxi company over the phone on dropping you at the Benh Duoc entrance. Also your driver will most likely not speak much English, if any. Speak to the operator on the phone ahead of time about any questions you might have before departing with the taxi.

Here are the contact information for Mai Linh. Use this information to get a taxi anytime not just for the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Mai Linh Taxi (10-15 minutes call before)

Hotline: 028 3838 3838

Saigon (District 1) -> Cu Chi Tunnels( Ben Duoc Entrance)

Option 1: 7 Hours or 70km (140km total) Package

4 Seats: 1,160,000 VND

7 Seats: 1,340,000 VND

Option 2: 6 Hour or 50 km (100km total)

4 Seats: 950,000 VND

7 Seats: 1,130,000 VND

***Every Extra Hour is 60,000 VND, Every Extra km is 12,000 VND***

***Tolls are not included in the price***

How would I visit the Cu Chi Tunnels on my own in a taxi?

Hop out of bed early, even though it’s vacation time. Drag my lazy butt down to the hotel buffet for breakfast. Speak with the hotel concierge directly about calling Mai Linh. Show the hotel staff this article with the Mai Linh prices and be sure to repeat destination is the Ben Douc entrance. Confirm that twice, sometimes details get lost in Vietnam.

When driving to the Cu Chi Tunnels, ask the taxi driver for his phone number. Ring him up when you finish and are ready to be picked up.

Eating a tantalizing bowl of Pho for lunch or experiencing new dishes at the famous Beef Restaurants out in Cu Chi might be worth planning ahead of time on the way home.

How to do the Cu Chi Tunnels with Car/Van/Van Limousine Rental on your own!

Traveling with my family is like pulling my own teeth sometimes. A little sister who cries when out of her comfort zone and a brother who shouts about always being bored. The picture I am painting is familiar to some people. The family comfort factor rests heavily on us when traveling sometimes.  Rental services have large comfortable vehicles that will make getting to the Cu Chi Tunnels easy for the planner in the family. A free guide at the Cu Chi Tunnels balances out the price to make it affordable to travel in style.

An Minh Car Rental

Phone (Mr Phong, Speaks some English): 0909 555 783

0913 724 238

Email: Sieuphong2003@yahoo.com

Website: xedulichanhminh.com

Saigon -> Cu Chi Tunnels

6 Hour Two Way Trip Package

4 Seats : 1,100,000 VND

7 Seats: 1,200,000 VND

***100,000 VND for every hour over 6 hours***

***Tolls INCLUDED in the price***

The price is comparable to renting a taxi. I would go for renting the car as I would be able to set up communication and confirmation ahead of time via email. I also like being able to call Mr Phung on the phone during the trip if I needed to.

You could arrange the address you want to be dropped off at for the tunnels and then the address for anywhere you would like to stop for lunch.

Getting to the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own on the public bus.

Starting out a window on a long bus ride isn’t what some would call an adventure. When the local language is not English, something that sounds so mundane can become quite the voyage though. Not knowing what exactly will happen is all part of the mystery and fun of traveling.

I’ve tracked down everything you need to know to jump on the bus and get to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This way to travel is budget friendly.

# 13 Public Bus to Cu Chi Tunnels

Open time: 3:30 – 20:30

Type: 46-80 seat bus

Price: 7,000 VND

Quantity: 150 trips/day

Time length each trip: 60 – 75 minutes

Time between each bus: 10 – 20 minutes

#79 Public Bus from Cu Chi Bus Station -> Ben Duoc (Cu Chi)

Open time: 5:30 – 17:30

Type: 46-80 seat bus

Quantity: 70 trips/day

Time length each trip: 45 minutes (25 km)

Time between each bus: 10 – 20 minutes

10 Steps to do the Cu Chi Tunnels on your own By Bus:

Step 1: Wake up early. Eat some breakfast then head off to the bus station.

Step 2: Pack a small bag of any supplies you might need.

Step 3: Make your way to the Pham Ngu Lau Bus station at the end of 23/9 Park towards Nguyen Trai street. The location on the map below.

Step 4: Get on the Public Bus #13 to Ben Duoc. You will purchase your ticket in Vietnamese Dong from the Ticket Agent on the bus!

Step 5: Read a book, nap, strike up a conversation, or whatever tickles your fancy.

Step 6: Arrive at the Cu Chi Bus Terminal and search for Bus No. 79. There will be taxi drivers and motorbike drivers offering their services. Just ignore them, get to Bus No. 79 and buy a ticket from the agent on the bus.

Step 7. After 35 minutes there will be blue sign saying Ben Duoc to the left and Ben Dinh to the right. Get off 2 minutes later at the Ben Duoc entrance.

Step 8: Congratulate yourself for a mission well accomplished!

Step 9: Go into the main entrance, buy yourself an Entrance ticket. Walk your way to the local Cu Chi building where you will watch a short introduction video. After, you will receive a guide who will show you through the tunnels!

Step 10: Return to the No. 79 bus BEFORE 17:30, THIS IS THE LAST BUS OF THE NIGHT. Hop back on the No. 13 back to Saigon at the Cu Chi Terminal!

There you have it all of the knowledge you need to do the cu chi tunnels on your own. You might want to ask yourself if visiting the cu chi tunnels is worth it? If so, then what should I wear to the cu chi tunnels?

I hope this article helped, I invested some serious time into making it so if you enjoyed it please don’t hesitate to share it for other adventurous travelers like yourself.

Original Post Here: How To Visit The Cu Chi Tunnels On Your Own

For the sake of public health, more and more countries and states have enacted the smoke-free legislation on a nationwide scale. The law is frustrating for many smokers, especially heavy smokers when it comes to traveling overseas. Not to mention a long flight with tobacco cravings, smokers have to deal with the fact that smoking is banned in many public places all around the world.

Can you smoke in Vietnam? The answer is yes, you can smoke in Vietnam. Vietnam has a strong smoking culture along many of its middle aged and older residents. Because of this, cigarettes are rather inexpensive and easy to find. Most cigarette packs will cost less than $.150 USD in Vietnam.

Vietnam is in fact among the top smoker-friendly countries in the world. Many of Vietnamese citizens smoke, including males and females. It was reported that nearly 45% of Vietnamese men smoke in 2018, meaning that 4 out 10 men you come across on the streets probably smoke. You will find that Vietnam is truly a paradise for smokers. Smoking is allowed at most the outdoor spaces, except for some particular places like kid zones. Cigarettes are also sold widely available on every street corner and small shop. In major cities like Ho Chi Minh, you can easily buy a pack of cigarettes at all convenience stores as well as at almost every vendor stall, cafe, or restaurant in the city. This is mainly because the legislation to sell tobacco products is not regulated in Vietnam like other countries.  

If you are spending time in the countryside of Vietnam, feel free to smoke most anywhere you want. You just need to be aware and notice if other people around you are becoming uncomfortable with your cigarette smoking. Most families will actually put out an ashtray for you to use if they know you are a smoker as its been ingrained into the male culture here in Vietnam.

While in urban areas, there are more people concerned about the hazards of secondhand smoke. It leads to an increase in the demand for smoke-free environments, especially in unventilated spaces. However, it’s not a big deal because usually there are special rooms for smokers. Take a look at the following lists to see whether you can smoke in those places.                

Where can I smoke in Vietnam?

• Hotels
• Universities and Colleges
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Coffee shops

In order to avoid the odor of cigarette smoke annoying other guests, many hotels in Vietnam do not allow smoking inside the rooms. However, smoking rooms are also available in most of the big hotels and some smaller hostels. For further information about these rooms, you can check out the terms and conditions on their booking sites or ask the hotel’s receptionist directly.

Restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Vietnam usually have open-air design so that they are quite welcoming of smokers. If you want to know if you can smoke or not, ask for an ashtray. If they provide you with one, then you can smoke. If they don’t they will be sure to let you know that smoking isn’t allowed which is rare in outside cafes or restaurants. Other guests may be annoyed even if the cafe or restaurant permits smoking. I suggest using common sense and try your best not to be rude.       

Universities and schools will have a separate place for smoking that will most likely be in a hidden area from the students or slightly off campus. This would be important to know for many expats moving to Vietnam for a teaching position.  

Places where you cannot smoke in Vietnam!

• Hospitals
• Gas stations
• Children’s zones
• Public transport
• Airports

In terms of airports, smoking is allowed but restricted to specific rooms in the airport. There are very few smoking rooms that you can find there. For instance, in Tan Son Nhat international airport, there are only three rooms for smokers – one in the domestic terminal and the two others in the international terminal.

Smoking is totally banned in the other locations mentioned above, including indoor and outdoor spaces. The government requires smoking restrictions for such places in order to improve population health as well as fire prevention. The penalty for lighting a cigarette at these places ranges from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand VND so I wouldn’t recommend trying it.

What should you know about Smoking in Vietnam?

Just like drinking, the legal age in Vietnam to smoke is 18. For those who are under 18, they are not allowed to smoke, buy and sell tobacco products. It’s also illegal to sell nicotine and tobacco products for them.

In Vietnam, you can find both domestic and international tobacco brands. The most popular are Jet, Hero, Craven A, State Express 555, Sai Gon, Khanh Hoi and Vinataba. For more expensive brands like Marlboro and Dunhill, you can find them at convenience stores.

A pack of cigarettes in Vietnam costs you approximately from 20,000 VND to 30,000 VND. Surprisingly cheap, isn’t it?

Notice that Vietnamese cigarettes are considerably “strong”, which means they contain a high amount of nicotine, even with filters. If you are not a heavy smoker and prefer light cigarettes, Dunhill is a good option.

Not only smoking, do you know that you can also use e-cigarettes or vape legally in Vietnam? Vaping has become a trend in Vietnam recently, especially in big cities like Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi or Da Nang. Click this link to read our full guide about vaping in Vietnam.

All in all, smokers are generally welcomed in Vietnam compared to other countries in the world. Keep in mind the lists above and have a nice trip here.

Originally Published Here: Can You Smoke in Vietnam?

The best pho in Saigon is a tough debate

After living in Saigon for such a long time, we believe that we are experts at finding the best street-food in Saigon. We also believe that its hard to say that something is the “best”. Surely you will hear many people say that the “best” pho is here, here, and there. Its a bit overwhelming, we know.

Where can you find the best Pho in Ho Chi Minh

While we have had a lot of delicious Pho in our day, we really enjoy alot of them. Is there such a thing as a bad pho? We think not. After eating so many types from the North to the South, we have settled that best Pho in Saigon is Pho Le at 413-415 Nguyễn Trãi, Phường 7, Quận 5, Hồ Chí Minh.

If you are interested in Vietnam Food Tours then be sure to check out our Saigon Food Tour, if you are looking to check out the Best Pho in Ho Chi Minh then ask about our private tours and chefs tours!

Originally Published Here: Best Pho in Ho Chi Minh | Best Pho in Saigon at Pho Le

Saigon’s Street Food is always evolving and changing

The Saigon Street Food Scene is known for moving in fads or trends. It doesn’t neccesarily even have to be traditional Vietnamese street food that you will find on the street these days.

In my two years of scrounging the streets for the best of the best street food, I have gotten to see a few of these cravings come and go. Like the Korean favorite of Topokki  or Cheese Sticks served with Lemon Tea.

Street Sushi started popping up around town over a year ago, quietly, but aggresively.

At first, Yes, I was just as skeptical as you are now.
.
A few things do not mix in my realm of what is conceivable here in Vietnam, eating raw fish in the streets of Saigon would be close to the top of that list.

Well ladies and gentleman, alleluia, I am a believer!

Last year in May, I was living in District 4 and noticed what looked to be a sign for a Sushi restaurant that I hadn’t noticed before although I had driven by this location hundreds of time on my way to and from our tours.

Street Sushi? In district 4? That is crazy talk!

So, being the curious street food eater that I am, I decided to recruit some other intrigued foodies and test it out.

To say that it was the best Sushi I have ever had in my life would not be true.

What it is though, quality sushi for a great price in a unique setting.

Who was behind this delicious Saigon International Street Food Restaurant?

Ms Giau, a young business woman of 30 years old.

She had been working in a Japanese Restaurant in District 1 for a while and decided she wanted to work for herself.With the help of her friend, who is the Head Chef at Sushi Ko, she started her restaurant in May 2013.

Things have been going well since, she even has a customer from Japan who has come to the restaurant every night for dinner since she opened in May.

“The best customer” she says with a big smile when asked about him.

Your only as good as your last dish is a phrase you hear in the Culinary scene so….

How was my last dish of Japanese Street Food?

When I am in a local area of Saigon, and I spot 5 foreigners in a neighborhood that they are a rarity in eating at a restaurant.You know the word is out! Sushi Ko is a hit!

The restaurant is so packed that Ms Giau’s father, who is always helping out at the restaurant, arranges us some very impromptu seating that is just enough for our table of two to squeeze in.

   Sushi-KO filled up late on a Tuesday with a mix of Vietnamese and Foreigners

Your always wondering if quailty drops in a restaurant when they start getting busier but that didn’t happen here.

What Japanese Street Food Delicacies are they serving up at Sushi KO?

I like Sushi Ko’s menu for having a large range of grilled or cold appetizers to choose from before just jumping straight into the sushi.

There is alot to choose from and I haven’t had anything that I would have ever considered “bad” from their large selection.

                                         Mixed Seaweed Salad with Dashi          Price: 88,000 VND

                                         Grilled Pork wrapped Asparagus      Price: 18,000VND

                             Chicken Meatballs with Black Sesame Seeds    Price: 28,000 VND

                  Tuna Belly, Salmon, and Octopus Sashimi        Price: 25,000-35,000 VND

                                 Salmon and Avocado Roll          Price: 58,000 VND

                                 Fried Shrimp Roll            Price: 58,000 VND

Want to check out the local Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Scene here at Sushi KO?

Sushi-KO 

0913869626

Open from 5pm-10pm

Article Source Here: Ho Chi Minh City Street Food: An International Twist with Japanese Street Sushi

A customer recently asked us “where can i buy a sim card in Ho Chi Minh City?”. We always do a lot of research when we get a question like this from a guest. We were actually really surprised to see that quite a few people had been taken advantage of by purchasing sim cards from random tourist kiosks in the airport.

If you are looking where you can buy a sim card in Ho Chi Minh City you should only purchase from reputable suppliers at their shops or kiosks. I recommend buying from Viettel or Mobiphone at their locations inside the city or their Kiosk inside the airport. These companies are the two biggest networks in Vietnam so you can have some of the best coverage available. Random shops or kiosks aren’t certified to give you a sim card, so avoid these suppliers at all costs.

Where to Buy a Sim Card in Tan Son Nhat Airport?

The whole reason for writing this blog article is to hopefully help a few people that are looking at buying their sim card inside of the airport before getting onto the street. After being on a long flight I know that most of us are ready to connect online and let everyone know that we arrived safe and sound to our destination. Also, it’s a comfortable feeling to be able to look up answers to questions you might have when trying to get to your accommodation.

It didn’t take very long when doing research on Sim Cards to see that so many people have been taken advantage of when buying a sim card in Tan Son Nhat airport. The biggest scam it seems is that sim cards that work for just a short amount of time and then are shut down after 7-8 hours.

This is why my piece of advice for getting a sim card is to ignore all of the other Kiosks except the official Viettel and Mobiphone Kiosks. These companies are the only recommendations I am going to make in this article. If there is another kiosk offering a sim card for a few dollars less, I personally wouldn’t even consider it. The headache of getting a sim card that stops working way before its supposed to isn’t worth it. 

If you are like myself and want to avoid any type of headache after a long flight to a new place you can order your simcard through Klook for pick up at the airport or even delivery at your hotel waiting for you. While these sim cards don’t use my favorite providers, Vinaphone is still a popular and reliable service provider in vietnam.

Where are the Viettel and Mobiphone Sim Card Kiosks in Tan Son Nhat Airport?

These Kiosks are located after you get out of customs. That means you’ll have to wait until you go through immigration in order to get to the correct Kiosks. In our research we found that the biggest complaints about being ripped off happened at the kiosks before immigration so we highly recommend you avoid these options.

The Viettel and Mobiphone kiosks are located at the exit of the terminal after baggage claim. You’ll be able to see that their brand name is prominently shown on their Kiosk.

Where to buy a SIM card inside District 1, Ho Chi Minh City?

If you aren’t going to buy your sim card in the airport.  You can seek out the official Viettel and Mobifone stores. Viettel and Mobiphone have a few locations in District 1, we recommend making a trip to their stores to buy a sim card directly if you didn’t buy one in the airport.

Viettel

Address: 166 Tran Hung Dao

Hours: 8am-8pm

Mobifone

Address: 81b Nguyen Du, District 1 (near the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office)

Hours: 8am-10pm

These locations are always quite busy, so it could take a little while to be helped. You can rest assured though, if you buy your sim card from here it will be fully functional and official.

Which Sim Card should you buy?

I believe hands down the best network is gonna be Viettel. I have used mobiphone for my entire time in Vietnam, but looking at the coverage for both Viettel and Mobiphone it is easy to see which one has the superior network.

Viettel has much more 4g coverage spread across the areas of Vietnam.

Mobiphone’s coverage isn’t bad but their 4g network isn’t as large as Viettel.

What are the requirements to buy a sim card in Ho Chi Minh City?

In 2016, there was a crack down on agency enforcement to prevent the illegal sale of sim cards. This was due to issues with phone scammers and national security.

This means that all sim cards require an ID or Passport to be registered. If a sim card is sold without the request of your passport information, you can bet that this isn’t an official card or there is something fishy going on.

How much do Sim Cards cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

There are a few different plans available for tourist sim cards. You’ll have the option to choose just data if you don’t think you’ll need to make any phone calls during your trip in Vietnam.

The price range for a few Gigabytes of data will range from 200-300,000 VND.

Everyone’s phone usage differs but a few gigabytes of data should be good enough for a 2-3 week vacation in Vietnam.

Can I top up a Sim Card that I bought?

Topping up a sim card in Vietnam is extremely easy. You can buy a scratch off card for both Mobiphone and Viettel from most any small mom and pop shop and convenience store in Vietnam.

If you get a number from a convenience store it will come on a receipt instead of a scratch off. Type *100*, then your number on your scratch off or receipt, and then the # key. You’ll receive an sms from the carrier to let you know they received your top up.

We hope this information has helped you when you go to buy a proper sim card. Traveling around with a good connection to the internet is important in a country where you don’t speak the native language. Hopefully you have a great time in Vietnam with some full bars on your phone!

Read More Here: Where to Buy a Sim Card in Ho Chi Minh City?