Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City Accomodation

Phoenix74 hotel is where we stayed in during our first landing to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC),Vietnam. Located in Bui Vien street, which is considered as a backpackers area. Just 10-15 mins.walk going to Ben Thanh Market (flee market).



Pros:
- very affordable for the price of USD$16 per night, with simple breakfast included
- very close to tour offices
- free wifi

Cons:
- not advisable if stay will be more than 2 nights

- no elevator from the ground floor. Elevator starts on 2nd floor only- having a heavy luggage will be very hard to carry up the stairs from 1st to 2nd floor
- the place is a bit run-down
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On our second trip back to HCMC from Cambodia, we stayed in a better hotel - Beautiful Saigon Hotel.

Location of the Beautiful Saigon Hotel is 1 min. away from Phoenix74.



Pros:
- affordable for the price of USD$29 per night, with good breakfast included
- very close to tour offices
- free wifi
- quality service

Itinerary: Vietnam-Cambodia

In our vacation trip last April 2010, we tried to make our own itinerary to have more flexibility with our own time and control on what sites we want to visit.


Day 1
Depart from Philippines going to Vietnam (11:00PM flight)

Day 2
[AM]: Go straight to hotel and rest for the whole morning
[PM]: Ho Chi Minh City tour (Reunification Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, War Crime Museum, City Hall, General Post Office)

Day 3
[AM]: Bus ride from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh-Cambodia
[PM]: Tour Killing Fields, Toul Sleng Museum

Day 4
[AM]: Visit Royal Palace, SIlver Pagoda, National Museum
[PM]: Minivan ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap-Cambodia
Stop-over at Skun (picture taking of spiders and crickets)

Day 5
[AM]: Start early for sunrise view at Angkor Wat
Go to Angkor Thom (South Gate, Bayon Temple, Terraces of Elephant and Leper King, Bapuonm Golden Palace, Phimeanakas)
Visit Ta Prohm (temple in Tomb Raider movie)
[PM]: Explore Angkor Wat temple
Boat ride at Tonle Sap to see Floating Villages

Day 6
[AM]: Bus ride from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
[PM]: Bus ride from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City

Day 7
Free day and shopping at Ho Chi Minh City

Day 8
[AM]: Rest time
[PM]: Go to Saigon Zoo, Botanical Garden, Historical Museum

Day 9
Depart from Vietnam going back to Philippines (1:00AM flight)

Will be posting about the note-worthy places individually soon! Wait for it! =)