Our Recommended Ho Chi Minh City Hotels
- Duxton Hotel
- Lavender Hotel
- Renaissance Riverside
- Majestic Saigon
- Park Hyatt
Saigon Information
Public transport within the city is very undeveloped, as most people either have their own transport in the form of a bicycle or motorbike or rely on cyclos and taxis. There is one private bus company operating routes within the city, Saigon Star Bus Company.
Taxi's - there are several taxi companies operating within the city and they are usually metered. Restaurants, bars and hotels are quite happy to summon a taxi, otherwise vehicles can be hailed on the street. Visitors are advised to check that the meter is turned on. There are some taxis that are unmetered, where the fare must be agreed upon before departure. However, the price of these is no cheaper. Tipping is not necessarily expected but always welcome.
These are a fun way to travel around the city, although rather nerve-wracking. The cyclo is like a rickshaw but the driver sits behind the passenger instead of in front. This means that you are pedalled rather dramatically into the oncoming traffic, which consists of fairly lawless cars, buses, motorbikes, bicycles and other cyclos constantly careering across your path. The authorities are slowly banning cyclos from the city and now many central streets are out of bounds to them. However, they generally hang around outside hotels or cruise along the street soliciting business from pedestrians. A rate should always be negotiated before setting off and a short journey should not cost more than US$1.
Car hire - It is not possible to hire a car without a driver but cars with English-speaking drivers can be arranged through travel companies.
