Exploring Vietnam: 5 Days Saigon Tour Tips and Itinerary

Money Changer. Your first concern when you land in Vietnam is where you would exchange your money to their local currency. We had our USD exchanged to VND at the airport. The rates at the airport is lower. So exchange a little, just enough for your first day.

Vietnam Dong

Then, if you still lack VND, I recommend you to have your money exchange at EXIMBANK – 135 Bong Khoi Q1 TP Ho Chi Minh City, they offer good exchange rate.

Money Changer – 135 Bong Khoi Q1 TP Ho Chi Minh City

Whenever travelling to Vietnam, people would often buy North Face backpacks because it is cheaper there and of course souvenirs as remembrance of their trip.

North Face Bags. The first thing you should know is how to spot whether it is authentic or not. Check for the presence of the whistle and the hologram inside the bag.

  

Here’s to give you an idea how much more or less you should spend when buying stuffs. The prices displayed here are the amount we paid when purchasing the products. If you can bargain for a lower price the better. 🙂 We bought the bags at Saigon Square. 

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Dining at Vietnam: Mekong Rest Stop – Lunch Day 2

On our way to Ho Chi Minh City, we stopped at Mekong Rest Stop. Our tour guide recommended that we have our lunch here.

Since the set-up of the restaurant is open, insects are flying freely  around but they are manageable. We just “shoo” them away from time to time so that they won’t stay in our place.

Exploring Vietnam: Can Tho – Cai Rang Floating Market – Ho Chi Minh City (Day 2)

We departed Ninh Kieu wharf by shuttle-boat at 8:00AM and enjoyed watching bustling activities along Can Tho riverbanks.

In the river, local people go fishing with plenty of fish traps.

We cruised the river until we reached Cai Rang Floating Market to see the selling & buying activities in the river.

Dining at Vietnam: Asia Can Tho Hotel – Buffet Breakfast (Day2)

Our hotel booking comes with free buffet breakfast. Their buffet breakfast is being served on the 9th floor of the hotel.

  

 We had our breakfast at 7:00AM because our tour will start at 8:00AM. When we reached the restaurant, the room is almost full. This is because most of the people checked in the hotel are also tourists, they will leave the hotel early to have more time to explore the area. I first ate my breakfast before taking pictures and by the time that I’m done eating, a lot of people have left already.

View upon exiting of the elevator

At the end of the buffet table

At the other end of the buffet table facing the elevator

Hotel Review: Asia Can Tho Hotel Vietnam

After our tour, we checked in at Asia Can Tho Hotel past 7:00pm already. We just left our things and went out to have our dinner. We didn’t stay long in this hotel. We just slept and checked out at 8:00am for our tour for the next day.

  

 

Dining at Vietnam: Sao Hom Restaurant, Can Tho – Dinner (Day1)

After our tour, we went to Can Tho where we stayed overnight. For dinner, it is not included in our tour package and Sao Hom Restaurant was recommended to us by our tour guide to try. It is walking distance from our hotel and located near the river.

Dining at Vietnam: Mien Tay Riverside Restaurant, My Tho – Lunch Day 1

We parked at the Tortoise Island to have our lunch at Mien Tay Riverside Restaurant. To view our itinerary for Day 1, view my previous post.

 

The bill for our  lunch meal is already included in the tour package. However, drinks are not included. We need to pay separately for the drinks.

Here’s the set menu served to us:

Duong Chow Fried Rice

Exploring Vietnam: My Tho (Mekong Delta) – Can Tho (Day 1)

Here’s our itinerary for Vietnam: from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho (Mekong Delta) to Can Tho (Day 1).

At 8.00 am, our guide met us at our hotel, Mi Linh hotel, then we departed Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho by van. The van has a wide leg room and the seats can be reclined. I had a good nap while travelling to My Tho. During the tour, our luggages were inside the van. We just brought with us our valuable belongings – cash and gadgets.

Along National Highway, we passed by a lot of green rice fields. Carabaos can be see on the field and based from my observation, I can say that carabaos here in the Philippines are “fatter” than theirs.