Home » Students » Supports » Travel & Living in Vietnam
Travel & Living in Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Sai Gon, is the biggest city in Vietnam. The city is legendary for its exuberant, muddled society, and all sorts of entrepreneurial wonders. If every town had a symbol, Saigon’s would surely be the motorbike. Also four million of them fly along streets together with an increasing number of cars and taxis. They all honk all the time, making the city very noisy. The city is also teemed with markets, sidewalk cafes, massage and acupuncture clinics, centuries-old pagodas, skyscrapers and street shops selling everything from silk to fruits and flowers, etc.


Arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport
Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport can be quite overwhelming as you are simultaneously bombarded by the heat and long lines. You will first have to go through passport inspections, then baggage claim, then customs. Be sure to keep your yellow sheet inside your passport at all times (we recommend stapling it inside).

VLS can help make the process a little easier on you by arranging for a driver to pick you up and drive you to your hotel/guesthouse. There are also multitudes of taxis waiting outside the gate if you’d prefer. Destinations within District 1 should not cost more than 150,000 VND, and we recommend choosing an established company such as Vina Taxi, MaiLinh Taxi, Saigon Tourist or Vinasun Taxi and making sure the driver turns on the meter.

Housing and Accommodations
Ho Chi Minh City is teeming with hotels and guesthouses that range from budget to 5-star.

In the past, VLS has arranged student housing at North Wind hotel (Gió Bắc), located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh’s downtown district and only a 10-minute walk from our school. The staff is polite and helpful. Rooms are clean and comfortable. Rates range from USD $28 - $35/night.

Currency
For updated exchange rate, Click here

Departure / Leaving Ho Chi Minh City
When you going to the airport, be specific which terminal you want to go to. International flights go from the newer international terminal (go straight); Domestic flights (to Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, etc) are from domestic terminal (turn left). If you get dropped at the wrong terminal, you'll have to dash your way to the right terminal via pedestrian walkway link 600m away. It is not recommended - especially if you're already late for boarding.

When entering the airport, taxi drivers will add the entry fee to your total meter. This is for the airport entry fee (5000 dong). Don't confuse this entry fee with "Airport Departure Tax" as International Departure Taxes should have been included in the price of your flight ticket.