scubish.com: Scuba diving Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam

Understand

Saigon was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City on May 1st 1975. However, the old Saigon moniker is still very widely used by both Vietnamese and foreigners -- especially when referring to the most central part of the city, to which most tourists flock.

The helpful, squeaky clean Tourist Information Center (4G 4H Le Loi St, Dist. 1, HCMC. Tel (84-8) 822 6033) can be found on the northeast corner of the roundabout at the intersection of Le Loi and Nguyen Hue, right in the heart of the city. It's a great place to pick up a free map (which includes a map of Hanoi, as well) and get an idea of what the city and surrounding area has to offer.

Eat

You're spoiled for choice in Saigon, which offers the country's largest variety of Vietnamese and international food.

Budget

Food stalls are scattered all over the city, but there's a fair collection in the Ben Thanh market (see Buy).

Along Pham Ngu Lao there are many budget Westernised options, and venturing a bit further into the side alleys can uncover some better choices than on the main streets.

Hue beef noodles at Dong Ba, 110A Nguyen Du, Dist 1. This is a shop that sells Hue Food including Banh Beo, traditional rice cakes.

Mid-range

Lemongrass, 4 Nguyen Thiep Street. A reliable if mildly touristy Vietnamese restaurant. Most dishes are in US$3-4 range, although some seafood items are expensive; try the weekly specials.

Quan An Ngon, 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street. A large but busy Vietnamese restaurant featuring the best regional specialties from around the country in the US$2-3 range. Set in an atmospheric old French villa that's handy for Reunification Palace too. Has been enthusiastically recommended by The New York Times.

Quan Nuong, 29-31 Ton That Thiep. On the third floor (keep going till you reach the roof, there's a restaurant inbetween the bottom floor ice cream parlor and this restaurant), this BBQ restaurant is dangerously delicious. Try the bacon wrapped salmon & the beef wrapped cheese skewers - you grill it yourself at your table. Around US$3-5 per person. Come with your fighting mitts on Friday and Saturday nights, everyone for themselves when it comes to grabbing a table. Go downstairs to the first floor after for some ice cream delights at Fanny's.

Ngoc Suong Marina,19C Le Quy Don, is a restaurant specializing in seafood. Try the fish salad and the clams cooked in white wine.

Chi Nghia, 53 Thu Khoa Huan, near Ben Thanh market, . Small place specializing in Northern style Vietnamese cuisine. It's run by the chef/owner, who has 25 years of experience with Sofitel hotels, so her cooking and presentation is five star quality, but the prices are definitely reasonable. Entrees are US$2-5. Very clean, and nicely decorated.

Splurge

L'En tete, 1st floor, 139 Nguyen Thai Binh, Q.1 (at the junction with Calmette). Excellent French restaurant in a area not normally associated with high dining. Great for a leisurely dining experience, good food with main courses ranging from 150000-450000 dong. Open 17:00-midnight,

Tân Nam, 60-62 Dong...