Experience Travel From Phu My Port Cruise To Ho Chi Minh Vietnam
Share the experience travel from Phu My port cruise to Ho Chi Minh Vietnam for you as the basic information below:
Introduction:
Phu My port is the port for Ho Chi Minh City which is an hour and a half away (80 miles) over a new expressway opened in 2014. HCMC was previously called Saigon and this name is still used by locals and also refers to the main district 1.
Visas:
Citizens of most countries will be issued a visa on arrival and this will be charged to their shipboard account (approx $6-$50 USD/pp depending on the ship's processing fee). It is best to confirm with your cruise line the latest visa policy.
Until 30 June 2018, visa is not required for British, French, German, Italian and Spanish citizens with passport having at least six-month validity travelling to Viet Nam for up to 15 days for all purposes. The 15-day visa exemption is for single entry only and includes the date of entry and the date of exit.
Where You're Docked ?
Phu My port is a commercial port with nothing nearby. Cruise ships dock at container terminal piers at the port. A shuttle may be provided to the small town of Ba Ria approx 10 miles to the southeast where you can take a taxi to the beach resort city of Vung Tau. The best way to get to Ho Chi Minh City is either with the ship's or a private tour. Taxis may wait outside the port gates.
Please do NOT take the hydrofoil/fast ferry to Saigon since it is old and unreliable.
Be advised that the Vietnam tour guides require your passport details in advance to arrange port passes.
The permit to pick tourists up at the port is compulsory to the company if tourists want to be safe and legal. Expecting to pay 25-30 USD/person for port fees though "unofficial" fees may be less. If not, you need to walk outside of the port.
Smaller ships may sail up the river and dock at Lotus, Tien Sa or Navi Oil Ports much closer to the city center of Ho Chi Minh.
Money and Tipping:
Vietnam's currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND) but US dollars (no coins) are accepted almost everywhere. However, purchases in USD tend to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. Merchants also prefer new, crisp bills and may not accept old and worn out bills. Using Dong will save you a bit. This may not see like much but the cost of living is very low in Vietnam and goods and services are very inexpensive by western standards. ATM's can be found throughout HCMC and inside the supermarket in Ba Ria. If you want to change money in HCMC, a good currency exchange is at 4C Le Loi St, right in the town center. Otherwise banks and jewellry shops will do exchange as well as the post office (not the best rate).
Exchange rate 22,500 VND = 1 USD (Dec 2015)
Major banks in Saigon include ANZ Bank, 11 Me Linh Sq, District 1; Citibank, 115 Nguyen Hue St; HSBC, 235 Dong Khoi St, District 1; Standard Chartered: Saigon Trade Center (37 Ton Duc Thang St, District 1), Etown 1 Building (364 Cong Hoa street, ward 13, Tan Binh district); and Vietcombank, 29 Ben Chuong Duong, District 1. All offer international ATM services. Western Union is located at 104-106 Nguyen Hue St (across from the Rex Hotel).
Though tipping is generally not expected, leaving a small tip would be appreciated considering the low cost of living and wages.
Local Transport From Phu My port to Ho Chi Minh
Taxis are inexpensive but make sure they use the meter. Reputable companies from Ho Chi Minh Vietnam is " Vietnam Budget Car Rental company service Hotline : +84.988.038.301 ( WhatsApp,Viber,Wechat) ".
How To Cross The Street ?
Crossing the street is not a normal experience since there are few crossing lights and hundreds of scooters. The trick is to wait for a small gap and walk across the street in a steady and predictable pace keeping your eye on traffic. Do not stop suddenly since it will be harder for scooter drivers to dodge you. If you are scared, cross with a local.
Shopping & Restaurants
Ho Chi Minh City
Dong Khoi Street - HCMC's main shopping street with Vincom Center Mall and Parkson Department Store
Diamond Plaza Mall - An upscale mall located behind Notre Dame Church
Ben Thanh Market - This is the city's main central market and a popular tourist attraction. You will need to bargain and US dollars are typically accepted. Besides the shopping,
it's also a great spot to try local street food. In the back area of the market several vendors occupy stalls selling cheap and tasty Vietnamese food and drinks. Stalls sell popular street cuisine including pho (rice noodles in soup, pronounced fuh), banh mi (baguette sandwiches) and bun thit nuong (grilled pork with vermicelli). Prices, considering the location inside a popular tourist attraction, are cheap and English menus are generally available. Beware of pickpockets inside.
Saigon Square - A modern indoor market/shopping mall with good deals on clothing or purses if you know how to haggle and lots of fakes. Air-conditioned and a block northeast of Ben Thanh Market on Le Loi. There is also a second branch at Tôn Đức Thắng, close to the river.
Recommended pho places include Pho 2000 (several locations, one beside Ben Thanh Market) which is famous because Bill Clinton ate there, the chain Pho 24 (various locations), and Pho Hao (260c Pasteur St).
Other recommended restaurants include Wrap and Roll (62 Ha Bai Trung, District 1) - specialty is the fresh Vietnamese spring roll. Clean and friendly place. Signature dishes come with your choice of meat or seafood along with a big plate of assorted toppings like basil, mint, and lettuce, and a small pile of vermicelli noodles. Roll it all up in a rice paper wrapper and dip it in the bowl of fish sauce, and it's a perfect sampling of a Vietnamese classic.
Co Ba Vung Tau (59B Cao Thang, District 3) - Popular for their banh khot, small, deep-fried rice pancakes topped with various ingredients, but most commonly a seafood combination of shrimp and scallops. This dish originates from the beach city of Vung Tau, hence the restaurant's name.
Banh Xeo An La Ghien (74 Suong Nguyet Anh Street, District 1) - Vietnamese style crepe with whole shrimp, thinly sliced pork and bean sprouts.
For Bahn Mi (Vietnamese sandwiches made with french bread), Banh Mi Huynh Hoa and Banh Mi 37 Nguyen Trai are recommended.
