|
City transport
|
|
|
With over fifty thousand
cyclos
(three-wheeled cycle-rickshaws) operating in Ho Chi Minh City, hailing one is easy and rates are pretty consistent throughout the city. The roads around the central Dong Khoi area are off-limits to cyclos, so your driver may follow a circuitous course.
Taxis
gather outside the
Rex Hotel.
You can also phone for one of the white Airport Taxis (tel 08/844 6666) or yellow Vinataxis (tel 08/811 0888); a trip within the city centre will cost $3. Cheaper colonial-era Peugeots also operate around the city; you can track them down below Ben Thanh Market, on Pham Ngu Lao, and outside the
Rex.
The two-wheeled motorbike taxis or
Honda om
cost about the same as a cyclo but are faster.
The only time you might use a city bus is to get to one of the long-distance bus terminals or to go to Cholon. Saigon Star Co runs buses to Cholon (daily 5am-10pm), looping between the south side of Mei Linh Square and Huynh Thoai Yen, below Binh Tay Market. From Pham Ngu Lao, head down to the eastern end of Bui Vien to pick up the service to Cholon; on the return journey, you'll be dropped at the far side of Tran Hung Dao. Xe lams - three-wheeler buggies - function as buses around the city. They're slightly less expensive than buses, but crowded. They gather at Ben Thanh bus station, and at the corner of Pham Ngu Lao and Nguyen Thai Hoc.
Most
bike, moped and motorbike rental
operations are around Pham Ngu Lao; average daily costs are around $1 for a bicycle and $5-7 for a moped or medium-sized motorbike. Try the kiosk outside the
Que Huong-Liberty 3 Hotel,
at 187 Pham Ngu Lao,
Hotel 265,
265 De Tham, and
Huong Hotel,
40/19 Bui Vien; for larger motorbikes try
Hotel 211,
211 Pham Ngu Lao and
Thanh Thanh Guesthouse,
205 Pham Ngu Lao - both outlets offer long-term rental discounts.
Sinh CafAŠ,
246-248 De Tham, rents out mountain bikes at $2 per day. In the centre, Getrantours, 24 Hai Ba Trung, and 21 Ngo Duc Ke (next to
Restaurant 19,
ask for Mr Tuan) rent out a wide selection of motorbikes and mopeds, including 250cc bikes. Bao Viet at 23-25 Thai Van Lung (tel 08/829 4182) does motorbike
insurance
. Pretty much every one of the city's tour operators
can arrange
car rental
plus driver ($40-50 per day); self-drive is not an option. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
|
Viet Nam,
|