Comments by "Biomorphic" (@biomorphic) on "Duong Global Business Consulting Group"
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I feel the pain. Travelled to Vietnam twice, three days the first time, second for one month and half. First time got scammed by a private taxi, paid five times what I would have paid with Grab. I am an experience traveller, and I knew this was going to happen, but it happen because I was with a Thai woman, who was a pain in the butt. If I was alone, I would have connected to the airport WiFi and use Grab. Which I did the second time. But it was not easy to find the car, it is utterly complicated, because if you do not have Internet, and you use just the airport WiFi, then you may lose connection, and like he said, it is not clear where taxi stops.
I think the Saigon airport is the worst I have ever been, it is completely inadeguate to handle the traffic Vietnam has today. So I am glad another one is in construction, hopefully a modern one, with electronic checks.
Do not buy a local SIM at the airport, it is a scam. A one month plan with 5 GB a day costs like 6/7 USD (for a month) in a Viettel shop. And mind that you can only pay with cash. Also, to avoid commissions use the ATM of TP bank.
Vietnam is full of scams, so pay attention. Do not pay with other currencies, they will scam you.
And yes, the airport is atrocious, and the queue at passport control can easily take two hours. Bare in mind that even when you flight back to your country, it is still going to take a long time to check your passport.
Some people are friendly, other they just see you as a walking ATM. Sometimes, if you do not buy they speak Vietnamese behind you, insulting you. And some women have a terrible attitude, nothing like Thailand. I do not like to generalise, but I am not sure I will ever come back.
The traffic is insane, and if you stay in Vietnam longer than two weeks, you are going to need a motorbike. Food is cheaper than in Thailand. If you are a tourist and you visit Saigon for just a few days (2/3 days are enough to visit the city) stay in District 1, but if you plan to stay a month, then Thao Dien is much better. The rest of the city is for locals. Good restaurants, shops, it is all in Thao Dien.
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