Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Where are you staying?
Some tips, always go with someone who's from there or you'll get ripped off so bad you won't know what hit you. For quick conversion rates, $1 us = $15,000. Or, $2 = 30,000 is a little easier. If you're white (i'm guessing from what you said american) you'lre gonna get ripped off no matter what you do. Good luck. If you're viet though, here are some quick tips. Wear long pants during the day as if you go around in shorts, its automatic that you're not from there as nobody goes around during the weekdays in shorts, even if they're shopping and such, they'll be on a break from work and be in long pants. Another thingy I learned was that if you're sweating from just walking around, that's another clear indicator that you're not from around there and for them to rip you off. Also the backpack that you're probably thinking of carrying around.
Pho is actually about $1 if you go to the places that have ac and doesn't involve sitting on the sidewalk on plastic little kid stools. Those places are like 50 cents. But, if you find a nice one, they actually taste better. You kinda get used to the hot humid air. I'm from Northern cali where its hot and dry, hundreds in the summer and summers over there were about low 90's but very humid. Flash thunderstorms in the evenings cool things down a bit.
Walking is'nt so bad as for about a buck, you can find people sitting around on a scooter that'll take you wherever you wanna go. Taxi's cost about 50 cents a mile but make sure you get the ones where the rate machine is on top of the dash viewable from outside the car. Otherwise they'll be way down low and its easy for them to scam you on the rates/distances. Even then, you'll probably get scammed if you don't know your way around as they'll take the "scenic" route.
What else to say.... Make sure you stay in a place with AC and that AC stays on, albeit at a slightly lower level when you're gone to keep the misquitos out of the room. After particularly bad storms, you'll go the next day without energy and most places with generators will barely have enough juice to power the lights/tv's. Best thing to do is either sleep all day or go out sightseeing as the taxi's have ac's in them.
Oh yea, and when you get in the country, you'll have to declare stuff of value you have. Laptops, cameras, other such things worth over 300 bucks (in the non-tax area). When you leave the country, make sure all the stuff you declared isn't in the checked luggage, but carryon with you, as they go through and make sure you're bringing the stuff you declared is leaving the country with you and you didn't try to skimp them on the taxes. Its kinda weird since they check your baggage first and then look at that stuff afterwards. If you don't have it as carryon, they'll probably be a wait and they'll actually drag your luggage back off the plane and everyone will hate you and they'll probably fine you a ton for the delay if you can't speak viet and convince them not to, but they will anyway.
Oh, and have some American dollars with you as you board the plane, as you'll have to pay for a passenger or airport fee per person. I forgot how much, no more then 18 bucks a person.
EDIT:
Originally posted by: Crazyfool
Rent a car.
Walking around in a sh*thole like Vietnam? Sounds like Bad Idea Jeans to me. Good luck with that shiz.
:beer:
He will NOT want to rent a car. Coming from over here, traffic over there will scare the sh1t out of you, I kid you not, especially if you go on a scooter. Take my advice and walk and/or taxi.
Oh yea, and if you're born over here, drink bottled water and/or canned soda/beers. Don't use the cups as the ice in there is just frozen tap water and you're probably going to get a visit from he brown fairy.
EDIT2: Oh, and about the avian flu. Apparently, its pretty much chicken and well they're eggs. THe only thing is, eggs is basically in everything you eat. Noodles. That, and the fact that it seems to inflict the really poor areas and the workers who initially handle the poultry. I stayed away from chicken anyway though.
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