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AIESEC HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM Work hard, play harder!

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INTERN GUIDE BOOK

AIESEC HO CHI MINH CITY, VIET NAM

Please purchase PDF Editor on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark.


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CONTENTDE BOOK TABL GENERAL OF HO CHI MINH CITY F CONTENT ENERAL OF HO CI MINH

1. Ho Chi Minh city history 2. Weather 3. Architecture

GENERA USEFUL INFORMATIONL INFORMATION

1. Accommodation a) Renting

i. Apartment ii. Room / Studio

b) Home stay 2. Common Vehicles

a) Bus b) Xe m ( motor taxi ) c) Motorcycles d) Taxi

3. Currency

a) Vietnam Dong b) Credit Card c) Open bank account

HO CHI MINH CITY ENTERTAINMENT H CITY ENTERTAINMENT 1. Ho Chi Minh city cuisine

2. Shopping a) Shopping Center b) Supermarket c) Markets

3. Coffee shop 4. Restaurants in Ho Chi Minh city



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a) Seafood Restaurants b) Chinese and Asians Restaurants c) French Restaurants d) Japanese Restaurant e) Korean Restaurant

5. Bar, pub and discotheque 6. Travelling in Ho Chi Minh city

a) Reunitification Palace b) The War Remnants Museum c) Cu Chi tunnels d) The City Hall e) Chinatown f) Vinh Nghiem temple g) Dam Sen park h) Suoi Tien park i) An Dong plaza j) Ben Thanh market k) MUST-HAVE Ao Dai

VIETNAM PUBLIC HOLIDAYS VIETNAM PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1. Tet Lunar New Year 2. Vietnamese womens day 3. Hung Kings anniversary 4. Reunification Day / Victory Day 5. National celebration 6. Mid-Autumn festival 7. Vietnamese Teachers Day 8. Christmas

TIPS 1. DOs 2. DONTs

CONTACT US 1. Our Local Committee contacts

2. Hotlines and Embassies in Ho Chi Minh city



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WELLCOME TO AIESEC HO CHI MINH CITY



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GENERAL OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Ho Chi Minh city, or sometimes still called Saigon, is a bustling industrious city where the vibe of the Vietnamese modern life is concentrated. Apart from being the economical heart of the country, the city is also its cultural and historical site. Among the hectic metropolitan atmosphere, the spirit of an ancient culture and stunning past can still be felt and traced back in time. City: Ho Chi Minh City Country: Vietnam Area: 2,095 km2 Population: 6,239,938 Districts: 24 Language: Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese DISTRICTS Ho Chi Minh City has been recently divided into twenty-four administrative districts, of which five are suburban districts and the remaining nineteen are inner districts. Only seven of those urban districts have names while the rest carry the numbers from one to twelve. Apart from the main division, the city districts are also divided into wards, communes or townships. Ho Chi Minh City's attractions are spread among districts 1, 3 and 5.

District 1 is the official central district of the city and is still referred to by the locals as Saigon, the previous name of Ho Chi Minh City. The new name is used to refer to the rest of the districts except for the central one. District 1 is the main tourist destination for all the visitors because here are most of the city's places of interests, as well as hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. Here are also the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao and the central Ben Thanh Market.

Cholon is the largest Chinese district in the country that consists of District 5 and District 6 west of the Saigon River bank. Its name in Vietnamese means "big market", probably because of the huge Chinese Binh Tay Market situated in the area. Apart from that, many old Chinese temples are also located here.

District 3 is famous for many French architectural-style buildings found in the area. One can also visit the War Remnants Museum and some beautiful pagodas.



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MAP OF HO CHI MINH CITY

- In case you go out or wanna come to one particular place that you cannot contact someone in Ho Chi Minh LC.

- Step 1: Type in google in diadiem.vn. - Step 2: Type key words of the address of particular place you need in the

white space on the top of the web. For example: 17/7 Doan Nhu Hai street (Duong), Ward (phuong) 12, District (quan) 4, Ho Chi Minh.



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Ho Chi Minh City History

Saigon was originally part of the kingdom of Cambodia and, until the 17th century, was a small port town known as Prey Nokor. As more and more settlers moved south it was absorbed by Vietnam and became the base for the Nguyen Lords. Saigon was captured by the French in 1859, and named the capital of Cochinchina a few years later. The city served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam from 1956 until 1975, when it fell to advancing North Vietnamese forces and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City by the Hanoi government. The symbol of Ho Chi Minh city is Ben Thanh Market since it has been there for almost 178 years first known as Gia Dinh citadel.



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Weather Located on the southern of Viet Nam, on the right bank of Sai Gon River, Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate. There are 2 main seasons in the city:

Rainy season: Starts from May and lasts until late November. Downpour becomes heavy from June to August. However the shower is usually sudden and stays for a brief period. So even during the rainy season, the reappearance of sun occurs fairly quickly. The average rainfall of the city is around 1800mm. July and November is the time for typhoons, so you should always bring an umbrella or a rain coat in order not to get wet.

Dry season: Temperature goes down a bit from December to April. The average temperature during dry season stays around 28 degree. The temperature may rise up to 37 degree around noon during late April. However it may drop below 20 degree during the morning hours in late December.

April is the hottest month and December is the coolest month of the city.



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USEFUL INFORMATION

1. Accommodation

a) Renting

i. Apartment

An apartment usually offers full facilities such as internet, water supply, washing machine, air conditioner and other things. It is larger in size and more comfortable to stay in, but of course, more expensive. The advantage is that you can share this type of accommodation with other people to reduce the cost.

Renting fee This varies, but is often more than 500 USD / month. You can negotiate price with the house owners if you prefer (but usually if you are to stay for more than 3-4 months). This type of accommodation can be found in any residential buildings such as: Sky garden, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Green View garden, Saigon Pearl.

ii. Room/ Studio

Small room in an apartment or a studio itself, cheaper in price but not as good facilities, smaller in size of course. The advantage is that you can save more money when renting this type of accommodation.

Renting fee

This also varies, but o f ten f luc tua tes be tween 180 USD to 250 USD per month. You can also share this with your friends if you wish, but keep in mind the size of the room is often less than 25m2. Cheaper rooms with less than 120 USD / month can also be found but they would be empty (which means no bed, weak internet connect ion, unsafe, d istant a rea. ) NOTE: You have to pay the deposit of about 1 month rental price in advance (for any damage) and sign in the contract (conditions will be updated when you decide to rent the room, but pay attention to exchange rate and duration). The deposit will be returned when you leave the room. If you break down any conditions in the contract, you may loose the deposit money.



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b) Homestay

The best way to discover and enjoy Vietnamese culture is to stay with Vietnamese family. If you want to stay with a Vietnamese family, please tell us, AIESEC will help you to find the most suitable house for you. Staying with Vietnamese family, you not only learn Vietnamese better than ever but also learn how to cook Vietnamese dishes (I bet that its the thing that attracts you most).

Notice: This is not an offer, just a recommendation when you dont bring much money. You may have to share the room with a family member, which means you dont have your privacy, and have to follow rules of your host family.



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2. Common Vehicles a. Bus Bus is the most popular way for travelers on a tight budget to choose: 4000 - 5000

VND / time

Bus in Ho Chi Minh city

Tips You can find the bus lines in the travel map of Ho Chi Minh city

(10.000 15.000 VND / map)



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b. Xe m (motor taxi) For single travelers, rides on the back of motorbikes (actually low-powered scooters) are popular too (known as xe om, literally meaning motorbike-hug).

Xe m motor taxi

Tips

Negotiate the price before you hop on. Often 4000 VND 5000

VND / km.



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c. Motorcycles:

Can be rented for around US$5-6 / day, o r U S $ 6 5 / m o n t h . This is good for making lots of trips around the city for individuals or duos, but be careful. Transportation in Ho Chi Minh city is quite complicated, especially in rush hours, so make sure that you are brave enough to drive motorcycle here. We suggest that during your first one or two months, you should ask a friend to go with you. We dont offer this option, however if you require, AIESEC Ho Chi Minh City can give you help or suggestion where to rent a motorbike.

Motorcycles Tips Ho Chi Minh city traffic is very difficult place to sharpen motorbike skills. Park on the sidewalk with other bikes, and be sure to lock the front wheel. Locals will help arrange the bikes near their stores.



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d. Taxi The best way to travel long distances, but the cyclos, or pedicabs, are a cheap way to

make shorter trips. Taxi fares are not always consistent, and the rates for each taxi

company have not been standardized.

TAXI Tips The recommendation is to only use the reputable and reliable taxi companies. These are Mai Linh taxi (38.38.38.38) and Taxi Vinasun (38.27.27.27). And pay as the diameter says.



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3. Currency

Vietnamese currency is called Vietnam Dong and abbreviated as VND. Notes

are available in paper denominations of 5.000 VND; 10.000 VND; 20.000 VND;

50.000 VND; 100.000 VND; 200.000 VND and 500.000 VND. Besides VND, US

dollar is widely accepted.

a) Vietnam Dong

VND is the official currency in Vietnam.

Current paper notes include: 500.000 VND; 200.000 VND; 100.000 VND; 50.000 VND; 20.000 VND; 10.000 VND; 5.000 VND; 2.000 VND; 1.000 VND; 500 VND. Coins include 5.000 VND; 2.000 VND; 1.000 VND; 500 VND and 200 VND.

50.000 VND; 100.000 VND and 500.000 VND



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b) Credit Card

Most major credit cards such as Visa, Master card and American Express are

very usefully in the big cities and some tourist sites too. Those cards can be used in

the most mid-range to the high-end class hotels and some luxury restaurants. You can

also get the cash advances from ATMs of the almost Vietnamese banks especially

Vietcombank.

Banks in Vietnam has developed a large number of ATM networks but it is not

recommended to trust completely in ATM because sometimes you cannot get cash

from them especially during lunar New Year. Furthermore, many shops and

restaurants dont accept credit cards as a payment method.

ATM machine

ATMs can be found in various locations, especially in the main tourist areas.

Normally you will find an ATM m a c h i n e e v e r y 1 - 2 k m w a l k i n g , o r i n

f r o n t o f a n y b a n k s . I n t e r n a t i o n a l c r e d i t c a r d s a r e a c c e p t e d ,

such as American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, Cirrus or Diners Club.

Withdrawal charges may be made by the users bank or card issuer.


AIESEC HO CHI MINH LC, VIET NAM Work hard, play harder!

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c) Open bank account One of the first concerns about moving to Vietnam is financial management. If you plan to stay in the country for more than 2 months, it might be wise to open a bank account because (1) it is expensive to make a withdrawal from an ATM all the time (2) your home country bank may charge you unfavorable rate for currency exchange (3) it might be hard to find an ATM where you can withdraw money. The good news is that you can apply online for your Vietnamese bank account as easy as one mouse-click. Here are instructions to open a bank account with the most popular banks in Vietnam: Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) is one of the best in the country with regard to card services. To apply for an ACB current account, you will need to submit your passport with Vietnamese visa stamp and ACB application form to open a new bank account. The minimum deposit is VND 100,000. More information can be found here or call ACB tollfree number: 1800-577-775 ANZ bank now maintains online application to open a bank account. To apply, click here for the application form. ANZ maintains a 24-hour customer service line: 18001559 should you have any questions. Techcombank also offers competitive services. To apply, you need to present a valid passport or ID card and a signed application form. Techcombank hotline number is: 1800-588-822 Vietcombank has the most extensive network of branches and ATM machines. The cons is that its customer services could do some improvements. For foreigners to open a bank account with Vietcombank, you need to submit 3 copies of the application for account, passport with the Vietnamese Visa stamp (with a duration of at least 6 months). It is also required that you maintain a minimum balance required by the bank and a letter of recommendation from supervisor if you want to checks. To find out about the application form and how to fill the form, click here. Vietcombank contact number is(+84-4) 38-248-281 Further readings: Banking system in Vietnam



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HO CHI MINH CITY ENTERTAINMENT

1. HCMC Cuisine

You can find most of food from the North and South of Vietnam in HCMC. Vietnamese food is not just delicious but it also mesmerizes your ears, your eyes, and your tongue. Therefore, we list here some traditional dishes and re s t a u ran t s that you MUST try the f la vors o f l i fe you l l never forg e t! ! !



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Ph (Noodle soup)

Pho is thought to come from Hanoi. Pho is a simple rice noodle, often eaten as a breakfast dish at home or at street cafes, but also served in restaurants as a meal. There are two kinds of Ph: Beef Pho and Chicken Pho.

Recommend: Hoa Pho: 260C Pasteur Street, ditrict 3, 40.000 50.000 VND / bowl Anh Pho: 8-10A Ky Dong Street, district 3, 25.000 40.000 VND / bowl Pho 24: www.pho24.com.vn, 55.000 70.000 VND / bowl



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Cm Tm (Tm: broken rice grains, Cm: cooked rice)

It is usually served with grilled pork (either ribs or shredded) plus the Vietnam dish bi (thinly shredded pork mixed with cooked and thinly shredded pork skin) over broken rice. The rice and meat are served with various greens and picked vegetables , along with a prawn paste cake steamed egg, and grilled prawns. Typically, restaurants will serve this with a small bowl of fish sauce / soya sauce. Recommend:

Com tam Thuan Kieu: www.thuankieu.com, 30.000 50.000 VND / dish

Com tam Moc: www.comtammoc.com, 30.000 45.000 VND / dish

Com tam Cali: www.comtamcali.com.vn, 45.000 60.000 VND / dish



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Hu tieu Nam Vang (Nam Vang noodle soup) Soup ingredient: wonderful fat free chicken and pork broth. This soup has minced pork, squid, roasted pork, quail eggs, shrimps and pork heart; plus bean sprout, scallions, chives, slices of limes, chilly peppers and salad. Traditionally, this soup has pork liver.

Recommend:

Hu tieu Lien Hua: 312 An Duong Vuong St, district 5, ~ 60.000VND / bowl

Hu tieu Hong Phat: 93 Huynh Man Dat St, 50.000 60.000 VND / bowl



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Banh Xeo (pancakes) Banh xeo are Vietnamese savoury pancakes made of rice flour, water, turmeric powder and in the southern of region, include coconut milk, stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp and bean sprouds and then pan fried. They are served wrapped in mustard leave, lettuce leave or rice paper, and stuffed with the mint leave, basil, fish leave and/or other herbs, and dipped in a sweet and sour diluted fish sauce.

Recommend:

Banh xeo Muoi Xiem: 225-227 Nguyen Trai St, District 1 50.000 160.000 / pancake for 2 people Banh xeo An La Ghien: www.anlaghien.com.vn 50.000 100.000 VND / pancake for 2 people



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Banh Khot Rice, cold rice after being cooked or rice crust at the bottom of the pot, shrimps, Ground drief shrimps fish sauce and vegetables are the main ingredients of the dish.

Recommend:

Banh khot Co Ba Vung Tau: 258B Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1 ~ 65.000 VND/ 10 pieces



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2. Shopping a) Shopping center

+ Vincom Center 72 Le Thanh Ton Street, district 1

+ Diamond Plaza 34 Le Duan Street, district 1

+ Parkson 35 Bis-45, Le Thanh Ton Street, district 1

+ Sai Gon square Ton Duc Thang street, district 1 If you need something luxurious, these places are the best ideas. However, the goods in these centers are extremely expensive and sometimes they are not worth with their values. So supermarkets will be a good idea if you want t o buy everything with the real price and do not have to bargain.

b) Super market There are lots of super markets ranged from medium to large size all over Ho Chi Minh city, but we recommend you 2 highly regarded super market systems where you can buy all kinds of food and personal hygiene facilities.

Big C: 202B Hoang Van Thu Street, Phu Nhuan district Coop Mart: 189C, Cong Quynh street, district 1

168 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, district 3 497 Hoa Hao, District 10

Besides, there many small and medium supermarkets around HCMC like:

Vinatex (specialize in cloths: All products made by Vietnamese Vinatex Group)

Address: 48 Street, Ward 3, District 4. Maximark:

Address: 3C, 3 thang 2 Street, Ward 11, district 10; 15-17 Cong Hoa, Tan Binh district.

Tax Department store.



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c) Local market In Ho Chi Minh city, markets appear everywhere from the small and crowed quarters to big ones. In each district where you stay, in the area of 1km2, theres probably 1 local market where you can buy fresh food (early morning) with cheaper price than super market (but need to have bargaining skill !).

d) Shopping street Ho Chi Minh is full of street shops selling clothes, bags, hats, handicrafts, etc. Some famous streets for cloth which have reasonable price are:

Pham Ngu Lao street L Vn S street (clothes) Sai Gon square L Li Street ( Silk, handmade gift)

Night market: outside Bn Thnh market, in every Saturday and Sunday

night, the streets become the giant shopping street where you can find

many interesting and cheap things.



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3. Coffee shop Again, thousands of coffee shops rise in Ho Chi Minh city, from small size to garden coffee, from pavements to roof floor coffee shops. And of course the price is different! So we recommend you which are the most visited and where you feel most relaxing! Mien Dong Thao coffee: 221A Nguyen Trong Tuyen street Phu Nhuan District Price: 25.000 40.000 VND / cup of coffee 50.000 70.000 VND / cocktail



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Angel garden coffee: 40 Vo Van Tan Street, district 3 Price: 40.000 50.000 VND / coffee



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Han Thuyen coffee (coffee park): opposite to Notre Dame. Price: 10.000 VND / coffee milk Coffee park is a distinguished culture of young people in Ho Chi Minh city. Sitting in a fancy coffee shop is not always the choice of coffee drinker. In this coffee park, you can either enjoy coffee at cheapest price or listen to singers on pavements who sing just for fun of life. Theres sometimes you might be in the rain, but who cares, going in the rain is the way you feel a tropical country!!!



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4. RESTAURANT IN HO CHI MINH CITY

a) Seafood Restaurants in HCMC Ngoc Suong restaurant 19C Le Quy Don St., District 3, Ho Chi Minh city. Tel: (08) 39304209

Ngan Dinh restaurant 18 An Duong Vuong St., District 5, Ho Chi Minh city. Tel: (08) 38308888

Din Ky Sea food restaurant Bien Dong restaurant50 Le Thi Hong Gam St., District 1, Ho Chi Minh city. Tel: (08) 38294112

357 Dien Bien Phu St., Ward 15, Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh city. Tel: (08) 38999430

b) Chinese and Asians Restaurants in HCMC

Hoang Thanh

77-89 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Dist.1 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM Phone: 3821-7815

Crystal Jade Palace

Legend hotel, 2A-4A Ton Duc Thang Dist.1 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM Phone: 3823-3333

Golden Phoenix

Euqatorial hotel, 242 Tran Binh Trong Dist.5 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM Phone: 3839-0000

Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant

38 Nguyen Hue Dist.1 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM Phone: 3822-8323

Maxim

13-15-17 Dong Khoi Dist.1 Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM Phone: 3823-0644

Dynasty

New World Hotel, 76 Le LaiDist.1, Ho Chi Minh City VIETNAM

Phone: 3822-8888



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c) French Restaurants in HCMC

Le JARDIN 178B, Hai Ba Trung Tell: (08) 38214566

Letoile 180 Hai Ba Trung Str, Dist 3 Tel: (08) 3829 7939 Au Manoir De Khai 251 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City Tell: (08) 39303394

La Taverne 30 Vo Van Tan Str, Dist 3 Tel: (08) 39308779

ANNAMITE 21 Tu Xuong Str, Dist 3. Tel: (08) 62778332 LOlivier Sofitel Plaza Saigon Hotel 17 Le Duan St., Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: (08) 3824155



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d) Japanese Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh

HANAJUKI

21C Ton Duc Thang Str, Dist 1 Tel: (08) 3829 0305

THE SUSHI BAR 1

2 Le Thanh Ton Str, Dist 1 Tel: (08) 3823 8042

e) Korea Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh

Seoul House

37, Ngo Duc Ke

Tel: 38294297

Ch Tng

E002. M Phc, PMH

Tel:08-4120478

Korean VIP

68-70 Dong Du

Tel:38242260

7-Stars

28-34 Pasteur

Tel: 3829594

Viking SB6-1. SA7-1, My Khanh, D.7 Tel: 34124000

M Hn Quc 94 Hm Nghi Tel: 39141565



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5. Bar, pub and discotheque

These bars are quite common with the foreigners: - Catwalk 36 Le Lai street - Palace 56-66 Nguyen Hue street

- Baroco 264Bis Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Volcano 148, Cong Quynh - X (030) 30 Nguyen Cu Trinh - Liquid 104 Hai Ba Trung - Aqua 7 Pham Ngoc Thach - Lush 2 Ly Tu Trong - LU club 77-89 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - NEMO 100-102-104, 23 street, district 6 - LEXY 1 Cao Thang



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6. Travelling in Ho Chi Minh city As a city with a long history, Ho Chi Minh has many places of interest to intrigue its visitors with. Among all of them, there are several landmarks that should not be excluded from your itinerary.

Reunification Palace, sometimes called the Independence Palace, used to be the South Vietnam's Presidential Palace. It is famous because this is the place where the Vietnam War ended in 1975 when a tank crashed through its gate. Today, the tank can still be seen on the front lawn. Inside the palace that is turned into a museum can be seen the downstairs control room, underground tunnels and other office equipment. There is a nice coffee shop on the outside garden where tourists enjoy a short rest.



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The War Remnants Museum is one of the must-visit places in Ho Chi Minh where the cruellest deeds of the Vietnam War done both by Americans and Vietnamese are displayed. Those atrocities were not revealed in the media but are shown on photographs; there are also a simulated "tiger cage" prison, captured American weapons and many other remnants that depict the real story, the one that you cannot read in textbooks or encyclopedias.



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Cu Chi Tunnels are a network of around 200km underground tunnels that were used by the Vietnamese soldiers to hide from Americans. Situated in close proximity to the city, the tunnels can be seen by signing for one of the many day tours offered in the city. Inside the tunnels can still be seen shelters, underground hideouts and entrances to other tunnels. Bomb caters and traps used against the Americans remain outside the tunnels.



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The City Hall is still a working government building. Built in French colonial style, the hall is a definitely worth seeing even though inside tours are not allowed. Lit at night this so called today People's Committee Hall is a beautiful sight even for the native tourists. In the front garden stands a statue of Ho Chi Minh reading a book to a child in his lap.



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Chinatown: Cho Lon, Binh Tay Market - Chinatown, Saigon. Cho Lon, Saigons Chinatown, is one of the oldest, mysterious and most interesting parts of Saigon. Cho Lon literally means big market and the vast Binh Tay Market lives up to that reputation.



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Vinh Nghiem pagoda: Saigon has many Buddhist temples. These aren't just

tourist attractions; the locals actively worship there weekly and on holidays. Buddhist temples are remarkable for their openness; anyone can enter as long as you observe the customs, such as taking off your shoes at the door and refraining from taking flash pictures during ceremonies! There are donation boxes for the faithful, which you may or may not contribute to. Many temples are several stories high, reaching toward the heavens.



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Dam Sen Park: Dam Sen Park belongs to district 11 in Ho Chi Minh City, at the

corner of Lac Long Quan and Hoa Binh streets.The parks infrastructure is divided into 30 parts and features several activities, restaurants, and shows, including a smaller reproduction of the Giac Vien Pagoda, the Thuy Ta floating restaurant, a lake similar to West Lake in Hanoi where one can fish, a puppet show, a bird garden, a water park, a sports center, and the Nam Tu Royal Garden.



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Suoi Tien Park: The Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix which is supposed to bring safety, happiness and good luck to you and your family. Suoi Tien has become one of the most attractive parks in the country and is on the way to join the rank of international - standard cultural parks in the world.

An Dong Plaza: shopping center on the lower levels is comprised of

hundreds of small shops and outside beer garden.



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Ben Thanh market: Shop and eat at Ben Thanh! This is the biggest market in HCMC. You can practically get everything here - clothes, food, utensils, arts and crafts, souvenirs, meat and vegetables, coffee powder, etc etc. It's open air - you can move through the many galleries gaping at how many things are being sold here. Bargain hard before you buy anything and watch the world go by...as long as you don't mind the chaos going around you. So things are getting expensive and we got slightly burned at Ben Thanh market buying some local delicacies. Later, we actually go to their supermarket which was a lot cheaper!!"...



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Last but not least, you have to get an Ao Dai: When in Saigon you must be fitted for an Ao Zai, the Vietnamese Traditional Dress, if you are female. These are very beautiful garments made out of the most wonderful silks. Make sure you demand that they dry clean the garment before you purchase it. There are many tailor shops in HCMC, especially in areas like Dong Khoi and De Tham Street that will tailor an ao-dai in 24 hours or less. there are a number of good tailors in De Tham St, you can go to "Nha May Cuong" owned by Mr Cuong. He has shops at 59 Ly Tu Trong and at 247 Le Thanh Ton. Best of all, this tailor will escort you to Ben Thanh Market to help you select the fabric first. Another fine choice is Albert Thanh, whose shop is at 22 Vo Van Tan Street District 3.



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VIETNAM PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1. Tet The Lunar New Year

Around ending Jan or early Feb (based on Lunar Calendar)

Its the most important and biggest festival of the entire Vietnamese nation. Spring arrives, the Vietnamese, wherever they may be, are excited with the advent of Tet. They feel an immense nostalgia, wishing to come back homeland for a family reunion and a taste of the particular flavors of Vietnamese. Tet is perceived to wrap up the misfortunes of the old year and to open up a new year of good opportunities. Tet also is a chance for the household genies to meet those who have helped during the year, namely the Craft Creator, the Land Genie and the Kitchen God, and deceased ancestors. The Giao Thua is the most sacred point of time, the passage from the old to the new year. It is popularly believed that in Heaven there are twelve Highnesses in charge of monitoring and controlling the affairs on earth, each of them taking charge of one year. The Giao Thua is the moment of seeing off the old chieftain upon the conclusion of his term and welcoming in the new one upon his assumption of office. For this reason, every home makes offerings in the open air to pray for a good new year.



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2. Vietnamese womens day October 20th

Mar 8th is the international womens day whereas Oct 20th is Vietnamese womens day. On this day, Vietnamese women often receive beautiful flowers, lots of gifts with the best wishes from their boyfriends, lovers, husbands, male colleagues, friends or relatives. On this day 20th of October 1930, a group of Vietnamese ladies formed a women association of anti-colonialism which was initial form of Vietnamese ladies association nowadays. Therefore, this day was chosen to be Vietnamese ladies day.

3. Hung Kings anniversary March 10th (lunar calendar)

The Hung King's Temple is located on the Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Lang

commune, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province, 85 kilometers northwest of

Hanoi. Every year, a national festival called Hung King's Temple Festival is

held to worship the Hung Kings, who were instrumental in the founding of the

nation. In every Vietnameses mind, the Hung Kings' Temple Festival and Hung

Kings Death Anniversary are a symbol of the nations spiritual and religious

ethos and represent its unity. The festival not only allows visitors to participate

in traditional cultural activities but is also a sacred pilgrimage back to the origins

of Vietnamese culture.

4. Reunification Day/ Victory Day April 30th

This day in the year of 1975 is the day that Viet Cong and North Vietnamese

troops captured Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh city). This ended the Vietnam War,

and started the transition period toward reunification. After this day is

International workers day May 1st, so 2 days can be a big holidays in Vietnam,

a lot of Vietnamese have a long happy holidays in these days.



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5. National Celebration September 2nd

This day is very important to Vietnamese. In this day in 1945, at historical Ba

Dinh square, Uncle Ho read the famous Declaration of Independence to

proclaim the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This event marked

the beginning of a new era for the Vietnamese nation.

6. Mid-Autumn festival 15th of the 8th month (lunar calendar)

On this day, families gather to admire the full moon- the period that the moon is

fullest and largest. People celebrate with traditional moon cakes, fruits and tea.

This day is especially enjoyable for children since they usually receive many

gifts and traditional toys such as the star shaped lantern or rabbit shaped lantern.

7. Vietnamese Teachers day Nov 20th

This day is to show the respect to the Vietnameses teachers whom have taught

us to be good people. Vietnamese, especially students often show their love to

their teachers by visiting their houses and sending them flowers and small gifts.



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8. Christmas Dec 24th

Christmas is one of the four most important festivals of the Vietnamese year, including the birthday of Buddha, the New Year and the Mid-autumn Festival. Although the Christians observed the religious rituals of Christmas, in Vietnam, Christmas is celebrated joyously with people thronging city roads right from Christmas Eve, which is more important than Christmas Day! Christmas in Vietnam is a huge event. Vietnamese Christmas celebrations here are like any other city in the western world. The Christians in Vietnam attend a Midnight mass on Christmas Eve and return home to a sumptuous Christmas dinner. The Christmas dinner usually consists of chicken soup while wealthier people eat turkey and Christmas pudding.



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1. DOs TIPS

Greetings are no different to western countries, there are no cultural formalities

that as a foreigner you would be expected to know or practice. Vietnamese dress conservatively. Not only for the prevailing weather, but also

not to cause offence to the local people. Despite the heat, its best not to show off too much skin. If you do, especially girls, youll only draw stares from the locals. Vietnamese have conservative dress codes, and it is only in larger cities that these codes are a little more relaxed. Do not wear revealing clothing.

Dress well when visiting pagodas. No shorts or tatty beer t-shirts. Shoes are fine, and rarely will you have to remove them. If unsure, just follow what the locals do.

Drink plenty of bottled water, especially when walking around sightseeing. No need to carry huge bottles around with you, a vendor is never far away and no doubt they will find you before you find them. During the summer months you should be drinking a minimum of two litters per day. If you drink tea, coffee & alcohol you should increase you water intake accordingly as these will help to dehydrate you.

Only travel with trusted people. Store your cash, credit cards, airline tickets and other valuables in a safe place. You should keep a Vietnamese note of your accommodation address, for easier for taxi drivers or a cyclo driver when you do not know the way back.

Carry a roll of toilet paper in your daypack on long excursions from your base hotel. You never know when you might need it!

If invited into a home, always remove your shoes at the front door when entering.

Ask for permission when taking a photograph of someone. If they indicate that they do not want you to, then abide by their wishes.

DO NOT offer money or push the issue. Check on your first day whether you need to reconfirm your next flight, if so

do it then. Some airlines do not require this anymore but it is still worthwhile calling them so that they at least have your contact details, in case the flight is delayed or whatever.

Bring a gauze mask whenever going out for the sake of your own health ^^



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2. DONTs

Never carry more money than you need when walking around the streets. Do not wear large amounts of jewellery. There are two reasons for not doing this: (1)It is considered impolite to flaunt wealth in public;

(2) It is more likely that you may become a victim of a pickpocket or drive-by bag snatcher.

Don't wear singlets, shorts, dresses or skirts, or tops with low-neck lines and bare shoulders to Temples and Pagodas. To do this is considered extremely rude.

Never sleep or sit with the soles of your feet pointing towards the family altar when in someones house.

Never lose your temper in public or when bargaining for a purchase. This is considered a serious loss of face for both parties. reciprocated with the same.

Do not try to take photographs of military installations or anything to do with the military. This can be seen as a breach of national security.

Wear a lot of jewellery or take a bag with you. Violent crime is highly unusual in

Vietnam, but petty crime is more apparent. If you have a bag, or tout a digital camera around your neck, you are a potential target.

When taking a ride by motorbike taxi (xe om) make sure your bag, if any, is not on

display or easy to grab. Bag snatches, although still rare, are probably the most likely crime a tourist would encounter, and it raises the probability immensely if you are tailing a camera or a laptop in the wind.

Physical displays of affection between lovers in public are frowned upon. Thats why you

may come across couples holding hands but not hugging or kissing. Remember, this is Vietnam, a developing country, and things dont quite work as you are

maybe used to. Dont be paranoid about your safety; just be aware of your surroundings.

Do not carry your passport a leave it in the safe in your hotel. A photocopy will suffice if local law states that you need to.



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Hotline and Embassies in Ho Chi Minh city

a) Hotlines

113: police 114: fire 115: local ambulance France Vietnam hospital: (+84-8) 54 11 34 31



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b) Embassies in Ho Chi Minh city The general Consulate

of Address Tell Fax

Australia 5B Ton Duc Thang, Dist.1

(848) 38296035 (848) 38296031

Belgium The 7th floor, Sunwah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, Dist.1

(848) 38219354 (848) 38278068

Cambodia No. 41, Phung Khac Khoan, Dist.1

(848) 38292751 (848) 38277696

Canada 235, Dong Khoi, Dist.1 (848) 38279899 (848)38279935 China 39 Nguyen Thi Minh

Khai, Dist.1 (848) 38292465 (848) 38275845

France 27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist 3

(848) 38297231 (848) 38291675

Germany No. 126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Dist 3

(848) 38292455 (848) 38231919

Hungary 22 Phung Khac khoan, Dist.1

(848) 38290130 (848) 38292410

India No. 49 Tran Quoc Thao, Dist.3

(848) 39303539 (848) 38294495

Indonesia 18 Phung Khac Khoan, Dist.1

(848) 38251888 (848) 38299493

Japan No. 13-17 Nguyen Hue, Dist. 1

(848) 38225314 (848) 38225316

Laos 9B, Pasteur, Dist.1 (848) 38297667 (848) 38299272 Malaysia No. 2 Ngo Duc Ke, Dist.1 (848) 38299023 (848) 38299027 Netherlands 29 Le Duan, Dist.1 (848) 38235932 (848) 28235934 New Zealand R 909/9th Florr

Metropole Building 235 Dong Khoi, Dist.1

(848) 38226907 (848) 38226905

Norway No. 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Dist.1

(848) 38221696 (848) 38272696

Philippine No. 8 the 11th Floor Nguyen Hue, Dist.1

(848) 38294738

Poland No. 5 Le Loi, Dist. 1 (848) 39142883 (848) 39142884 Republic Czech 28 Mac Dinh Chi. Dist.1 (848) 38290585 (848) 38226043 Romania 33/6 Dang Van Ngu,

Phu Nhuan Dist. (848) 39911204 (848) 38450587

Russia No. 40 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan

(848) 39303936 (848) 39303937



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Singapore 8th Floor, Saigon Center, 65 Le Loi, Dist.1

(848) 38220173 (848) 39142938

Slovakia No. 64-68 Hai Ba Trung, Dist.1

(848) 38298888 (848) 38277999

South Africa No. 25 Phung Khac Khoan, Dist.1

(848) 38238556 (848) 38238557

South Korea 107 Nguyen Du, Dist.1 (848) 38225757 (848) 38225750 Swenden 8A/11 Thai Van Lung,

Dist.1 (848) 38236800 (848) 38244856

Switzerland No. 124 Dien Bien Phu, Dist.1

(848) 38205402 (848) 244856

Thailand No.77 Tran Quoc Thao, Dist.3

(848) 39327637 (848) 326002

Ukraine No.22-24 Nguyen Van Thu, Dist.1

(848) 39104054 (848) 39104053

United Kingdom 25 Le Duan, Dist.1 (848) 38298433 (848) 38221971 United States of America

4 Le Duan, Dist.1 (848) 38229433 (848) 38229434



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Insurance

- Insurance is very important when you come to another country. It can assure you all things, so you feel very comfortable to live with worries.

- If you want to buy a insurance for yourselves, in Vietnam, there are many companies to support for you: + Prudential Insurance Company Add: 115 H Tng Mu, Bn Ngh ward, district 1. + AIA International Insurance Limited Company (USA) Add: 101 Nam Ky Khoi Nghi, Bn Thnh Ward, District 1. + AAA Insurance Company. + Liberty Insurance Add: 2 Bis, Tran Cao Van, Da Kao ward, district 1

- Kind of insurance you need to buy: + Traveling insurance. + Personal accident insurance.

Age from 19-24: Male (695000/1 year), female (390000 VND/ 1 year).



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CONTACT US

1. Our LC contacts

Email: [email protected] Website: www.aiesechochiminh.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/aiesechcm


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LCP: Nguyen Dang Duy Email: [email protected]

VP OGX: Pham Du Linh Email: [email protected]

VP COMM&IM: Ngo Nhat Phuong Email: [email protected]

VP Talent Management: Pham Thi Mai Bien Email: [email protected]

VP ER: Pham Ngoc Bao Chau Email: [email protected]

VP ICX: Jancy Nguyen Email: [email protected]

VP Finance: Le Anh Tai Email: [email protected]

VP Talent Development: Lai Van Huyen Email: [email protected]



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