Be careful on the road!
by namidub
Mind that in HCMC,the majority of the road users are motorcyclist.There are Thousands if not millions of them on the road every now and then.They wear no helmets,they dont follow the traffic rules,no separate lanes for direction (although available but never been followed) traffic lights are useless unless there's a policeman standing there.
Watch at the roundabout how everyone goes crazy. The local guide told me that if you're a local then you might consider only motorbike as your primary transport cuz the local ladies opt for men with motorbike rather than with car.
Reason why? Car travel slowly
And one of the reason there are still so many motorcyclist on the road even at night is because they wanted to feel to cold breeze air when they ride the bike as their home is not air-conditioned.
:-)
VND (Vietnamese Dong) Currency!
by machomikemd
The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the official currency in Vietnam.
Exchange rate is approximatley 1 USD = 15,000 Dong
Bank notes currently in circulation are in denominations of 100 / 200 / 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 20,000 and 50,000 Dong
Notes under 200 Dong have little value and are rarely used.
The U.S. dollar is more or less a second currency in Vietnam. Other foreign currencies are not readily accepted. A large supply of US$1, US$5 and US$10 are almost essential for tipping, for small expenses and for hotel bills. U.S. money is so common that change will frequently be given in dollars.
You may bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency as long as it is declared on the forms provided by customs officers. Foreign currency can be exchanged for dong at your hotel or at the State Bank of Vietnam.
Saigon and Communism
by tampa_shawn
Even with the free enterprise in Saigon, Vietnam is still a communist country and if you look you will see evidence of this. The Government of Vietnam posts bill boards everywhere giving messages to its citizens. Some of the bill boards just say to be a good citizen, where others talk about family commitment, getting regular immunizations for children or warn about AIDs.
Pictured here...one sign with several messages
See you at the SEA Games!!!
by shrimp56
The 22nd Annual SEA Games were in full swing while we were in Saigon. SEA = South East Asia. The actual venues were in Hanoi, but you could have fooled us from all the excitement there was going on around us!
Cao Dai Temple in My Tho
by keeweechic
We passed this one heading down to the Mekong Delta. The Cao Dai religion is indigenous to Vietnam and is quite fascinating. Every aspect of Cao Daism reflects the fusion of Eastern and Western philosophies.
Respected so called 'saints' of the Cao Dai include Joan of Arc, Rene Descartes, William Shakespeare, Victor Hugo, Louis Pasteur, and Lenin.
Location : My Tho
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Saigon River
Crazy Motorbike Drivers
Saigon by night
A pantheon of venerated entities
