One of the delights of foreign travel is to visit places of historic interest and if they are sited on the road less travelled, then all the better!

Điện Biên Phủ is one of Vietnam’s most significant provincial capitals and lies in the Mường Thanh Valley, approximately 470 kms to the west of Ha Noi and surrounded by steep and densely wooded hills.  The “heart shaped” valley that is about 20 kms and 6 km wide and is home to a population of around 125,000.  It is only some 34 kilometres to the east of the Laos border.

Its significance to Vietnamese history stems from in 1954 this quiet rural setting saw a ferocious 57 day battle fought between the, then, colonial occupier of French Indochina and the Việt Minh, who wanted self determination for Vietnam.  The French had long attempted to draw the Việt Minh into a “set piece” battle and to this purpose had fortified the lush farmlands of Điện Biên Phủ.  The French rationale was that through additional support to its soldiers at Điện Biên Phủ, enacmped deep in the hills of this area of north-western Vietnam, it would cut off Việt Minh supply lines and tactically draw the Việt Minh into a major confrontation.  The French believed that such tactics would cripple the resolve and resources of the Việt Minh.

The French however were unaware of the Việt Minh’s possession of heavy artillery, that they had dissassembled and man hauled over the harsh terrain to strategically place and oversight the French positions.  On 13 March 1954, under the leadership of Senior General Võ Nguyên Giáp (who celebrated his 100^th birthday on 25 August 2011) the Việt Minh surrounded and besieged the French with withering artillery bombardments and fearless ground attacks.  The French forces repulsed wave upon wave of attacks until their positions were gradually taken and all the time the Việt Minh anti-aircraft fire took its toll on the French air supplies.

The French garrison was overrun on 7 May 1954, with the survivors captured and taken prisoner, to be released some months later.  This significant event effectively ended France’s colonial reign of Vietnam, which had commenced in 1887, and the completion of the Geneva Convention on 21 July 1954, saw Vietnam freed of colonial influence.

The road from Hanoi (National Route 12) is not an easy trek that takes about 12 hours and although a modern road is anticipated for completion in 2013, the easiest way to travel to Điện Biên Phủ from Hanoi is by air with Vietnam Airlines.  There is a border crossing from Laos at Tay Trang that, when open, allows you to pass into Vietnam at Sop Hun, however, this crossing is frequently closed and does not issue visas.  If you’re travelling from Laos, you’ll need to have secured a visa at Vientiane and confirmed that this border crossing is open, prior to your departure.

Điện Biên Phủ is steeped in its military significance to modern Vietnam history and remnants of the famous siege, such as French General Christian de Castries’ command bunker, General Giáp’s tunnels (some 40 kms out of Điện Biên Phủ), A1 Hill (a fortified French hill), Mường Thanh Bridge, Điện Biên Phủ Museum along with French and Vietnamese War Cemeteries can be readily visited.  A magnificent monument is under construction at D1 Hill to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the victory on 21 July 2014.

To solely focus on Điện Biên Phủ’s military past does not do this delightful city justice, as its rustic charm is ever present that is reflective of its distance from Hanoi combined with its “off the beaten track” location.  The countryside is fertile and beautiful that, with its relaxed pace, makes a delightful change from the energy of Ha Noi.  The residential and commercial precincts are still distinctively Vietnamese, without too much external influence, evoking the city's establishment, in the 1840s, as a township developed to assist in preventing attacks on trading caravans to and from China and Burma.  These precincts are predominately located on the eastern side of the Ron River that flows through Điện Biên Phủ.

Although not catering for a mainstream tourist trade, there are many lovely guesthouses together with numerous places to enjoy the local life and cuisine.  As with all of Vietnam, visitors are made to feel welcome and obtaining guides and transport to visit the varity of places of interest is readily organised through your guesthouse.  Apart from ethic Vietnamese, Điện Biên Phủ’s population is an eclectic mix of Thai and Hmong peoples known as Montagnards.  Điện Biên Phủ also provides for a terrific location to use as a base for day trips further afield to nearby townships such as Sơn La, where Vietnam’s colonial past can be further experienced through a visit to the former French prison and museum.

Time spent in Điện Biên Phủ is positive, as you are able to experience Vietnam as it used to be before the recent influx of western tourism whilst providing you with an appreciation of the struggle that the Vietnamese people have had to take control of their country’s destiny.

With a large number of different taxis on the streets (many of them fake taxis) of Ho Chi Minh City, for someone new to the country and city it’s hard to spot the fakes from the real deal.

The team here at Asia Travel Magazine recommend only two taxi companies in Ho Chi Minh City the first being Mai Linh Taxi’s and the second being Vinasun Taxis. In our opinion both are as good as each other however on our last trip we noticed one of the many Vinasun taxis we travelled in was looking a little old. But this was one out of the thousands of Vinasun taxis on the street of Ho Chi Minh City, and I have the say the driver was excellent.

Picture 1: A Mai Linh Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City

 Picture 2: A Vinasun Taxi in Ho Chi Minh City Saigon

Tips for catching a taxi in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City:

• Ensure the driver turns the meter on and does not try to negotiate the fare with you.
• Only catch a quality taxi such as Vinasun or Mai Linh Taxis.
• As you get into the Taxi take note or write down the Taxi number as well as details of the driver, in case you leave something behind or need to make a complaint or compliment.
• Passengers need to pay for tolls (Airport, Road, Bridge, Ferry Tolls) these tolls can vary from 5,000 Dong for the Aiport toll to 10,000 for most bridge and road tolls.

We have heard reports of fake Mai Linh and Vinasun taxis, that have extremely dark tint windows and the driver taking you to somewhere other than your destination and demanding more money (Several hundred thousand dong ) our tip is ensure the taxi does not have dark tinted windows (we have never seen either of the above taxi companies with tinted windows) also the telephone number on the side of the taxi was different from the original number

The phone number of VinaSun and Mai Linh Taxis in Ho Chi Minh City are:

Vinasun Taxis Ho Chi Minh City – Ph 38 27 27 27
Mai Linh Taxis Ho Chi Minh City – Ph 38 38 38 38

Note Mai Linh Taxis also operate in Vinh Long, Can Tho:

Mai Linh Taxis Vinh Long – Ph (07) 03 92 92 92
Mai Linh Taxis Can Tho - Ph 38 28 28 2

Mai Linh also operate taxis in other Vietnamese Cities and towns so keep a look out for them

If you have any comments good/bad or tips about Vietnam taxis please add them below.

It’s your hotel that can either make or break any trip, turning a mediocre day into a fantastic night or at the other end turning a great day into a horrific night, Asia is no exception with its fair share of fantastic and dare I say not so great hotels.

Which is why the team here at Asia Travel Magazine decided to compile a list of the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Asia, so you can be assured your hotel won’t be what spoils your next holiday to Asia.

Shangri-La Hotel Singapore

The Shangri La Hotel Singapore, now this is the hotel that foreign Heads of State & dignitaries chose to stay when they are in Singapore, they don’t just stay because the Shangri-la is the most secure hotel on the Island it’s also the service and attention to detail which the Shangri-La is world famous for and in our books makes it number 1 Singapore.

On entry to the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore you will be awe struck by the main lobby this theme continues throughout the entire hotel.

Those in the know who only want the best book a room in the exclusive Shangri-La Valley Wing.

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

Since opening in 1963 the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has been synonymous with luxury & style, this still holds true today, mind you the hotel has gone thru a renovation in recent years which has made it even better. A highly recommended stay in Hong Kong! Our favourite rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong are the Harbour View Rooms for a standard room, for a Suite the Deluxe Oriental Suite is great, but for pure indulgence the Mandarin Suite is number one!

Peninsula Hotel Tokyo Japan

The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo is a relatively new Luxury hotel located in Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, and can be considered the ultimate in state of the art luxury; each room tastefully incorporates technology which will make your stay enjoyable.

The ultimate room at the Peninsula Hotel Tokyo is the Peninsula Suite which has wide sweeping views Hibiya Park and the Imperial palace gardens.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Just as the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong above the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is a Luxury hotel which should need no introduction with over 130 years of tradition the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is one of the best that Thailand & Asia has to offer. Situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River the views and atmosphere should not be missed.

This hotel is the choice of the rich and famous not to mention heads of state.

Our favourite rooms at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is the Mandarin Room, for a great suite the  Executive Suite is great value for money,  but if money is no object the Royal Oriental Suite should be your first choice.

The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok Thailand

Another great Thai hotel set spectacularly on the bank of the Chao Phraya river, this 5 star hotel with the lot, has awesome views tip top service & some of the most luxurious outfitted rooms we have seen in Asia. It’s for these reasons The Peninsula Bangkok makes it on the list of the 10 Best Luxury hotels Asia

We recommend the Grand Deluxe Room which has spectacular panoramic views, but the best room in the house is The Peninsula Suite which is extravagance on a huge scale, with the rooms easy access to the hotels helipad

Four Seasons Chang Mai Thailand

The first thing which comes to mind every time I visit the Four Seasons Chang Mai, is tranquillity with a whole lot of luxury thrown in.

The four seasons Chang Mai set among the rice fields & mountains of the Mae Rim Valley a stay here is truly one of the most unique luxury hotel experiences to be had in Asia.

For extreme luxury Asia Travel Magazine recommends one of the private residence rentals with private plunge pool

Oberoi Udaivilas - Udaipur, India

The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur India is consistently ranked one of the best luxury hotels in Asia if not the world and we agree, from the moment you enter you are treated like a king or queen.

The attention to detail and service provided by staff is simply breathtaking, for some this service is hard to get used to!

Sofitel Metropole – Hanoi, Vietnam

The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi is truly a little piece of France in Hanoi, the French influence might have something to do with the fact the hotel was built in 1901 which is smack bang in the middle of the 100 year French occupation of Vietnam. If there is one thing the French did right in Vietnam it’s this hotel.

It’s the style the service and the staff that make the Sofitel Metrople Hanoi the best Luxury hotel in Vietnam, East meets West its best!

To experience the true history of this hotel book a Luxury room in the Historical Wing, for those that love all the mod cons the grand premium room in the opera wing is a must

St. Regis Shanghai China

The St. Regis Shanghai is a premier luxury hotel in the center of Pudong that yearly wins many of the top Luxury hotel awards. Our view on this hotel is that it’s hard to beat, fantastic service & great facilities

Our favourite room at this hotel is the Executive Deluxe room, for a suite either the Shanghai or Beijing Suites or for the extravagant the Imperial Suite.

Pudong Shangri-la Shanghai

The Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai China is an ultra modern luxury hotel in the heart of Pudong, what we love most about this hotel is the top notch service that the Shangri-La is renowned for, this together with the most luxurious interior & rooms, puts the Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai at the top of the pile of hotels we would stay at in China.

If you want a great experience we recommend a Bund view horizon club room or suite, but for extreme luxury and indulgence we can’t highly recommend the Shanghai Suite enough

For the majority of International travellers, trying food from a different country or culture is one of the most exciting aspects of visiting a different country and Vietnam is no exception, Just remember to be adventures and write down the names of the food you like, so you can order it on your return home!!

Vietnamese food is a one of the most delicious styles of food in Asia if not the world, its style and taste shares slight similarities with its near neighbours (China, Thailand, and Cambodia) yet the food of Vietnam is distinct and original. Unsurprisingly French cooking has much influence on the food and cuisine of Vietnam, which is most apparent in the countries outstanding breads.

So what are the foods Asia Travel Magazine recommends trying on a trip to Vietnam?

Pho Vietnamese Noodle Soup – This is perhaps the most popular & famous Vietnamese Dish of all time. You can try two main types of Pho, the first and most popular is Pho Bo (Beef) with the other being the chicken variety Pho Ga. Pho is made with rice noodles and the dish is always served with a plate of fresh mints, bean sprouts and lime, along with Hoi sin Sauce & Nuoc mum (Fish sauce).

Pho originates from Northern Vietnam and is usually eaten for breakfast; however you can pick up a bowl at any time of the day or night.

If you are a little adventurous ask for a Pho Bo Dac Biet, Dac Biet is the Vietnamese word for Special, and you will usually get beef tendon, Beef Flank & Beef tripe.

Banh Xeo – Crispy Vietnamese Pancake with pork & prawn (shrimp)

Banh Xeo is a crispy rice flour pan cake filled with pieces of pork, school prawns & bean sprouts, which when cooked and crispy is folded in half and is about the size of a large plate (I have seen them bigger). To eat tear off a piece of Banh Xeo and wrap in Vietnamese Lettuce leaf along with fresh mints, then dip in Nuoc Mam (Vietnamese dipping sauce) 

Banh Xeo is not very well known in the west, yet everyone I have ever suggested it to or made it for has absolutely loved it. As with most Vietnamese dishes Banh Xeo is quite simple yet bursting with freshness and flavour. Banh Xeo is highly recommended, if you visit Vietnam without trying you are simply missing out.

In Saigon’s district 1, Dinh Cong Trang Street specialises in Banh Xeo, Asia Travel Magazine recommends heading straight the restaurant named Bánh Xèo 46a, at 46A Dinh Cong Trang.

Bun Bo Hue - Spicy Vietnamese Noodle Soup 

As the name suggests this dish originally heralds from the imperial city of Hue in central Vietnam. Bun Bo Hue is made from Pork broth & served with Vietnamese sate sauce (Dried chilly & oil mixture) along with beef meat, and noodles. Even though this is referred to as Spicy Vietnamese soup I generally find it is far from spicy, so it is normally up to you to add additional chilli and/or sate sauce at the table if you like it hot.

As with Pho and most other soup dishes Bun Bo Hue is served with a side plate of fresh herbs/mints & bean sprouts which are added to your bowl prior to eating.

Nem Nuong – Grilled/BBQ Pork Balls Wrapped in rice paper with mints

Nem Nuong is made from a mixture of pork mince and various spices then grilled/BBQed  on bamboo skewers. To eat put one or two Nem Nuong balls on a sheet of moist rice paper, along with fresh mints, lettuce, Cucumber & vermicelli, wrap the rice paper and dip in Vietnamese dipping sauce. 

I was introduced to Nem Noung at An Ngon Restaurant in Saigon on my first trip to Vietnam, and it became an instant favourite of mine. It was so good that I returned to An Ngon several times before the end of that trip, and have always make the point of returning on each trip since. 

Lau - Vietnamese Hot Pot

If you ever go out for lunch or dinner with Vietnamese this is always on the menu, and will usually be a Fish or seafood hot pot (but you can get beef & chicken). As the hot pot slowly cooks away at your table add more seafood and fresh mints & vegetables.

Cha Gio – Vietnamese fried Spring Rolls are very similar to Chinese spring rolls; however some of the ingredients are different. Cha Gio is normally made out of pork & prawn mince with the addition of Black Fungus (a type of mushroom) & shredded taro.

Cha Gio can be eaten alone (with Vietnamese dipping sauce) but more often than not is eaten in a bowl with Vermicelli noodles mints & Vietnamese fish sauce (similar to the dish below)    

Bun Thit Nuong/Bun Dac Biet – Bun Tit Nuong/Bun Dac Bit is a rice noodle dish, which is served with various meats along with the obligatory fresh mints and famous Nuoc Mam Cham (Vietnamese fish sauce)

Chao Tom –Prawn (Shrimp) paste grilled on a sugar Cane stick

Chao Tom is similar to Nem Nuong in that the cooked Chao Tom is usually wrapped in rice paper and eaten with mints however the main difference is that Chao Tom is made from Prawn (Shrimp) and cooked on a sugar cane stick. For eating take the meat off the sugar cane stick & place on a piece of moist rice paper with fresh mints, lettuce, cucumber, finally roll & dip in that wonderful Vietnamese dipping sauce.  

Bun Rieu –  A pork soup base soup with prawn’s & shrimp paste, Bun rieu is severed with rice noodles and usually also contains pieces of tofu & tomato. Like I have mentioned for other dishes you also get a plate of herbs/mints & bean sprouts, which are added to the bowl prior to eating.

Banh Cuon – Large rolled rice noodle sheets filled with pork mince, black fungus (a type of mushroom)  Severed with fresh mints and Nouc Mam (a Vietnamese Fish sauce with chilli garlic, lime, sugar) Sliced Vietnamese ham (Cha Lua) is also mixed amongst the Rolled Rice paper sheets.

Canh Chua – Hot & Sour (a little sweet also) Fish Soup, cooked with tomato pieces, pineapple & Okra. The sour flavour usually comes from tamarind, this soup is severed with fine vermicelli rice noodles along with the standard plate of fresh mints & bean sprouts.

Banh Mi Thit – Vietnamese Bread roll with sliced Vietnamese ham (Cha Lua), Roast Pork, pate and vegetables

Banh Mi is the Vietnamese take on a French Baggett, add Thit (meat) to Banh Mi and you get Banh Mi Thit, a Vietnamese bread roll (Baguette) with Vietnamese ham, roast pork, pate & vegetables.

The plan Vietnamese Roll (Banh Mi) is also served with the Vietnamese stew/curry dish Bo Kho.

This is by no means a complete list of Vietnamese dishes, I could go on for pages, and I am sure I have left out a few of my other favourites.

Below are some great sites & blogs about Vietnamese Food & Cooking

• Viet World Kitchen
• Noodle Pie
• Eats Asia (Asia Travel Magazine’s sister site)

Whether you are into Coffee, Tea, Cocktails or Beer the Saigon’s cafes are in abundance and offer a unique experience for any visitor to Vietnam

All cities have defining characteristics and for me Saigon’s has its motorbikes, great food and restaurants, and hundreds if not thousands of great Cafes. 

The number and variety of cafes in Saigon is staggering, from the side of road plastic chair and table café thru to high class cafes masterpieces of art designed to look like a Garden of Eden, complete with flowing waterfalls, fish ponds and trees.

Some of the most amazing cafes I have visited in Saigon have been tucked away in the back streets of Saigon’s many districts. But don’t let stop you, as they are well worth a visit.

Saigon Café Themes

On Entry to many of Saigon’s cafés you are normally greeted by with loud music, and walls filled with large LCD screens, featuring the latest Hollywood blockbusters and football matches from around Europe. However if you are after a quieter place to just talk, most offer an indoor or outdoor area where the music is at a reasonable level in which you can simply relax with your friends over a café sua da or Tra

Top drinks to try in a Saigon Café include:

Café Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with milk) Pronounced Café So da

Picture 1: The famous Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)

Fresh Vietnamese Coffee filtered thru a stainless steel Vietnamese coffee filter, over condensed milk, once all the coffee has dripped onto the condensed milk, stir and then pour into the supplied glass of ice.

If the café you go to has an English menu beware ordering simply an iced coffee as you will most like be given a Café Da as above

Café Da (Black Vietnamese Iced coffee no milk)

Cafe Da is served in a similar way to Cafe Sua Da above with the exclusion of condensed milk, and the addition of sugar. Cafe Da is very strong, which I suspect is why it is usually served with a bowl of sugar, so that you can add sugar to taste.   

Tra (Green Tea) Pronounced Char

All Vietnamese cafes will serve complimentary hot or cold green tea, so this is normally a cheap option,

Sapodilla Drink (sa pô chê )

Soda water with fresh Lime and Ice & Sugar (Soda Canh)

Fresh Coconut milk either in coconut or glass (Nuoc Dua)

Sweet Salty plumb drink (Xi muoi) pronounced Se Mooe

Most cafes in Vietnam also serve a wide selection of Vietnamese & Western food, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Our Favourite cafés in Saigon Vietnam include:

Windows 4 Café

This is perhaps one of Saigon’s trendiest cafes, here the music plays hard and loud, with prices nearly as high, I paid 70,000 dong (about US $4.50) however it is a great experience.

Windows is located opposite the entry to reunification palace

 Windows Garden Café

Windows Garden Café is part of the same chain/franchise as Windows café above and is very similar, except it follows a garden theme, and prices here are a little cheaper, but still very expensive for Vietnam.

43 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Q.1 Saigon

Mien dong thao Café

Picture 2: My personal Favoriate "Mieng Dong Thao Cafe"

Mieng Dong thao Café is one of my personal favourites, the setting is absolutely stunning, designed around a garden & water theme. Mien dong thao café is located, in Phu Nhuan district, which is about 15 minutes from District 1. Very much worth a visit, however this is one of those cafes hidden way in several back streets.

221A Nguyễn Trọng Tuyển, Phường 8, Quận Phú Nhuận  Telephone: +84 8 38451357

Napoli café

Located in District 1 Napoli Café is a fairly central café and a popular one at that. Not a trendy or expensive as Windows 4 Café but never the less popular. Like so many cafe’s in Saigon  Napoli Cafe has free wifi Internet access available for its patrons.

7 Pham Ngoc Thach

Café Soi Da

Café Soi Da located in District 3 is not too far from District 1 in Saigon and is another. Prices here are much lower than cafes such Windows Cafe, and much more peaceful live traditional and western style music most nights.

6B Thoi Nhiem, P.7, District 3, Saigon

Coi Rieng

At Coi Rieng you won’t find blaring techno music as found it most other cafes, the entertainment here is normally live piano and violin music.

Located in Tan Binh district Coi Rieng is a little out of the way for the average tourist, but if you have the time and want a little relaxing morning over breakfast & coffee then Coi Rieng is worth the trip.

334A Nguyen Trong Tuyen, Ward 2, Tan Binh District, Saigon +84 8 8445992

La Fenetre Soliel

La Fenetre Soliel is a quaint French inspired cafe in the heart of Saigon’s business and tourist district. With high ceilings, comfy furniture and relaxing music, its easy to see why La Fenetre Soliel is a favourite with many visitors

135 Le Thanh Ton, District 1. Telephone: +84 8 822 5209

Café Song Me

Yet another one of Saigon’s water & garden themed cafes which are extremely popular, Cafe Song Me is also a little out of the way but if you have the time why not give them a try.

125/2 Hoa Hung, District 10. Telephone: +84 8 865 2075.

A word of warning don’t be fooled thinking a cafe experience in Vietnam won’t cost you much! Some of the high end cafés charge thru the roof. Rivalling what you might pay in a trendy western café back home. This however is not always the case.

Asia Travel Magazine loves comments! So why not tell us about your Saigon or Vietnam cafe experiences. Maybe you been to one of the cafes above and want to provide additional info or maybe I have left your personal fave off the list. Let us know!

In the planning stages you would not expect Saigon Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam to be a top shopping destination, but on arrival visitors surprisingly find the opposite, a shopper’s paradise.

With hindsight it’s actually not that difficult to see why Saigon is a haven for shopaholics, just look at the the ground level of most houses on any major street, all setup to sell everything from shoes and clothing to food and alcohol, and then there are the numerous markets scattered throughout this huge metropolis, with this variety and competition, you will be sure to find what you want at a great price, with a little bargaining.

If up market & brand name labels are more you’re your style, then Dong Khoi Street in district one won’t disappoint with the like of Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, Saigon Ho Chi Minh City truly a shopping experience for just about every taste and budget, so let’s look at the must do shopping experiences on a holiday to Vietnam.

Ben Thanh Market - Number one on any trip to Saigon Vietnam should be the historic Ben Thanh Market; located in District one, this market once the main market for locals is now focused squarely at the countries ever expanding international visitors, shoppers still get a feel for how the market was pre 1990 when Vietnam opened its doors to the west and international tourists. The variety of items for sale at Ben Thanh market is quite staggering with the sale of everything from Clothing, fabrics, cosmetics, fake Rolex and coffee thru to fruit vegetables and live animals.

Some facts about: Ben Thanh market dates back to the 17^th century when it was an uncovered muddy market located near the Saigon wharf (Ben) and the Turtle Citadel (Quy Thanh) Ben Thanh Market has moved and been rebuilt twice with its current location/building being opened in March 1914, the buildings landmark clock tower is the symbol of Saigon

As mentioned Dong Khoi Street is the place to go for top quality brand labels, and is well worth a visit for a look even if this type of shopping is not your style, Dong Khoi street also houses some quality Vietnamese art and craft shops, Dong Khoi and the area around is also home to some of Saigon’s most trendy Café and nightclubs.

Diamond Plaza - The most popular shopping mall is Diamond plaza which has a good rang of quality designer clothing, fragrances and electronics, with a Cinema, Pizza Hut and Bowling alley on the upper floors.

Saigon Tax Trade Center - Sitting on the corner of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Street is the Saigon Tax trade center, the ground floor mostly specializes is locally made gold and silver jewelry, throughout the store sells great quality locally and overseas made clothing, shoes, cosmetics and tourist souvenirs. Of special note is the 3^rd floor where you will find a seller of pirated DVDs along with a reasonable sized supermarket selling a great selection of local and imported foods from around the world. 

Parkson Department Store - Parkson  Department Store which opened its doors in 2005 is different from the two before mentioned,  as the entire store is owned operated entirely by Parkson, and they sell more of the big ticket items such as plasma TVs, and white goods, along with the usual clothing, cosmetics,  great for a look if you have the time.

An Dong Wholesale Market - (Near China Town) Shoppers are presented with an overwhelming choice, of clothes fabrics, jewelry and food, but with an emphasis on clothing and fabrics. Even though this is a wholesale market store holders are happy to sell to the public and international travelers,  fewer tourists frequent An Dong because it’s a little further away and not as well known as Ben Thanh, for this fact it’s a great opportunity to see a local Vietnamese market in action. The ground level of An Dong specializes in mainly gold jewelry, and food, with the upper levels of the market selling clothing and home items. 

Binh Tay in Cho Lon (China Town) - Nearly every major city in the world has a china town and Saigon is no different, and Cho Lon District is Saigon’s China Town, with the huge Binh Tay wholesale market at its focal point which is bigger than Ben Thanh, and just like An Dong above sellers are happy to sell to everyone. Binh Tay has a huge array of items imported from China (as you can imagine) around the world along with locally made items.

• Ladies have a traditional Vietnamese Dress Ao Dai and other clothing tailor made
  

• Vietnam is renowned for stunning quality lacqureware pictures, bowls, plates & drink coaster plus many other items that have both decorative and practical uses.
  

• Vietnamese Art, Saigon Ho Chi Minh City is has many great traditional and modern art shops, from carvings, and rattan thru to stunning paintings.
  

• Vietnam’s coffee is some of the best in the world, renowned for its unique flavor and richness, it’s no wonder the global coffee giant Nestlé reportedly buys a third of the country’s entire coffee export. When purchasing your coffee also get yourself a coffee grinder and a Stainless Steel coffee filter.
  

• Shoes and Handbags, All women love their shoes and hand bags and Vietnamese women are no different, so you will find an enormous range and variety of shoes and handbags, from reasonable quality brand name rip offs thru to original Vietnamese designed masterpieces.
  

• Men have a casual or business suite made; Vietnams tailors are some of the most skilled in the world and importantly cheap.
  

• You can get some very cheap yet practice tourist items, nearly every trip I do to Vietnam I always buy a dozen or so fold up wooden business card holders, they are cheap and compact, friends and business acquaintances love them.  
  

Tips for shopping and bargaining in Vietnam

• If the item does not have a price tag, the price is nearly always negotiable.
  

• When negotiating a price, knock at least three quarters off the top.
  

• If negotiations are getting you nowhere start to walk, you will be amazed by the number of sellers that will agree on your price while you are walking away.
  

• Vietnam has recently changed from paper to polymer (plastic) bank notes, and some of the notes look very similar because of their color, for example the 20,000 Dong note looks very similar to the 200,000 dong note and the same goes for the  50,000 and 500,000 dong notes. So It always pays to double check before handing over any money and also when receiving change.

Asia Travel Magazine would like to hear your questions and Saigon Ho Chi Minh City & Vietnam Shopping experiences, why not leave a comment or question below!