Saigon

TWO GREAT RESTAURANTS IN SAIGON:

Best Bo Tung Xeo (Grilled Beef)

3T Quan Nuong

Address is 29 D Ton That Thiep

Tel 3821 1631

Breezy BBQ restaurant is set on top

of Temple Club.  Choose from a range of

meat, fish, seafood and vegies and fire

it up right there on the table.

*This place is so much fun, casual, lots of

noise and people, amazing service considering.

Some woman kept popping out of nowhere to

answer my questions on HOW to eat, which

sauce goes with what, etc.  A real institution!

NOTE - right below this restaurant is an excellent ice cream joint - Fanny's.

Best Dining for a Cause

Huong Lai

Address 38 D Ly Tu Trong

Tel 3822 6814

Set in the airy loft of an old French-era

shophouse, this is dining with a difference.

All staff from disadvantaged families or former

street children.  They receive on-the-job 

training and a place to stay.  Many go on to

secure jobs in restaurants and hotels.  A must for

beautifully presented traditional Vietnamese food.

*We ordered the giant shrimps in coconut water

they were divine, so sweet*

JONNA ROBISON
The highlight for Anna and I was visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and visiting an orphanage (the one started by the author of "Mama Tina"). 

SARAH LAU RECOMMENDATION FOR HOTEL

Thao Dien Hotel it's a mini raffels right on the Saigon river. Really peaceful and beautiful. But it's in District 2. We rented motorcycles for 5 bucks a day and cruised around it was so fun and a bit crazy. They have a free speedboat to the city centre that just takes 10min and the kids loved. Or a taxi is about the same time

Tom Hiatt information on Church

Ho Chi Minh City Branch
Address: BE5 -BE6 , 188A2 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien , DIstrict 2.
Elder Missionaries: 0121 748 3329
Sister Missionaries : 0128.487.3909
Brother Hung (Andrew): drewlyvn@gmail.com

Ha Noi Branch
Address : House 2, Lot 6, Street 9, Trung Yen, Cau Giay District, Ha Noi.
Elder Missionaries : 0123 289 7097
Sister Missionaries : 0124 245 8980
Sister Hanh Harrison : hanhharrison@hotmail.com

ALMA HIATT RECOMMENDED TO LAURA 

We stayed at this hotel in Saigon, it is very close to the airport and like 10-15 min taxi ride to town center/other sites. We chose this one bc it was inexpensive. It was basic and clean. 

http://www.agoda.com/asia/vietnam/ho_chi_minh_city/tan_son_nhat_2_hotel.html?asq=Xpv6cI2MJNb47HVm%2b7F7eeNMfxko87mgPq45uiMVYmzd7H7jkVXKo75J2cJQhxsn%2fwfpYv1zTLm3NHvijjguFokm2vATVrb4ezoFQrX0PWYvQEcLHPtVfVgp0eLNHeh24%2fyizCtpepgR0mpUo%2fUs9jGQ1bFvbFJuNq3Kr1eIeLL9KelaNowlqNrsUu%2fW0Gt%2f&tyra=1|2

Other hotels that we were recommended by Tom's colleague who lives in Saigon were Tan San Nhat  hotel (the mothership hotel of the one I mentioned above) and Star City hotel. Both are more expensive and also near the airport. 

A friend of mine here in Manila traveled to Saigon with their family and they stayed in this hotel, which is closer to down town. 

http://www.agoda.com/asia/vietnam/ho_chi_minh_city/sapphire_hotel.html

However, as I understand it, in Saigon there isn't a location you HAVE to be in, as the sites are sprinkled throughout the city, and everything is 10-15 min taxi driving distance anyway. Also I heard there is no hotel that is that ideally located anyway.

If you are in Saigon just for 1-2 nights I would recommend the first one I mentioned, near the airport.