haha . .u guys hor... its just a tcss mah. expensive or cheap. its all up to the individual. and can end up extreme $ etc etc. its just how cheap or expensive u wana to be. no right n wrong.
for me...
Flight...
HCM ( rd Trip ) ranges from s$80 to s$900+.
Makan
20k dong road side noodles to 3+m dong per pax at restaurant.
Hotel
Anywhere from 300k dong per night ( once at bein hoa ) all the way to abt $9m per night ( hcm riverie hotel ). I went lang co and danang, i pay even higher thn the 9m dong per night also. shall not say price, later bro here call me stupid... hahahaha
Massage ( Clean )
this one quite standard, +/- 200k dong per hour. not much diff.
If use lux hotel spa abt 3 - 4x more. usually 90 mins 1 to 2m dong.
KTV n girls
Seldom go. but usually end up ( assuming 4 pax ), mayb abt 1.5 - 2m dong each pax for more atas ones with 2 liquor.
i hv never get a girl from viet ( my frd call ) so only can say ktv all asking abt usd 300 LT. which usually bargain down to abt 250-300 S$ from those slightly atas ktv.
Its the same as hotel, u go lux hotel, the restaurant meal also higher price than the cheap hotel.
girl service from wechat/ bell boy etc, all rush rush, thts wht my frd tell me, abt 100. i no try, so up to u to try
if you expect very good service n low prices compare to malaysia or singapore, its gonna be tough. unless local frd ( gov or biz man ) bring u around or ask a very experience bro to bring u ard.
Transport
1) not so extreme. day use, usually 1.2m to 1.6m.
2) taxi, get vinasun, base on meter.
3) grab, easy to use, not difficult, just make sure the location is correct, cos sometimes gps might b off by some distance ( esp u are in the building or block etc )
Location wise
depend on bros, those regular there, can stay anywhere. me stay d7 now.
those first time there, i think stick to d1, got inexpensive hotel there also. or anywhere u think hv the best day or shopping activities ( example u wana go casino, ben thanh, church, visit gov building, opera etc etc, stay walk distance loh ), thn D1 best bet.
Change Money.
those first time there... dont change in spore.
once pass immigration, change there. firstly safe n rates kinda standard.
change s$1000 compare to those money changer outside ( not bank ). diff only 300k dong per one thousand sing ( or less thn $20 diff per thousand ), not worth the trouble. better be safe. beware of taxi driver taking yr wallet to look for change, also yr bag, they will snatch away while walking on road. yr handphone also.
anyway, abv is just my view, and for first timer. regardless how many times i hv been to hcm, i still a noob, compare to most bros here... haahaha . .. 60% of my trip there is only a day or 2. no cheonging. i remember got one time, morning go, night come bck. hahaha
i dont station there, so wont be able to advise much, i believe some bros are stationing there, those might b able to gv more info.
cheers guys!