Practical Tips to Travel in Ho Chi Minh City: Transportation, Safety, and Local Customs

If you have never visited Ho Chi Minh City, then it is going to be a memorable experience for you. Ho Chi Minh is the most happening city in Vietnam. The second name of the city is Saigon. Saigon City is something that never slows down. From busy markets to colonial culture and impressive architecture, everything makes tourists wonder.
No matter if you are planning to visit the city for historical places or an exciting adventure, the city has many things to offer you. You will get different vibes from each corner of the city. However, you need to know the small details of the city to get the best travel experience. Knowing about the local customs and transportation is very important.
In this blog, we will talk about practical tips to travel in Ho Chi Minh City so you can explore it better. Knowing about how to travel in Ho Chi Minh City, the sites and transportation of the city will help you to cover all the things.

Practical Travel Tips for Ho Chi Minh City

The city has many things to offer you, from street food to adventures, malls, and cafes. By visiting each small spot of the city, you can feel the real essence of it. To make your experiences better and elevate the charm of traveling, we have mentioned below practical travel tips for Saigon. Go through all the practical tips to travel in Ho Chi Minh City to make your experience memorable.

Use Public Transportation Wisely

You will be at ease when visiting Ho Chi Minh City because of its unique transport connections. Visiting any city requires better transportation. Saigon transportation is very easy and affordable. You can choose from multiple options: taxis, hauling apps, private cabs, and more. Hauling apps and cabs are safe and popular over there, just like Uber. Download this app before you reach Ho Chi Minh City.
Plus, you can hire a cab for a whole day as well to avoid the frequent booking and waste of time. By installing the apps, you can get real-time updates on routes and drivers. Make sure you enter the correct location.

Stay Hydrated and Beat the Heat

Ho Chi Minh City travel tips include many, but keeping the weather of the city in mind is important. Ho Chi Minh City has a combination of weathers, but mostly you will feel heat and humidity. The weather depends upon the time you choose to travel. If you are visiting the city from December to April, then you will find the city hot. However, if you are visiting in other months, then you can enjoy the monsoon over there. Try to take the water bottle with you to keep yourself hydrated. Plus, you can have some other drinks as well, like coconut water, lime water, and more.
Also, wear comfortable clothes as the humidity level is a bit high over there. Saigon travel safety includes many things, from personal care to scams and more. If you are planning any adventurous activity, then keep it in the morning to avoid the heat.

Respect Local Customs and Etiquette

Wherever you go, understanding the customs and etiquette of the locals is good. Always respect locals to get the best travel experience. Local customs in Saigon start with small things like covering your head properly before entering the temple.
Plus, remove your footwear outside the temple to avoid disrespect. Try to maintain a good or humble voice tone in public places with any vendors or locals. Small things always create big differences. Suppose you are visiting a restaurant over there, then give a reasonable tip to the staff before leaving the place.

Try Street Food, but Eat Smart

No matter where you travel, eating good food is a must. Food is an important part of traveling. If you are a first-time traveler in Ho Chi Minh City, then eating their street food is a must. Coming out of your comfort zone to taste local Vietnamese dishes is always a gratifying experience.
However, try to avoid any mishap to your stomach. For that reason, we recommend you to eat at hygienic places. Try to eat best-selling items that are fresh and tasty. There are many popular dishes in Vietnam that you can try, like banh mi, pho, and goi cuon. Eat from small and basic vendors to get the real feel of the street food. Make sure the vendor is wearing gloves. If you are not feeling safe with street foods, then you can try the same dishes in a good cafe as well.

Learn Basic Vietnamese Phrases

If you are good with English, then you are all set for the Ho Chi Minh City tour. To enjoy and deep dive into the culture of the city, learning some basic Vietnamese phrases will help you. Tourists often use local phrases to feel part of the culture. Plus, you can make locals comfortable and happy by speaking some basic Vietnamese phrases.
You can speak some Vietnamese phrases like “Xin Chao” which means Hello, “Cam On” which means Thank You, and “Bao Nhieu” which means “How Much”. If learning new languages is your passion, you can try some translation apps as well. By engaging in the culture of the city, you can feel immense joy and fun.

Keep your belongings Secure

If you are a hardcore traveler, then you must know that traveling needs a lot of alertness. Just like any other place in the world, Ho Chi Minh City has a lot of incidents of crime and robbery. During your visit to the city, be mindful of pickpocketing and grabbing. Try to use digital payments and avoid keeping cash with you.
Moreover, use crossbody bags to be protected. Wear any of your backpack or bag in the front so you do not miss anything. Whenever you sit in any cafe or place, check all your belongings before leaving the place. You can be secure by keeping an eye on everything around you.

Bargain Politely in Markets

Those who love shopping will enjoy the Ho Chi Minh City tour. Many shopping markets in the city offer many things like clothing, art pieces, jewelry, and more. Try to search for everything with utmost care to save your money. Local vendors here always charge more to visitors. For that reason, you must bargain.
Demand the stuff at half price from the selling price to save extra bucks. You need to be courteous and respectful at the time of bargaining. Using your sense of humor, you can get your favorite things at an affordable price, which will make the trip even more eventful and memorable.

Be mindful of Scams

Ho Chi Minh City is the top place to visit for those who love rain, food, and Vietnamese culture. However, keeping yourself safe is very important. There are chances of scams and fraud just like in other tourist places. Scammers always try to target tourists, so be aware of it. Many types of scams can happen, like overpriced foods, taxi matters, money matters, and more.
You can avoid scams on your end by agreeing on the price they offer for the service. Try to choose reputed service providers for food to site visits and everything. Use ride-hailing apps for site visits or meter taxis to save money. You just need to stay alert so you can easily avoid scams and enjoy the magnificence of the city.

Plan for Rainy Days

If you are getting around Ho Chi Minh City, then try to visit on rainy days. The monsoon over there is truly memorable for visitors. Visitors can enjoy the perfect monsoon with shower rains in the city from May to November. To enjoy the outside beauty fully, try to carry some rain safety accessories like a waterproof jacket, a poncho, or an umbrella.
In the afternoon, try to do some indoor activities in the city, like cafes, and malls, so that you can save yourself from rain. There are very few chances of flooding due to the foolproof infrastructure of the city. Make sure you enjoy Vietnamese coffee in the pouring rain for an unforgettable experience.

Don’t wander around late at night

Ho Chi Minh City does not have a scary history related to safety and concern. However,
knowing about the safety measures is important if you are new to the city. The safety in Ho Chi Minh City is quite good, but you should avoid roaming around the less crowded areas. Especially at midnight, since it is the peak time for crime in the city, it can be risky for travelers and locals alike.
If you still wish to be outside till late to explore the city nightlife, then roam around busy areas. Moreover, try to travel in groups by well-known cabs. Finally, do not drink much to stay alert and enjoy the culture and flavors of the city.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have talked all about practical tips to travel in Ho Chi Minh City so you can enjoy the trip to the fullest. Keep all the tips in mind and be aware of scams to make it more enjoyable. The Vietnam trip is best from food to infrastructure and shopping. I hope you have got enough details about Saigon from this blog.