Vietnam - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 899

tours to the M ekon g Delta a nd t he staff are friendly and
helpful. Dorms $10 , doubles $20
PP BackPackers 283/41 Pham Ngu Lao T 012
62501823; map p.899. Great location in the heart of the
backpacker district and a super-friendly manager make
this a welcoming backpacker haven. The mid-sized dorms
and rooms are comfortable and the triple s a nd quad s are
good value if travelling with friends. Dorm $7 , double $19
Seventy Hotel 70 Bui Vien T 09 05870087, W seventy
hotel.com; map p.899. A popular and expanding veteran,
offering a choice of tidy and tastefully decorated a/c
rooms, most of them airy and ple asant . Hot drinks and
good breakfast are included. Double $25
Thao Nhi 185/20 Pham Ngu Lao T 08 39201262,
E [e-mail]; map p.899. Reminiscent of
the Premier Inn chain, this hotel, located down an alley-
way, offers clean, spacious roo ms with all amenities and
excellent breakfast. Double $17
★

Thang Long 48 Mac Thi Buoi T 08 38222595, W thang
longhotel.com.vn; map p.899. Mini-hotel in mock-
traditional style, with dark-panelled rooms of v aryin g
sizes, all with a/c, breakfast and satellite TV. Double $27

EATING
The culinary capital of Vietnam, HCMC offers everything
from fine French cuisine in the Dong Khoi area, to noodle
soups and fresh spring rolls at the makeshift street
kitchens scattered around the city. Cho Lon has the best
Chinese restaurants, and average but reasonably priced
backpacker cafés predominate around Pham Ngu Lao.
Where phone numbers are given, it's best to book ahead.

DE THAM AND AROUND
Coriander 185 Bui Vien; map p.899. Flavoursome Thai
favourites at reasonable prices, with two streetside tables
from which to watch the world go by. The curries and the
pad thai are particularly good; mains from 80,000VND.
Daily 10am-11.30pm.
★

11

Vinh Chung Hotel 283/26 Pham Ngu Lao T 09
09113312, W vinhchunghotel.com; map p.899. The owner
of this hotel bends over backwards to accommodate her
guests, some rooms come with balcony, some come with
cable TV and the beds a re a tad softer than the usual hard-
as-rock variety. Double $20

Cuc Gach Quan 10 Dang Tat W cucgachquan.com; map
p.897. The food at this French colonial house is beautiful
Vietnamese, with an emphasis on local and organic
ingredients and eco-friendly practices. Try sea bass in
passion-fruit sauce, aubergine sautéed with pork, lotus-
shoot salad or clams steamed with lemongrass, and don't
run off without trying the home-made durian or black bean
ice cream. Mains from 80,000VND. Daily noon-10.30pm.
Good Morning Vietnam 197 De Tham; map p.899.
One of several branches of this Italian-run pizza chain,
serving authentic pizza and pasta (from 85,000VND) in a
trattoria-style setting using imported ingredients. Daily
9am-midnight.
Pho 2000 1-3 Phan Chu Trinh, next to Ben Thanh; map
p.899. Tuck into big bowls of delicious noodle soup for
60,000VND at the spot visited by President Clinton. Daily
7am-11pm.
Taj Mahal 241/1 Pham Ngu Lao; map p.899. An unfussy
little snug with just six tables tucked down an alley. They
offer delicious northern Indian dishes (mains from
55,000VND), such as tandoori, biryani and plenty of
vegetarian options. Daily noon-10.30pm.
Tin Nghia 9 Tran Hung Dao; map p.899. Mushrooms, tofu
and home-made soups (35,000VND) provide the backbone
to the inventive menu in this genial Buddhist “pure
vegetarian” restaurant, established over eighty years ago.
Daily 7am-2pm & 4-9pm.
Wrap & Roll 62 Hai ba Trung; map p.899. Excellent chain
that specializes in different types of rolls (steamed rice
with minced pork, mustard lettuce rolls with prawns, fresh
and fried spring rolls), as well as hotpots, claypot dishes,
salads and noodle dishes, all served in cheerful yellow-
and-white surroundings. Also at 226 De Tham. Mains from
68,000VND. Daily 11.30am-10.30pm.

CO GIANG AREA
Miss Loi 178/20 Co Giang T 08 38379589, E missloi
@hcm.fpt.vn; map p.899. This charmingly old-fashioned
multistorey guesthouse, with a communal dining area
complete with colourful statuettes and welcoming staff, is
a local institution. However, lack of lift is a disadvantage
for those with heavy luggage, and the breakfast is nothing
to write home about. Double $16

DONG KHOI AND AROUND
Linh Guest House 40/10 Bui Vien T 08 38369641; map
p.899. Down a quiet side street in the backpacker district,
this immaculate spot is excellent valu e; doubles come with
a/c, fridges and cable TV. Double $12

TREAT YOURSELF
Xu 75 Hai Ba Trung T 08 38248468,
W xusaigon.com; map p.899. Its name
meaning “coin”, this dark and stylish
resto-lounge with impeccable service
specializes in Vietnamese fusion. Delight
your senses with the likes of dragon-fruit
salad with crab, seabass spring rolls,
braised pork belly and chicken rice and
save some room for durian tiramisu.
Dinner dishes are designed for sharing.
Mains from 200,000VND. Daily
11.30am-2.30pm & 6.30-11pm.

★