Vietnam, Saigon Budget Hotels - Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien (Part 2)

Forget about the tourist class hotels in Vietnam during the peak season esp. December and January. 4**** hotels will set you back USD100-200 on prime locations. Mind you some are lousy 4****. Some 3*** can command USD120 at prime shopping locations. All these can be booked through asiarooms.com, asiatravel.com.

Liberty or Que Huong at Pham Ngu Lao St. - 3*** at about USD70. Can be booked through asiarooms.com & asiatravel.com. Vien Dong at Pham Ngu Lao St. - 3*** about USD65. Can be booked through asiarooms.com & asiatravel.com.

At the tourist ghetto in Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Streets (both roads parallel to each other) the mini-hotels are there pooling the resources together with other capitalist entrepreneurs after the tourist dollars. Everything a tourist wants are here.

Dai Duong - Mini-hotel not more than USD17

Mai Phai - Mini-hotel not more than USD17

For USD15-20 you will get a good deal for twin beds or a queen. Air-con that works, clean, showers that discharges water at a rate you will be happy, clean sheets, cable tv and even WiFi.

Scour the website for these hotels. Book through email or call (without money deposit) and take the risk when you come without the guarantee of a room and go hunting for one!! There are at least 50 in the vicinity and another 20 further afield. It's fun. Done that and seen it. It so easy to get a taxi from the airport to Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien area.

Here are some shots in a mini-hotel room at USD12/night esp. for j2kfm.