My Recent Trip To Saigon to See Thi

[PeterFB 0]

Hi All

I went to see Thi from Sept 11 to the 28th in HCMC. I flew EVA out of LA (Flight br0015). I booked the flight thru Expedia.com since that was the cheapest fare I could find. The flight to Taipei, on a Boeing 777 (VOD entertainment was great), was 13 hours with about a 3 hour wait for the flight to HCMC. That was also a 777. On the flight to HCMC I sat next to a Canadian doctor who has been living/working in HCMC for the last 3 years. He was very interesting to talk to. In March I flew into the old terminal, this time the new one was open. A great improvement. Better than LAX, easy to get off the plane, get thru immigration, get my suitcases and go thru customs. While the new airport still doesn't allow anyone inside, there is a good roof over their heads. (When I left it was raining a lot......)

Thi was there waiting with roses for me. First time a woman ever gave me roses. I loved it. Several other members of her family were there too. We took a lot a pictures at the airport and throughout my stay. Seeing her again was wonderful. I see and voice chat with her everyday on a webcam but it's not the same...... Like March, I stayed with her sister's family and she stayed there too so we could have the most time together.

We did a number of sightseeing trips, the post office, Diamond Plaza (a bowling alley, video games, KFC and Pizza Hut on the 4th floor), An Dong Market where I bought Thi diamond earrings (I used my credit card, while the shop had VISA MC signs, they didn't really take credit cards, the saleswoman and I walked over to a bank and got a cash advance. Be sure to look for a credit card machine otherwise you will get hit with 3% fee from the merchant/bank plus your credit card cash advance fees.), Thi and her sisters bought me material at Cholon Market so her brother made me 3 shirts . Got rained on at Suoi Tien and Dam Sen theme parks. Saw some good singers, magician and a hip hop dance troupe at Dam Sen. Went to a Cat Tuyen concert which featured several other singers including the same hip hop dance troupe. The live band only played about 5 songs, the rest was CD backing tracks or lipsynced. Being a musician I would have liked to hear the band more but it was still a good concert. Thi drove a motorbike so we got soaked on the way home even wearing raingear.....And there was more sightseeing that we did.

Wanted to take the family out to dinner and use my credit card. Thi has a large family, 25 were able to go one time, 22 the second so finding an affordable place that accepted credit cards was a bit hard. Thi, one of her sisters and husband found a couple of good ones. Each dinner was a little over $100USD with tip and credit card fees. Quan an Ngon restaurant also had many tourists. The Liberty 1 hotel had a buffet but I think I was the only tourist in the place. At both restaurants everyone had plenty to eat and everyone liked the food.

Bought some new curtains for my house while I was there, using a cash advance. There were a few problems because the measurements were in metric and inches which confused the shop but it worked out fine. Thanks to her brother in law Khanh who also speaks English.

Thi and I had a great time. We found it very hard to leave each other. Now I'm home it's hard not to have her with me. The more time we spend together the more in love we are. I just hope the US government speeds up. (still nothing on our case since June 14th).

A last couple of thoughts. While overall EVA Economy Class was good, I found that flying United meant you went thru their terminal which was easier to go thru immigration and customs on the return to the US (by the way no meat of any kind is allowed in the US from Vietnam. I bought back several mooncakes made of chicken which they threw away. The mooncakes that were made of sugar I got to keep). But United economy flights are longer and 747s don't have VOD. Depending on when Thi's interview is, I may go back one more time before I go for her interview.

Peter

Our current timeline:

May 26,2007 Sent I-129f

June 11, 2007 Web site confirms petition (Still no NOA1 in the mail)

June 14, 2007 Touched (Web site update)

Edited October 9, 2007 by PeterFB

[chuckandkim 0]

Thank you for sharing your lovely story and a good time in Saigon Peter! It brings back memories!

I like your idea of going back when she has her Visa, you would do yourself and her entire family a HUGE favor and respect for coming back picking her up. That's the proper way to handle it!

Not sure why you didn't carry cash with you? Credit Cards are being promoted by the local banks and national ones, but it's NOT favored by the merchants for the 3% fee by Visa/MC/AMEX plus the issued banks, plus your bank in the US. Crazy! I used to bring a few grands in cash while travelling oversea, it's a habit after going oversea for business for awhile. Credit Cards work in big cities, cash works EVERYWHERE!

Flight Ticket: Contact your local and friendly Asian Travel Agent They can beat any online deals at least $200-$600USD per ticket. Especially if you're in California, the price could be even cheaper!

Restaurant: is this your first trip? Recommend to let her family to call the shot in dinner and all other food related matters They live in Saigon, should know good cheap place to eat, plus, was someone in her family there to foot the bill in CASH and You would reimburst them later in USD? That should be normal and better way to handle it, instead of running around try to find a place that takes CD. NGON is a good tourist restaurant but they "CHEM" hard (chop your head off) for the foods and services, IMO!

Mooncakes: I LOVE THEM. Too bad they tossed all your chicken mooncake....

Anyway, Welcome back

[SteveLA 0]

Thank you for sharing your lovely story and a good time in Saigon Peter! It brings back memories!

I like your idea of going back when she has her Visa, you would do yourself and her entire family a HUGE favor and respect for coming back picking her up. That's the proper way to handle it!

Not sure why you didn't carry cash with you? Credit Cards are being promoted by the local banks and national ones, but it's NOT favored by the merchants for the 3% fee by Visa/MC/AMEX plus the issued banks, plus your bank in the US. Crazy! I used to bring a few grands in cash while travelling oversea, it's a habit after going oversea for business for awhile. Credit Cards work in big cities, cash works EVERYWHERE!

Flight Ticket: Contact your local and friendly Asian Travel Agent They can beat any online deals at least $200-$600USD per ticket. Especially if you're in California, the price could be even cheaper!

Restaurant: is this your first trip? Recommend to let her family to call the shot in dinner and all other food related matters They live in Saigon, should know good cheap place to eat, plus, was someone in her family there to foot the bill in CASH and You would reimburst them later in USD? That should be normal and better way to handle it, instead of running around try to find a place that takes CD. NGON is a good tourist restaurant but they "CHEM" hard (chop your head off) for the foods and services, IMO!

Mooncakes: I LOVE THEM. Too bad they tossed all your chicken mooncake....

Anyway, Welcome back

Sometimes you have to be careful with credit as well. Some companies also charge you 2 or 3% foreign currency fee. I always either use currency or my HSBC credit card.. If you guys ever go to Hong Kong or Macau, many places actually give you a discount for using an HSBC card.

[CK&Tydi 0]

Darn it, after heard your story, it made me want to go back. Like Chuck&Kim said, Cash works everywhere. Credit card only work at certain places. One thing i found out about credit card usage, You will be charged for Transaction Fee and Conversion Fee (to avoid conversion fee, tell them to charge in US dollars not Vietnamese Dong). Currently there are a few US banks in Vietnam, Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC bank. You can withdraw cash from Bofa, Citibank, HSBC bank ATM. But these bank will charge you a conversion Fee, for Bofa, they will charge you close to 6 dollars for any transaction you make. Only use it when you need too, so Cash is the best way........

[STL_HCMC 0]

Hey CK&Tydi,

Unfortunately, the near 2 years that I lived in HCMC, there was no Bank of America. Is this recently that you saw a Bank of America in Vietnam? Was this in HCMC?

STL_HCMC

Currently there are a few US banks in Vietnam, Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC bank. You can withdraw cash from Bofa, Citibank, HSBC bank ATM.

[CK&Tydi 0]

Hey CK&Tydi,

Unfortunately, the near 2 years that I lived in HCMC, there was no Bank of America. Is this recently that you saw a Bank of America in Vietnam? Was this in HCMC?

STL_HCMC

Currently there are a few US banks in Vietnam, Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC bank. You can withdraw cash from Bofa, Citibank, HSBC bank ATM.

STL_HCMC, I am not quiet sure,, maybe i made a mistake from BofA, but i did use my BOfA ATM at Diamond Plaza and Parkson to withdraw money...... Got no problem at all. For sure will be 2 banks, like CitiBankd and HSBC right accross from Nha Tho Duc Ba..... Best just bring Cash and withdraw or use Credit Card if you have too

[PeterFB 0]

Thank you for sharing your lovely story and a good time in Saigon Peter! It brings back memories!

I like your idea of going back when she has her Visa, you would do yourself and her entire family a HUGE favor and respect for coming back picking her up. That's the proper way to handle it!

Not sure why you didn't carry cash with you? Credit Cards are being promoted by the local banks and national ones, but it's NOT favored by the merchants for the 3% fee by Visa/MC/AMEX plus the issued banks, plus your bank in the US. Crazy! I used to bring a few grands in cash while travelling oversea, it's a habit after going oversea for business for awhile. Credit Cards work in big cities, cash works EVERYWHERE!

Flight Ticket: Contact your local and friendly Asian Travel Agent They can beat any online deals at least $200-$600USD per ticket. Especially if you're in California, the price could be even cheaper!

Restaurant: is this your first trip? Recommend to let her family to call the shot in dinner and all other food related matters They live in Saigon, should know good cheap place to eat, plus, was someone in her family there to foot the bill in CASH and You would reimburst them later in USD? That should be normal and better way to handle it, instead of running around try to find a place that takes CD. NGON is a good tourist restaurant but they "CHEM" hard (chop your head off) for the foods and services, IMO!

Mooncakes: I LOVE THEM. Too bad they tossed all your chicken mooncake....

Anyway, Welcome back

I love her so I want to respect her, her family and Vietnamese customs as much as possible. Thi has never been on a plane and I want to have a small celebration of her getting the visa and wedding there since her family aren't able to come to the US for the wedding. Besides I like Saigon and I really miss her and her family. If I could I'd go back now......

The reason for wanting to use credit cards is to have additional evidence for the interview. In March I found that most shops and restaurants, especially the ones most Vietnamese go to, don't care about receipts. Now when I write that I bought the family dinner, curtains or bought her earrings, there's the proof of the credit card receipt and statement. The souvenirs I bought for my family and friends I didn't get.

I did talk to a couple travel agents but they were actually more expensive. Maybe I need a better travel agent......That's why I booked my flight online.

Whie I did find Ngon by searching online, the rest of the restaurants the family picked out. All of them were great and were the ones the local Vietnamese go to. Yes Using a credit card did add more to the bil (3%) but the credit card charge was in USD so there was no conversion charge. I asked the staff how much to tip and they said 5%...... In March I took the family out to local place they said was cheap but good and the bill was $65 and I paid cash. More expensive but where in the US can you take 25 people out to dinner for under $110?

I'm sorry the mooncakes didn't make it thru because Dung, Thi's eldest sister, made them. I do like them,too.

Peter

[PeterFB 0]

Hey CK&Tydi,

Unfortunately, the near 2 years that I lived in HCMC, there was no Bank of America. Is this recently that you saw a Bank of America in Vietnam? Was this in HCMC?

STL_HCMC

Currently there are a few US banks in Vietnam, Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC bank. You can withdraw cash from Bofa, Citibank, HSBC bank ATM.

STL_HCMC, I am not quiet sure,, maybe i made a mistake from BofA, but i did use my BOfA ATM at Diamond Plaza and Parkson to withdraw money...... Got no problem at all. For sure will be 2 banks, like CitiBankd and HSBC right accross from Nha Tho Duc Ba..... Best just bring Cash and withdraw or use Credit Card if you have too

When I was getting a cash advance for buying my curtains, the Vietnam Eximbank teller told me to use the ATM because I wouldn't be charged their 3% fee. But when I tried to get the cash from the ATM, my Wells Fargo credit card wasn't set up to get money from ATMs. Next time I'll get my cards set up before I go so I can see it that actually works and save that fee. I had to gp back to the bank since I didnt have extra cash, the curtains were ready and I was leaving the next day. Otherwise I could have used Xoom to send me money from my US bank, their money transfer fees are very low. Also the bank required me to show them my passport not a photocopy so I had to go get it. The rest of the time, my photocopy was my ID if I needed one.

Peter

[chuckandkim 0]

PeterFB,

You did everything right, who's there to say it's wrong

However, I want to add one more thing: The is NO ONE piece of evidence will make and break your case, but the Totality of the Case! Think "Big Picture" what do I need to show and convince HCMC that you two love each other and she should get a Visa to come here to the US!

[Dan J 277]

Hey CK&Tydi,

Unfortunately, the near 2 years that I lived in HCMC, there was no Bank of America. Is this recently that you saw a Bank of America in Vietnam? Was this in HCMC?

STL_HCMC

Currently there are a few US banks in Vietnam, Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC bank. You can withdraw cash from Bofa, Citibank, HSBC bank ATM.

STL_HCMC, I am not quiet sure,, maybe i made a mistake from BofA, but i did use my BOfA ATM at Diamond Plaza and Parkson to withdraw money...... Got no problem at all. For sure will be 2 banks, like CitiBankd and HSBC right accross from Nha Tho Duc Ba..... Best just bring Cash and withdraw or use Credit Card if you have too

When I was getting a cash advance for buying my curtains, the Vietnam Eximbank teller told me to use the ATM because I wouldn't be charged their 3% fee. But when I tried to get the cash from the ATM, my Wells Fargo credit card wasn't set up to get money from ATMs. Next time I'll get my cards set up before I go so I can see it that actually works and save that fee. I had to gp back to the bank since I didnt have extra cash, the curtains were ready and I was leaving the next day. Otherwise I could have used Xoom to send me money from my US bank, their money transfer fees are very low. Also the bank required me to show them my passport not a photocopy so I had to go get it. The rest of the time, my photocopy was my ID if I needed one.

Peter

Most banks charge some kind of currency conversion fee for international transactions. It could be anywhere from 1-5% Although the exchange rate banks use is the best rate you can get.

[NeverSeen 0]

I had no problems useing my debit card in any of the Vietcom bank ATMs there. I never bothered to check about the fees and stuff because it didn't matter to me, i needed the money .

I also did some cash advances and i got hit with fees all over the place, but hey... i didn't have to bring tons of cash along with me so i didn't care about that either.

This time around i am going to send Tram cash via my travel agents money transfer program. Its only like $2 per 100 and will be delivered to Tram the next day. Everything will be cash unless i need to purchase something rather expensive ($100+)

For resturants i go to the local spots for all meals and try my hardest to avoid tourist places. I cant stand tourists, bad enough i have to be one. When i went the last time, the only English speaker i bumped into was there on business from the Philippines. My wife new all the places to go for whatever we were doing that night.

It would crack me up seeing the European backpackers wondering around the same 2 blocks of the city armed with about 5 water bottles. Silly people. I loved being "The first american (white person) to come in here" around the neighborhood businesses. The little kids were just too much, too cute heheh.

Thanks for the post it will give me a couple things to look out for next time i go (end of this month).

[dq2000 1]

Flight Ticket: Contact your local and friendly Asian Travel Agent They can beat any online deals at least $200-$600USD per ticket. Especially if you're in California, the price could be even cheaper!

I totally agree on the ticket idea, Chuck. My frist trip had an 8 hour layover in Japan which my local friendly ATA got me a free hotel stay for.