Ho Chi Minh Accommodation (for Backpackers)

Pham Ngu Lao road is known as the "backpackers area" of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. It's a wide stretch that can be toured on foot. If your hotel's address says Pham Ngu Lao then it is definitely easy to find and is accessible to a lot of food chains, bars, spas and travel agencies. It is a few walks away Ben Thanh Market and Saigon Square.

We booked a 3-days-and-4-nights stay at Thuy Tien Hotel located at 359 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Our whole stay costs around 1,200,000 VND. It rated 4 out of 5 stars in Tripadvisor. The staff was helpful and friendly. The room we got had AC with a Queen-size bed, mini ref, flat screen Cable TV and a hot and cold shower. It was a small room that is good for two. It was clean but a little dusty. But I'd have to say that the hotel needs a lot of improvement. The cabinet was definitely not in good condition and the beddings felt dusty and used. Anyhow, it's a budget hotel and you get what you paid for. 

There were no clear instructions on how to get there and as per our research, the available airport bus to get to Ben Thanh market is via Bus 152. It was later that we found out that the city launched a new bus route which is Airport Bus 109 (yellow bus).

Here's how to get to Thuy Tien Hotel or the Pham Ngu Lao road via Bus 152:

Bus fare costs 5000 VND per person and per luggage.

The bus stop can easily be spotted as soon as you walked out of the arrival exit. It is just across the Burger King stall at the right-most side when you exit from the airport. The bus color is usually green or white and has a 152 mark on it.

Alight at Ben Thanh Market bus stop and walk your way towards the Pham Ngu Lao road. To get there, you may need to cross the street and follow the road towards McDonalds. From McDonalds and further is the Pham Ngu Lao road. Walk further until you reach the bus terminal. Right across it is the Thuy Tien Hotel.

Here's how to get to Thuy Tien Hotel or the Pham Ngu Lao road via Bus 109:

Bus fare costs 20,000 VND per person. There is no additional payment for luggage. You can easily spot the bus as soon as you get out from the arrival exit. It is the only yellow bus you see across the street.

Alight at the bus terminal, right across it is Thuy Tien Hotel. The whole stretch is called Pham Ngu Lao road.

If you ask me, I would take Bus 109 instead as the staff knows how to speak English and you won't have a hard time conversing and asking questions if you're not familiar with the place. Also there's an English translation on the voice-over for every bus stop.

I wouldn't advise taking the taxi though as some drivers may scam you, charge you more than 200,000 VND and ask for a very high tip. But if you should really take one, be sure to ride Vinasun and Mailinh taxi's as these are the metered ones.