My Saigon: The Local Guide to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

By: Elly Thuy Nguyen

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

The Anti-Guidebook to Saigon: Updated for 2025 with Map Links, QR Codes, and Zero Filter.

Most travel guides are boring. This one isn't. Standard guidebooks send you to Ben Thanh Market to get ripped off and tell you to eat at Ngon restaurants that locals hate. They are written by foreigners who visited for a week.

I'm Elly. I'm Saigonese. And I'm going to show you the city my friends and I actually live in.

This isn't a list of propaganda museums. It's a deep dive into the chaotic, delicious, and thrilling mess that is Ho Chi Minh City. Whether you are here for two days or two months, this 2025 edition gives you the cheat codes to the city.

What's New for the 2025 Edition?

• The "Tech" Upgrade: Every single listing now has a direct Map Link and a QR code. Scan it with your phone and go. No more typing Vietnamese addresses.
• The Visa Headache, Solved: Step-by-step instructions for the new 90-day e-visas (and how to avoid the fake websites).
• The Mythical Subway: Yes, we finally have a subway (sort of). I'll tell you where it actually goes and if it's worth your time.

Inside, I'll teach you how to:

• Eat Like a Boss: Why we don't eat pho for every meal, where to find the best $2 vegetarian buffet, and how to order snail dishes without losing your mind.
• Dodge the Scams: From the "coconut guy" to the taxi mafia and the "pretty girl" massage shops that definitely aren't what you think.
• Survive the Streets: How to cross the street without dying, why you should use Grab instead of taxis, and why not to visit the dry side of Dam Sen Park.
• Coffee Culture: Where to find the hidden apartment cafes and the oldest coffee shop in the city.
  

Warning: This book contains sarcasm, honesty, and advice on where to find the best hair wash of your life.