Most Important Phone Numbers and Addresses
in Hanoi and Saigon

 

++ From Hanoi Capital

Airlines:  Aeroflot, 360 Kim Ma 04/771 8742; Air Asia, 303 Kim Ma 04/726 2262; Air France, 1 Ba Trieu 04/825 3484; Asiana Airlines, 360 Kim Ma 04/771 4094; British Airways, 25 Ly Thuong Kiet 04/934 7239; Cathay Pacific, 49 Hai Ba Trung 04/826 7298; China Airlines, 18 Tran Hung Dao 04/824 2688; China Southern Airlines, 360 Kim Ma 04/771 6611; Japan Air Lines, 63 Ly Thai To 04/826 6693; Lao Airlines, 40 Quang Trung 04/942 5362; Malaysia Airlines, 49 Hai Ba Trung 04/826 8820; Pacific Airlines, 36 Dien Bien Phu 04/733 2162; Qantas Airways, 4 Pham Ngu Lao 04/933 3026; SAS, 49 Hai Ba Trung 04/934 2626; Singapore Airlines, 17 Ngo Quyen 04/826 8888; Thai Airways, 44b Ly Thuong Kiet 04/826 7921; Vietnam Airlines, 1 Quang Trung 04/825 0888.

Or Please contact straight to www.vietnampathfinder.com /info@vietnampathfinder.com at 13 ngo huyen, hanoi, urgent call our experts at 04/9289776/ support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham)

Airport For flight information, call 04/886 6527 or 04/832 0320./ support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham)

Alliance Française L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien (Mon– Fri 8am–8.30pm; 04/936 2164, www.ambafrance-vn.org). Extensive programme of films (subtitled in English), concerts and exhibitions, plus a members-only media centre (200,000VND per annum; two photos and proof of identity required).

Banks and exchange: The Vietcombank head office, 198 Tran Quang Khai (foreign exchange services Mon– Fri 8–11.30am & 1–3.30pm; all other services Mon– Fri 7.30–11.30am & 1–5pm), handles all services including cash withdrawals on credit cards and telegraphic transfers. There are branches at 108 Cau Go, 120 Hang Trong and 2 Hang Bai, amongst other locations, and 24hr ATMs dotted around town, including at the head office and outside the General Post Office. Both ANZ Bank, 14 Le Thai To, and HSBC, 23 Phan Chu Trinh, also have 24hr ATMs which accept Visa and MasterCard. Outside normal banking hours, Sacombank, 87 Hang Bac (Mon– Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 9am–4pm), handles foreign exchange, credit card advances and so forth, and also has a 24hr ATM (Visa and MasterCard only). Or try the "Booking Office" exchange bureau, 104 Cau Go (Mon– Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 8am–3pm), which offers reasonable rates. Moneychangers outside the GPO and ANZ bank offer marginally higher rates, but will try to befuddle you with stacks of small denominations – watch out for notes folded to count twice, or better still don’t risk it.

Bicycle and motorbike: rental Outlets in the Old Quarter – especially along Ta Hien and Hang Bac – offer bicycles at 30,000–40,000VND per day and motorbikes at $5 a day. Cuong’s Adventure Biking, 1 Luong Ngoc Quyen; Nguyen Nghia, 26 Hang Bac; and outlets at 31 and 42 Hang Bac and 37 Ta Hien, 13 ngo huyen, support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham) are recommended for reliable machines and reasonable rates. You will usually be asked to leave your passport or departure card as surety when renting motorbikes; it’s perfectly safe to do so.

Bike repair: You’ll find someone to repair pedal bikes on virtually every street corner. For motorbikes, Cuong at 1 Luong Ngoc Quyen is a biking fanatic who can repair anything, but has a soft spot for Minsks. He also buys, sells and rents bikes.

Books and bookshops: By far the best resources are Bookworm, 15a Ngo Van So (closed Mon), with a great selection of new and secondhand English-language books (for sale or exchange), and Love Planet Travel, 25 Hang Bac. The latter stocks around six thousand secondhand books in various languages for sale, exchange or rent. Otherwise, try Book Exchange at 35 Hang Giay. All these places also buy used books. There are several state-run bookshops on Trang Tien, of which Thang Long Bookshop at no. 53, Hanoi Bookshop at no. 34, Savina at no. 44 and Xunhasaba round the corner at 32 Hai Ba Trung have the widest choice. You’ll find a few guidebooks and glossy hardbacks in souvenir shops at top-class hotels and at the Press Club at 59a Ly Thai To, while stalls on Trang Tien sell pirated English-language publications, including guides, phrasebooks and novels. Kids also peddle pirated books in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake; bargain hard.

Car rental: Cars with drivers can be arranged through tour and travel agencies.

Cinema: The two main venues showing regular English-language films are the multi-screen National Cinema Centre, 87 Lang Ha (04/514 1114), and Fansland, 84 Ly Thuong Kiet (04/942 4484); you’ll find their programmes in the English-language press. If you’re in Hanoi a while, it’s well worth joining Hanoi Cinémathèque, 22a Hai Ba Trung (04/936 2648; 100,000VND per year), a members-only club showing international classics and Vietnamese films in its state-of-the-art cinema. The Alliance Française has a regular programme of French-language films.

Courier services:  DHL has an office at 1 Ba Trieu (04/826 5244), TNT at 3 Hang Khay (04/936 0473). support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham)

Dentists: The Family Medical Practice Dental Clinic in the Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, 298 D Kim Ma (Mon– Fri 8.30am–4.30pm; 04/823 0281, support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham)www.vietnammedicalpractice.com; $35 initial consultation fee), also has a 24hr emergency service (0903 446126). The Hanoi French Hospital and International SOS (see below) also provide dental care.

Embassies and consulates: Australia, 8 Dao Tan, Van Phuc 04/831 7755, www.vietnam.embassy.gov.au; Cambodia, 71 Tran Hung Dao 04/942 4789, arch@fpt.vn; Canada, 31 Hung Vuong 04/734 5000, www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/vietnam; China, 46 Hoang Dieu 04/845 3736, eossc@hn.vnn.vn; Lao PDR, 40 Quang Trung 04/822 9084; Malaysia, 43–45 Dien Bien Phu 04/734 3836, mwhanoi@hn.vnn.vn; Myanmar, A3 Van Phuc Compound, Kim Ma 04/845 3369, myan.emb@fpt.vn; New Zealand, 63 Ly Thai To 04/824 1481, nzembhan@fpt.vn; Singapore, 41–43 Tran Phu 04/823 3966, www.mfa.gov.sg/hanoi; Thailand, 63–65 Hoang Dieu 04/823 5092; UK, 31 Hai Ba Trung 04/936 0500, www.uk-vietnam.org; US, 7 Lang Ha 04/772 1500, hanoi.usembassy.gov. For information on visas to China and Laos, please call at support at 091 33 23 977 ( Mr Pham) or email : info@vietnampathfinder.com to get free supports

Emergencies: Dial 113 to call the police, 114 in case of fire and 115 for an ambulance; better still, get a Vietnamese-speaker to call on your behalf.

Goethe Institute 56–58 Nguyen Thai Hoc (04/734 2251, www.goethe.de/hanoi). Puts on an interesting programme of films, concerts and exhibitions. to make appointment, please contact through vietnampathfinder experts

Hospitals and clinics:  The Hanoi French Hospital, 1 Phuong Mai, offers international-class facilities including an outpatients clinic (Mon– Fri 8.30am– noon & 2–5pm, Sat 8.30am– noon; 04/577 1100, www.hfh.com.vn; $55 consultation), dental and optical care, surgery and a 24hr emergency service (574 1111). Alternatively, the Family Medical Practice, Van Phuc Compound, 298 I Kim Ma, is well known for its reasonable pricing (Mon– Fri 8.30am–5.30pm, Sat 8.30am–12.30pm; 04/843 0748, www.vietnammedicalpractice.com; $50 standard consultation fee). It has an outpatients clinic and a 24hr emergency service. International SOS, at 31 Hai Ba Trung, provides routine care (Mon– Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–2pm; 04/934 0666, www.internationalsos.com; $59–69 consultation fee) in addition to its 24hr emergency service (04/934 0555). Of the local hospitals, best bet is the outpatients clinic of the Viet Duc Hospital at 8 Phu Doan (Mon– Sat 8am–4.30pm; 04/828 9852). Outside these hours, head to their emergency department in the main hospital building at 14 Phu Doan (04/825 3531). The hospital has some English-speaking doctors and charges $20 for the initial consultation.

Immigration department: The Hanoi office of the Department of Immigration is at 89 Tran Hung Dao (Mon– Fri 8–11.30am & 1.30–5pm).

Internet access: Numerous outlets in the Old Quarter travellers’ enclave come and go. Sunshine Internet at 37c Hang Thung has a good reputation and the benefits of a/c. The going rate is 3000–4000VND per hour. Most of the bigger places also offer Internet phone services.

Language courses: The Vietnamese Language Centre of Hanoi Foreign Language College, 1 Pham Ngu Lao (04/826 2468), offers individual instruction from $7 per hour. The centre also arranges student exchanges and student visas. Alternatively, Hidden Hanoi (0912 254045 or 04/852 6295, www.hiddenhanoi.com.vn) runs a range of language classes, from the survival "Holiday Vietnamese" (90mins; $15 per person) to one-week intensive courses and individual tuition. also please contact here!

Laundry:  Most hotels have a laundry service, while top hotels also offer dry cleaning. Alternatively, try one of the low-priced laundries (giat la) in the Old Quarter, such as at 9 Luong Ngoc Quyen, 20 & 59 Hang Be, 39 Ma May or along Ta Hien; the standard rate is 12,000–15,000VND per kilo for a one-day service.

Maps:  Hanoi city maps are available at outlets along Trang Tien, newsstands and souvenir shops around Hoan KiemLake. For more detailed regional and national maps, the Map & Photo Shop, 5 Hang Be, stocks by far the best selection.

Newspapers and magazines: A decent selection of foreign-language papers and magazines is on sale at Thang Long Bookshop and other outlets on Trang Tien. Alternatively, try the big hotels and the Press Club, 59a Ly Thai To.

Pharmacies: The Hanoi French Hospital, Family Medical Practice and International SOS (see above) all have pharmacies. Of the local retail outlets, those at 2 Hang Bai and 3 Trang Thi stock a wide selection of imported medicines. Traditional medicines can be bought on Lan Ong.

Photography: Print film and developing are readily available around town; the quality is fine for most purposes but keen photographers will probably want to save developing their film until they get home.

Post offices:  The GPO occupies a whole block at 75 Dinh Tien Hoang (daily 6.30am–9pm). The main entrance leads to general mail and telephone services, while international postal services, including parcel dispatch (Mon– Fri 7.30–11.30am & 1–4.30pm), are located in the southernmost hall, with poste restante next door. Useful sub-post offices are at 66 Trang Tien, 66 Luong Van Can, 20 Bat Dan, and on the ground floor of Hanoi Towers at 49 Hai Ba Trung.

Spas and salons: For pure pampering at unbeatable prices, indulge yourself at Zen Spa, Yen Phu (04/719 9889, www.zenspa.com.vn), near West Lake in the grounds of the Thang Loi hotel. The treatments, which include facials, flower baths and foot and body massages, are derived from traditional minority therapies and take place in a replica stilthouse, complete with wooden tubs, bamboo showers and mood music. Prices start at $7 for a twenty-minute flower bath and $12 for a fifty-minute body massage. In the city centre, the luxury Qi Shiseido Salon and Spa, 27 Ly Thoung Kiet (04/824 4703, www.qispa.com.vn), also has a good reputation; foot massages cost $15 while body massages start at $23. Otherwise, there are plenty of smaller, cheaper salons in the Old Quarter and around the cathedral, where you’ll pay in the region of $5–6 for a foot massage and $10 for a body massage.

Sports and activities: All the five-star hotels have swimming pools and fitness centres which are sometimes open to non-residents for a daily fee. The Army Hotel’s large, open-air saltwater pool (56,000VND to non-guests) is popular in summer. Hanoi has a couple of golf driving ranges: the Hanoi Club, 76 Yen Phu (04/823 8115, www.hanoi-club.com), where you drive floating balls out over West Lake; and the Lang Ha Driving Range, 16a Lang Ha (04/835 0909), in the southwestern suburbs. The Kings’ Island Golf Course, 36km west of Hanoi at Dong Mo in Ha Tay Province (034/686 555, www.kingsislandgolf.com), has two eighteen-hole courses open to non-members (green fees $70–100), though members get priority on weekends. Information regarding runs organized by Hanoi Hash House Harriers is available on their website (www.hhhh.wso.net) or at the Spotted Cow pub. Finally, the Minsk Club (www.minskclubvietnam.com) occasionally arranges one-off excursions and other events; contact Highway 4 restaurant or Cuong’s Adventure Biking, 1 Luong Ngoc Quyen (cuongminsk@yahoo.com), for the latest.

Taxis:  Reasonably reliable, metered taxis wait outside the big hotels, or ask your hotel to call one for you. Hanoi Taxi (04/853 5353), CP Taxi (04/826 2626), Mai Linh Taxi (04/822 2666) and Van Xuan Taxi (04/822 2888) all have a decent reputation. A taxi ride to the airport costs $10–12.

++ From Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon)

Airlines:  Air France, 130 Dong Khoi 08/829 0981; British Airways, 170–172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 08/930 2933; Cathay Pacific, ground floor, Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hué 08/822 3203; China Airlines, 132–134 Dong Khoi 08/825 1388; China Southern Airlines, Somerset Chancellor House, 1st floor, 21–23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 08/823 5588; Emirates, 170–172 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia 08/930 2939; Garuda, 132–134 Dong Khoi 08/829 3644; Japan Air Lines, 88 Dong Khoi 08/821 9098; Lao Airlines, 181 Hai Ba Trung 08/822 6990; Lufthansa, 14th floor, Bitexco Building, 19–25 Nguyen Hué 08/829 8537; Malaysia Airlines, 235 Dong Khoi 08/829 2529; Pacific Airlines, 177 Vo Thi Sau 08/932 5979; Philippine Airlines, 229 Dong Khoi 08/827 2105; Qantas, Saigon Trade Centre, 37 Ton Duc Thang 08/910 5373; Siem Reap Airways, 132–134 Dong Khoi 08/823 9288; Singapore Airlines, Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan 08/823 1588; Thai Airways, 65 Nguyen Du 08/829 2809; United Airlines, 17 Le Duan 08/823 4755; Vietnam Airlines, 116 Nguyen Hué 08/829 2118 and 43 Bui Ven 08/836 9630.

Banks and exchange: Most banks now have ATMs and exchange cash or travellers’ cheques. Sacombank’s foreign exchange annexe on the corner of Pham Ngu Lao at 211 Nguyen Thai Hoc (Mon– Fri 7.30–11.30am & 1–4.30pm, Sat 7.30am–11am) is convenient for those staying around Pham Ngu Lao. Otherwise, foreign exchange kiosks on Nguyen Hué and Le Loi have extended daily opening times. Also, most gold and jewellery shops will exchange dollars for dong at a slightly better rate than the bank.

Bike and motorbike rental: Most rental operations are in Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham; average daily costs are $1–2 for a bicycle and $4–5 for a motorbike. Example outlets are Hotel 265, 265 De Tham, and Hotel 211, 211 Pham Ngu Lao, with 100cc bikes at $4 per day, or cheaper for long-term rental.

Car and minibus rental Car and minibus rental with driver can be arranged through tour agents. Self-drive is still not an option, as yet.

Cinema The only place in town showing English-language films on a regular basis is the Diamond Cinema complex on the 13th floor of Diamond Plaza; tickets $2–3. Phone 08/825 7751 to find out what’s showing and when.

Consulates:  Australia, Landmark Building, 5b Ton Duc Thanh 08/829 6035; Cambodia, 41 Phung Khac Khoan 08/827 7696; Canada, 235 Dong Khoi 08/827 9899; China, 39 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 08/829 2457; Indonesia, 18 Phung Khac Khoan 08/825 1888; Laos, 93 Pasteur 08/829 7667; Malaysia, 2 Ngo Duc Ke 08/829 9023; New Zealand, Unit 909, 9th floor, Metropolitan, 235 Dong Khoi 08/822 6907; Singapore, Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi 08/822 5173; Thailand, 77 Tran Quoc Tuan 08/932 7637; UK (& British Council), 25 Le Duan 08/823 2604; US, 4 Le Duan 08/822 9433.

Courier services:  DHL head office, 2 Cong Xa Paris next to the GPO 08/823 1525; FedEx, 146 Pasteur, close to the Rex Hotel08/829 0995.

Dentists Grand Dentistry, ground floor, Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hué (08/821 9446), is an international-standard dental clinic; basic check-ups start at around $30. Also conveniently situated in the centre is the Family Dental Practice HCMC (08/822 4771) on the ground floor of Diamond Plaza. The International SOS Dental Clinic (08/829 8520) at 65 Nguyen Du has a 24hr emergency centre.

Emergencies:  Dial 113 for the police, 114 in case of fire or 115 for an ambulance; if possible, get a Vietnamese speaker to call on your behalf.

Hairdressers:  Ti-en, 143 Bui Ven. Haircut, highlights, manicure, pedicure, etc.

Hospitals and clinics:  International SOS Clinic, 65 Nguyen Du (08/829 8424), has international doctors with consultation fees starting at $80; they also have a dental clinic, can arrange emergency evacuation and have a 24hr emergency service (08/829 8520). Columbia Saigon, 8 Alexandra De Rhodes (08/823 8888), and Columbia Gia Dinh at 1 No Trang Long, Binh Thanh (08/803 0678), have multinational doctors with 24hr emergency cover and evacuation. HCM City Family Medical Practice, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan (08/822 7848), is an international clinic with multinational doctors, a dental surgery and specialist knowledge in vaccinations, as well as 24hr emergency cover and evacuation; consultations start at $50. International Medical Centre, 1 Han Thuyen (08/827 2366), is a French-run, non-profit, 24hr hospitalization centre with in-patient wards, intensive care and emergency surgery; general consultations start at $40. Cho Lon’s Cho Ray Hospital, at 201 Nguyen Chi Thanh (08/855 4137) has an outpatients’ room for foreigners ($4 per consultation) and a foreigners’ ward. The Hospital of Traditional Medicine, 187 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia (08/932 6579), has acupuncture treatment.