South Vietnam – Tourist guide from the 60s

Viet-Nam is in the Southeastern corner of Asia, with Cambodia and Laos on the west, and the China Sea on the east and south. South Viet-Nam covers a 65,000 square-mile area with approximately 12 million inhabitants.
With its sophisticated temperate-climate resorts in the Highland country, its white beaches, its ancient Imperial City, its vast hunting reserves and its numerous other attractions, Viet-Nam is rapidly becoming a << must see >> for thousands of foreign tourists. Now that jet-liners are cutting flying time to the Orient approximately in half, Saigon is a new, centrally-located travel target, for tourists seeking a different setting and atmosphere.

THE PEOPLE

Vietnamese people are well known for their dynamic, energy, hospitality and courtesy. Vietnamese women, wearing a graceful, traditional flowing costume of silk pantaloons under a long tunic split on both sides, are known for their distinctive charm.
In the Highlands of Viet-Nam, however, there remain many different small aboriginal groups who live in colorful tribal villages and still preserve their traditional costumes. They arc believed to be the original descendants of the peninsula, inhabiting the area even before the arrival of the Vietnamese immigrants many centuries ago. There are many groups among the tribes : Man, Meo, Rhade, and Thai. For tourists, these tribal villages will offer a rare treat the picturesque clothing of the inhabitants, elephant rides, ancient dan-ces, and simple country life.Highlander girls with their traditional dresses.

RELIGION

Most of the Vietnamese people are Buddhist, the rest are Roman Catholics, Protestant… The Buddhism practised in Viet-Nam is one of two branches of this religion called the « Great Vehicle » ; the other branch being the « Small Vehicle >> is practiced in India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The « Great Vehicle >> branch is liberal and tolerant and does not require neither attendance at religious cere-monies nor a compulsory period of priesthood for men. Actually, the most important aspect of Vietnamese religious life is ancestor worship, which results in reve-rence for the elders and in strong family ties.

LANGUAGE

The Vietnamese language is tonal and resembles Chinese speech. Until a few decades ago, it was written in the form of Chinese characters, because scholars, more than any other group, adhered closely to the Chinese traditions. The transformation to a Roman script (known as Quoc Ngu) was started in 1651 by a Jesuit Missionary, Father Alexandre de Rhodes, who devised a system of accent marks for the phonetic equivalent of sounds used in speech. Ever since the widespread influence of Catholic missionaries and priests in the education of the Vietnamese people has made the Romanized alphabet accepted throughout the country. Each word is written as a single syllable and hyphens are used to express a compound word as in Viet-Nam, Cho-lon. Since independence, the use of the Vietnamese language in schools, universities, govern-ment, and business has mostly replaced French which had been prevalent in these institutions.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Transit passengers entering Viet-Nam need no visa if they stay in the country less than 72 hours. No exit visa is required if they stay in the country less than 7 days. American travelers do not need a visa (entry or exit) if they stay in the country less than 7 days. In case that an exit visa is required, visitors may apply for it from the Immigration Service, 115, Vo-Di-Nguy street, Saigon. A. tourist visa valid for 30 days may be easily obtained by bona-fide tourists from Viet-Nam’s diplo-matic or consular missions abroad.

HEALTH REGULATIONS

All persons entering Viet-Nam are requested to produce cholera and smallpox inoculation certificates. A yellow fever inoculation certificate is needed if the travelers are arriving from or via infected areas.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Courteous attention and efficient service are ac-corded to foreign visitors in Viet-Nam port of entry, particularly in Saigon. Travelers may retain, duty-free, such goods as to-bacco, liquors, toiletries, and medicine provided these are for their personal use and do not exceed the following limitations :

1 — Tobacco : 500 cigarettes or 100 cigars or one pound of pipe tobacco.
2 — Personal jewelery.
3 — One pair of binoculars.
4 — Two still cameras of different sizes with 10 rolls of film.
5 — One movie camera with 10 reels of movie film.
6 — One portable gramophone with 20 records.
7 — One portable sound-recording apparatus with 2 tapes.
8 — One portable wireless receiving set.
9 — One portable typewriter. All the above items are imported temporarily and must be re-exported on the departure from Viet-Nam.

CURRENCY AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The monetary unit here is the piaster called Dong written with the Dollar sign ($), and worth approximately 73 piasters per US Dollar or 206 piasters per S.,’ . Money can be changed at banks and exchange offices without restrictions.

When visitors leave Viet-Nam, their unspent piasters may be reconverted into foreign currency upon presentation of the certificate delivered to them when they sold their original foreign currency upon arrival in Saigon.

APPROXIMATE RATES OF EXCHANGE

Foreign Currency Vietnamese piaster

U.S. Dollar 73 $ 50
Pound Sterling 206 , 00
Australian Pound 160 , 00
ndian Rupee 13 , 00
Hongkong Dollar 15 , 00
Malayan Dollar 23 , 00
West German Mark 17 , 00
New French Franc 15 , 00 100
Yen 20 , 00 10 Baht 35 , 00

CLIMATE

The climate here is generally pleasant, with only two main seasons : rainy season from June to October, and dry season from November to May. The warmest months are May and June, and the coolest December and January. Average annual temperature is about 85°F.

CLOTHING

Only light, informal clothing is needed. Light jackets and sweaters are good for evenings, air-condi-tioned buildings, and trips to the mountains. Easily washable materials are best. A light raincoat is recom-mended for travelers coming in the rainy season.

ACCESSIBILITY INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION

Planes. Tan-Son-Nhut international airport is located at about 3 miles from the Saigon City center. Being the cross-road between the West and the East, Tan-Son•Nhut airport is being used daily by inter-national airlines among which is Air Vietnam , the national carrier. Air Vietnam serves the key cities of the Far East. From Saigon its Caravelle jet services reach Hongkong to the North, Bangkok to the West and Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to the South. To share the traffic of these sectors with Air. Vietnam are Cathay Pacific Airways, Air France, Pan American Airways and Thai International.

Beyond these points, the long haul carriers such as Air France, P.A.A., U.T.A. carry the traffic as far as Europe, U.S.A. and Australia. Furthermore, Air Vietnam together with Royal Air Cambodge and Royal Airlao link the capitals of the three neighbouring countries from Saigon to Vien-tiane and Phnom Penis and vice versa. Ships If foreign tourists prefer a leisure boat trip, convenient connections are available from most European ports. The trip is an exciting one from Europe, leaving from Marseilles (France), stopping at Port Said, Aden, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, and arriving Saigon 20 days later via the French Lines repre-sented by the Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes. The American President Lines sails monthly from New-York and San-Francisco. Many cargo vessels are also scheduled for Viet-Nam, but the dates of their departure are determined by cargo requirements.

INTERNAL TRANSPORTATION

A) AIR TRANSPORTATION : Air Viet-Nam operates regular services between Saigon and the following cen-ters : Dalat, Banmethuot, Hue, Pleiku, Kontum, Nha-trang, Phu-Quoc, Qui-Nhon, Tourane. Other small cities are linked by small « Cessna > taxi aircraft. The five seater Cessna aircraft can be hired at about U.S. $ 42 per hour. It can carry five adults (not inclu-ding the pilot) plus 270 pounds of weight allowance.
B) LAND TRANSPORTATION : 1 – Trains run from Saigon to Dongha, via Bien-hoa Muongman, Thapcham, Nhatrang, Tuy-hoa, Quangngai, Danang, Hue. Dalat is reached by cog-rail train from Thapcham. 2 — Interurban bus service is available, between most major tourist centers. The cost of tra-veling by bus is low, and the quality of service is rather good. 3 — Taxis ate all metered. The minimum fare is 6 piasters (8c). Fares are increased 50 % between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Fare from town to the airport is always double that shown on the meter to insure the driver a return fare. Tourists should carry small change as drivers can seldom change 100 or 500 piasters bills. 4 — Pousse or pedicabs are also available in Saigon. These are comfortable three-wheeled, pedal-propelled arm-chairs, ideal for a smooth ride along the city’s shady boulevards.

ACCOMMODATION

One month’s notice is enough to get excellent ac-commodations for clients. The finest hotels in Saigon are in and around the shopping center. Service is ex-cellent, and telephones are available in every room. Hotel rooms are partly or completely air-conditioned, and most are equipped with private baths and showers.
Caravelle Hotel, opened in 1961, is all air-condi-tioned and smartly decorated with France’s St. Gobain glasses and Italian marble. Its Skyroom Restaurant and Roof Garden enable guests to have a bird’s eye view of Saigon. Rates : including continental breakfast, U.S. $ 12.90 for a single room ; U.S. $ 17 and U.S. $ 20 for a double ; and from U.S. $ 27.20 to U.S. $ 34.30 a suite, plus service charge.

Majestic Hotel, overlooking the Saigon River, has 125 air-conditioned rooms„ and a panoramic restaurant. Its attractive terrace cafe is still the rendez-vous of the elite. Rates : from U.S. $ 8 to U.S. $ 11, including light breakfast, and a choice of lunch or dinner.

Continental Palace, renowned for its French cui-sine, has 95 rooms with private baths (30 are air-condi-tioned). Rates : from U.S. $ 7 to U.S. $ 10 single and U.S. $ 9 to U.S. $ 11 double, including light breakfast and one meal.

Astor Hotel, the newest in Saigon, has 50 air-condi-tioned rooms decorated in European style with private telephone and bath. Its Roof Garden Restaurant enables guests to have a nice paronama of Saigon. Rates : U.S. $ 12 single and U.S. $ 15 double.

Embassy Hotel. All 40 rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with private bath and toilet, water-heater, twin-beds, telephone, and radio. Rates : from U.S. $ 8.23 single and U.S. $ 12 double, including continental breakfast.

Catinat Hotel, the tallest hotel in town, has a swimming pool. From its 11th floor the picturesque scenery of the capital can be seen. Rates : from U.S. $ 4.40 to U.S. $ 7 single or double excluding meals. Other recommended hotels in Saigon all with modern facilities are : Alfana Hotel, Dong-Khanh Hotel, Hotel. Royal, Mai-Loan Hotel, Prince Hotel, Victoria Hotel.

Hotels in other tourist centers are :

In Dalat :
Among the many comfortable hotels are : Dalat Palace, Dalat Hotel. Several exclusive little inns, La Savoisienne, Le Sans Souci, and the Mekong Board-ing House are strictly European pro-vincial style. Rates : from U.S. $ 5 single and U.S. ,$ 9 double.

In Nhatrang :
Most of the hotels overlook the South China Sea, combining comfort with cleanliness, and informality with a high standard of service. La Fregate, Grand Hotel, Hotel Nautique have been built on carefully chosen sites amidst scenery of unparalleled beauty, a beauty, which, with its indefinable quality of shimmering light, merges with the limpid sea. Rates : from U.S. $ 6 to U.S. $ 10.

In Vung-Tau :
The Grand Hotel and Pacific Hotel are just a two minutes’ walk from the beach. Rates : from U.S. $ S to U.S. $ 8.

RESTAURANTS

When tourists are ready for a hearty meal, Viet-namese, Chinese, French, or American there is a wide variety. of restaurants to choose from. Saigon offers delicious Vietnamese dishes at Tuu-Gia, Tu-Do ; French cooking at Guillaume Tell, l’Amiral, le Bodega, and Mayfair ; French and Chinese meals at Dong-Khanh, My-Canh (Floating Restaurant). Cafeterias are available where a tourists in a hurry may have a quick hamburger or hot dog.

American and European, especially French food is always available in Saigon. However, to entice adven-turous gourmets, a few well known Vietnamese dishes are described below :

Cha Gio, similar to a Chinese egg-roll but with a crisp crust of rice flour, and containing shrimp, crab, egg, fine noodles, mushrooms and vegetables, all finely chopped. Cha Gio is an absolute « must ».

Chao Tom, barbecued shrimp meat rolled around sugar cane stick. A delicious speciality eaten as do-it-yourself rolled sandwich. Rice dough is spread on a large leaf, shrimp is stripped off the cane and few marinated vegetables are put on top. The whole thing is rolled up and dipped into « nuoc mam » or fish sauce. (Experts do this with chopsticks).

Bo Bay Mon, beef in seven dishes, a favorite with Americans living in Saigon, is just what it says : beef served in seven separate dishes each in different form — chopped, sliced and in chunks — and each with its own sauce.

Pho, is a soup which resembles consomme with beef and noodles, but it is actually a more complicated dish. The bouillon base or broth is difficult to make, its preparation is lengthy, and the result is a delicate and unsually flavored soup. The meat that is added to it is also very tasty as it does not lose its flavor in the making of the broth ; it is added separately at the last minute.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Vietnamese theater : There are two types of Vietnamese dramatic art :
1 — The « Hat Boi a or classical theater.
2 — The « Cai Luong » or modern theater.

The former is essentially tragic and is always steeped in the great dramas of the history of China. The richly dressed actors have to limit themselves to a certain number of exacting rules and symbols, and their snake-up is conventional. The latter, which combines tragedy and comedy, was born in South Viet-Nam about 1920. A good Cai Luong >> play reminds one of film techniques.

Movies :

In Saigon there are numerous first-class and second-class air-conditioned movie houses showing the latest American, European, Asian, and Vietnamese films. Most of the films have French or English sound tracks with Vietnamese subtitles.

FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS

As is to be expected in a country such as Viet-Nam, which is rapidly emerging as a modern nation while maintaining many old-age traditions, the holidays and festivals are a mixture of the old and the new. The modern influence is reflected in the celebration of Christmas, and New Year’s Day. However, a visitor from abroad, seeking something different, will undoub-tedly be more interested in the « old » festivals, the holidays whose origins stretch far back into antiquity. Three of these are worthy of special mention, and the tourist who finds himself in Viet-Nam while one of them is being celebrated is in for a rare treat.

1 — The Vietnamese New Year :

The most important of the traditional festivals is Tet >> or the celebration of the first day of Lunar New Year. This celebration usually falls in February with the coming of spring. Although « Tet >> is pri-marily a religious and family affair, the general atmos-phere of festivity is most exciting. Preparations begin many days in advance. A good month before « Tet >> there appears, as if by magic, around the central markets of Viet-Nam from the tiniest village to the capital, a multicolored belt of small shops made of light wood, decorated with loving care in merry emulation of pli-cated garlands and fancy lanterns. At night, this fairy-land illuminated, and customers crowd around the heaps of fruits; toys, linens, and hosts of other articles. In Saigon, the festival is particularly brilliant. The pavements are flooded with flower shops, and boulevards are adorned with long luminous garlands. Firecrackers, feasts prepared for days in advance, the exchange of presents, houses especially decorated for the occasion with flowering branches are only a few of the charac-teristics and sights that await the tourist fortunate enough to be in Viet-Nam during this joyful season.

2 — The Trung Sisters’ Day :

Another important national holiday is the celebra-tion of the Trung Sisters’ Day. This annual event is celebrated by a dazzling parade on the sixth day of the second lunar month (usually in March or April). Two Vietnamese girls, dressed in the full regalia of long past ages, ride elephants through the streets of Saigon. They are escorted by brilliantly-uniformed guards carrying raised swords, and mounted blue-and-red-costumed women officers.

3 — The Mid-Autumn Festival :

The third festival is the Children’s Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (usually in September or October). The origin of this festival stems from a dream of Emperor Duong Minh Hoang. He dreamed one night that he traveled to the land of fairies where there was much celebrating, merry-making, dancing, and general gaiety. When he awoke, he decided to inaugurate these festivities on an annual basis. The celebration has become gradually a festival for children, including the distribution of gifts, and colorful dragon dances. During this feast the Mid-Autumn pastries are served, the « Banh Nuong >>, or « Banh Trung Thu >>, a sort of tart filled with ham, nuts, eggs and other ingredients. These delicacies are not made at any other time of the year.

HUNTING

Viet-Nam is a hunter’s paradise. There is plenty of game : elephant, tiger, leopard, gaur, wild ox, deer and pheasant. Hunting areas vary from 50 to 250 miles from Saigon. Most usual hunting bases are Di-Linb, Dalat, Banmethuot. Hunting season is from October to April. As a special courtesy for foreign visitors, out-of-season hunt-ing permits may be issued to them. Special arrangements may he made through the safari tour operators.

SAIGON

Saigon has one of the most important interna-tional harbors as well as being one of the largest and most beautiful cities of South East Asia. Its picturesque residential quarters together with lively market places and ancient temples have won for the city the name of « Pearl of the Orient >>. Large shady boulevards, modern shopping centers, and night clubs lend a Wes-tern flavor to many quarters of this exotic city. Saigon is the twin city of Cholon whose cosmo-politan population combines the meeting of the East and West. Saigon itself covers 51 square miles with nearly 2 million inhabitants.
Saigon is also the center of a geographical diamond formed by Hongkong, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore ; it may be reached by jet-service at no extra cost, if one travels around the world or to any of the above cities. Besides the peculiarly Asiatic flavor of the city, its cosmopolitanism and bustling commotion, Saigon offers a wealth of beauty and interesting sights. Fore-most are the Botanical Gardens which contain one of the richest collections of orchids and equatorial plants. In the National Museum are stores of treasures depicting the evolution of Vietnamese and neighboring cultures. It is here that many relics of the ancient Cham civilization repose.

Duong Tu-Do (Liberty Street) is the main street of Saigon. Here the visitor will find fashionable shops, movie houses, and several important Government build-ings, the Directorate for Public Affairs, and the Depart-ment of Interior. Duong Tu-Do extends from the Saigon Basilica to the river where the quay offers an excellent opportunity for strolling along the picturesque River of Saigon. As the tourist wanders along Tu Do, he is likely to be photographed by professional cameramen who offer him an optional card for a souvenir picture that will be ready within 24 hours. Tu Do is also well known for its fashionable << Salon de The >>. The main ones, La Pagode, Brodard, Cafe Imperial serve tea, coffee, liquor, French pastries, and ice-cream. An increasingly large number of restaurants, movies houses and night clubs are now air-conditioned.

BIEN-HOA

Bien-Hoa, 20 miles from the capital, is the pottery center where visitors can also observe rural life, refugee resettlement villages, and rubber plantations. Connect-ing Bien-Hoa and Saigon is the superhighway.

THU-DAU-MOT

At Thu-Dau-Mot, only 20 miles from Saigon, lac-quer work will be underway in its many painstaking stages. The art of lacquer craft has been passed down through families for generations, and Vietnamese crafts-men have combined modern methods and techniques with ancient ways.

TAY-NINH

Tay-Ninh, about 60 miles northwest of Saigon, is the site of the Cao-Dai Temple and the center of this religious sect in South Viet-Nam. The Temple is extre-mely colorful and serves the Holy See of the Cao-Dai Sect, an original religious sect created in the thirties and based on a synthesis of various Oriental and Western religions.

VUNG-TAU

Long white sandy beach is ideal holiday resort. Long white beaches along the South China Sea arc favorite vacation spots for Vietnamese as well as for tourists to Viet-Nam, among them are Vung-Tau (formerly called Cap St. Jacques), Long-Hai and Nuoc-Ngot. Vung-Tau, two hours by car from Saigon, is at the mouth of the Saigon River which winds its way from the port of Saigon to the sea. Long-Hai, has three adequate hotels, and Nuoc-Ngot has a European-type inn with a private beach.

NHA TRANG

Further north along the coast, Nhatrang is Viet-Nam’s most renowned beach. Fine white sand beach stretches for two-and-a-half miles along a calm blue sea lined with coconut trees and backed by mountains. The clear water is ideal for skin diving as well as swimming, and a motor launch trip out into the bay will take the tourist to one of the many small islands where he may claim for his own for a few hours. Little glass-bottomed boats give a lovely view of the tropical gardens of the sea-floor. A visit to the Oceanographic Institute is also a must >>. Among many other sightseeing spots in Nha-trang is Hon-Chong, an area of remarkably rocky caves. Clams, lobsters, shrimps, crabs, or just plain fresh white fish are all available for tourists with discriminating taste.

DALAT

Dalat is an ideal altitude resort for tourists << to take a break > during their travels in the Far East, to relax for a day or two amid the superb setting of a refreshing and easy-going resort. Temperature varies little throughout the year, the average mean being 65°F. The air is always fresh. There are, nevertheless, two seasons : sunny season from November to May, and rainy season from May to November. But even in the rainy season, sunny mor-nings are the rule, with rainfall in the late afternoon. The hills of Dalat are covered with luxurious pine forests. Cherry trees surround the lakes, giving a splen-did note of color to the city at Easter time. Each villa, large or small, has its own flower garden with canna, gladioli, hisbiscus, and bougainvillea in fine array. Flower raising, together with tea, coffee, and vege-table product, constitute the principal industries of Dalat. Dalat gladioli and lettuce are prized throughout the country. Lakes and waterfalls are Dalat’s marks of natural beauty. Among the five lakes is the still and poetic Lake of Sighs, whose legend sets the mood even now. There is little activity here when the tourist visits this quiet little lake. Possibly a pensive fisherman may be seen passing an afternoon of reverie or perhaps a pair of strolling lovers in the distance. Winding paths down to the foot of Pongour lead to a rustic natural picnic spot, and small pools of water among the rocks are deep enough for swimming.

HUE

There is probably no better phrase than « Song Huong Nui Ngu >>, the River of Perfumes and the Mountain of the King, to evoke the scenic beauty of the former Imperial Capital of Viet-Nam. This city is built along the River of Perfumes ; and from the river, one can see vaguely in the distance the Mountain of the King. Hue is to be discovered and enjoyed in its quiet and slowly-flowing river in the town and outside the town in its Imperial tombs which bear the story of the past and of its glory. A less « practical » connoisseur would suggest a tour to the Imperial tombs, six in number, which were built by successive Vietnamese Emperors, under the Nguyen Dynasty, at the beginning of 19th century. The construction work of some began during the lifetime of the Emperor and finished only after his death. The structure and decor of the tombs vary according to each Emperor’s personal taste ; but the main features of all are found in their urns, rampant dragons creeping down long flights of steps on eithe side of the entrance, lotus pools and square lakes whose smooth waters reflect the shadows of bending trees.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

AIRLINES

ALITALIA C/O Transma, 18, Ben Bach Dang. Tel. : 20.249
AIR FRANCE (U.T.A., LUFTHANSA 130, Tu-Do . Tel. : 20.981
AIR SERVICE (PAN AM ; C.P.A.) 23, Ngo Duc Ke . Tel. : 22.522
AIR VIET-NAM 116, Nguyen Hue . Tel. : 21.624-27

General Sales Agent for :
(AIR INDIA ; B.O.A.C. ; JAPAN AIRLINES ; K.L.M. ; MALAYSIAN AIRWAYS ; NORTHWEST ORIENT AIR-LINES ; QANTAS ; ROYAL AIR CAMBODGE ) CIVIL AIR TRANSPORTATION (T.W.A) 16, Tu Do Tel. : 23.144

PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS INC. 23, Ngo Due Ke Tel. : 22.522
ROYAL AIR LAO 10, Ngo Duc Ke Tel. : 24.178
S.A.S. ; SWISSAIR ; THAI INTERNATIONAL 100, Tu Do Tel. : 25.291
UNITED AIRLINES c/o Getz Bros, Co, 26-28, Ham Nghi Tel. : 23.928

BANKS

BANGKOK BANK, LTD. 44, Nguyen Cong Tru Tel. : 25.764 BANK OF CHINA 11, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 21.632/33 BANK OF COMMUNICATIONS 87, Ham Nghi Tel. : 21.549 BANK OF EAST ASIA, LTD. . 6, Vo Di Nguy Tel. : 20.565/66 BANK OF TOKYO 12-.22, Ham Nghi Tel. : 25.807 BANQUE FRANCAISE DE L’ASIE 29, Ben Chuong Duong, Tel. : 23.434 BANQUE FR AN CO-CHIN OISE 32, Ham Nghi Tel. : 20.065 B.N.C.I. 36, Ton That Dam Tel. : 21.902
CHARTERED BANK 3, Vo Di Nguy
Tel. : 20.041
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BANK OF VIET-NAM 93-95, Ham Nghi Tel. : 21.558/59 HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK, CORP. 9, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 20.086
VIET-NAM NGAN HANG 117, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 21.326/28
VIET-NASI THUONG TIN BANK 17, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 23.521

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

CERCLE SPORTIF SAIGONAIS 55, Hong Thap Tu Tel. : 20.385
LIONS CLUB 24, Ngo Duc Ke Tel.: 25.838
PRESS CLUB 15, Le Loi Tel. : 24.894
ROTARY CLUB 134, Tu Do Tel. : 22.444
RED CROSS 201, Hong Thap Tu Tel. : 22.298
VIET-NAM JAYCEE 387, Vo Tanh Tel. : 25.016

EXHIBITS

HANDICRAFT CENTER 96, Tu-Do TeL : 25.264
THANH LE LACQUER EXHIBITION HALL 40-42, Tu-Do Tel. : Sg 404

FOREIGN EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES IN VIET-NAM

AMERICAN EMBASSY 39, Ham Nghi Tel.: 25.251
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY Caravelle Building Tel. : 21.442
BRITISH EMBASSY 25, Thong Nhut Tel. : 25.341
BELGIAN LEGATION 26, Gia-Long Tel. : 23.345
CAMBODIAN REPRESENTATION 185, Le Van Duyet Tel. : 22.673
CHINESE EMBASSY 47, Pasteur Tel.: 21.732
DANISH LEGATION 15, Nguyen Cong 1″ru Tel. : 23.441
FRENCH EMBASSY 1, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 23.721
GERMAN EMBASSY 106, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 21.069
GREEK EMBASSY 3, Vo Di Nguy Tel. : 20.775
ITALIAN EMBASSY 135, Pasteur Tel. : 23.916
INDIAN CONSULATE GENERAL 213, Tu Do Tel. : 21.340
JAPANESE EMBASSY 13-17, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 23.545
KOREAN EMBASSY 109, Nguyen Du Tel. : 23.146
LAOTIAN EMBASSY 93, Pasteur Tel. : 21.034
MALAYSIA EMBASSY 141 bis, Cong Ly . Tel. : 23.280
NETHERLANDS LEGATION 147, Phan Dinh Phung Tel. : 24.222
NORWEGIAN CONSULATE 7, Han Thuyen . Tel. : 20.475
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY 42, Doan Thi Diem Tel. 22.869
PORTUGUESE CONSULATE 35-A, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 21.856
SWIDISH CONSULATE 35, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 22.695
SWISS CONSULATE 26, Gia Long Tel. : 22.396
THAI EMBASSY 77. Truong Minh Giang Tel. : 20.172

HOTELS

A) Saigon Area :
ALFANA HOTEL 154, Tu Do Tel. : 21.366
ASTOR HOTEL 66-70, Tu Do Tel. : 21.415
CARAVELLE HOTEL 23, Lam Son Sq Tel. : 25.712
CATINAT HOTEL 69, Tu Do Tel. : 21.930
CONTINENTAL HOTEL 132, Tu Do Tel. : 22.520
EMBASSY HOTEL 72, Nguyen Trung Truc Tel : 25.140
MAI-LOAN HOTEL 16, Truong Cong Dinh Tel. : 22.354
MAJESTIC HOTEL 1, Tu Do Tel. : 23.711

B) Cholon Area :
DONG-KHANH HOTEL 2, Dong Khanh Tel. : 36.156 Tel : 36.846
KING-WA HOTEL 41, Ngo Quyen
VICTORIA HOTEL 937, Tran Hung Dao Tel : 36.598

C) Vung-Tau Area :
GRAND HOTEL Le Loi Vung-Tau
HOTEL CYRNOS Quang Trung Vung-Tau
PACIFIC HOTEL Le Loi/Phan Thanh Gian Vung-Tau

D) Nhatrang Area :
GRAND HOTEL 42, Duy Tan Nhatrang
HOTEL NAUTIQUE 18, Duy Tan Nhatrang
LA FREGATE 2, Le Loi Nhatrang
PACIFIC HOTEL 4, Tran Hung Dao Nhatrang

E) Dalat Area :
AU BON ACCUEIL 2, Hung Vuong Dalat
DALAT HOTEL 7, Yersin Dalat
DALAT PALACE 2, Yersin Dalat
MIMOSA 13, Ly Thai To Dalat SANS SOUCI 2, Nguyen Truong To Dalat
SAVOISIENNE Yen Do Dalat F) Hue Area :
HOTEL HUE Le Loi Hue
THUAN HOA HOTEL 5, Duy Tan Hue

MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES

DEFENCE 53, Gia-Long Tel. : 40.100
ECONOMY 59, Gia-Long Tel. : 22.030
EDUCATION 70, Le Thanh Ton Tel. : 20.929
FINANCE 142, Hong Thap Tu Tel. : 21.141
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 9, Alexandre de Rhodes Tel. : 22.962
JUSTICE 47, Thong Nhat Tel. : 20.420
INFORMATION 170. Phan Dinh Phung Tel. : 21.696
INTERIOR 164, Tu Do Tel. • 20.583
LABOUR 459, Tran Hung Dao Tel. : 21.410
PUBLIC HEALTH 59, Hong Thap Tu Tel. : 23.431
PUBLIC WORKS 55, Pasteur Tel. : 20.451
IMMIGRATION SERVICE (EXTENSION OF STAY) 115, Vo Di Nguy Tel. : 21.889
NATIONAL EXCHANGE OFFICE 17, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 22.196
NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE 25. Ben Bach Dang Tel. : 22.979
PREFECTURE OF SAIGON 86, Le Thanh Ton Tel. : 21.054
SECURITY SERVICE 252, Vo Tanh Tel. : 24.822
VIET-NAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 69, Tu Do Tel. : 20.101

NIGHT CLUBS

AR C-EN-CIEL 52-56, Tan Da Cholon BACCAR A 165, Tran Qui Cap Saigon
BONG-LAI 1, Nguyen Trung Truc Saigon
CARAVELLE Lam Son Sq Saigon C ARUSO 125. Vo Di Nguy Saigon
DAI-RIM-DO 107, Dong Khanh Cholon
DAT-NAM 181, Ham Nghi Saigon
DONG-KHANH 2. Dong Khanh Cholon
INTERNATIONAL Le Loi/Cong Ly Saigon
KONTIKI 20, Phan Thanh Gian Saigon
LA CIGALE 18, Dinh Tien Hoang Saigon
MA CABANE 108, Truong Cong Dinh Saigon
MOULIN ROUGE 955, Tran Hung Dao Saigon
MY-PHUNG 5, Me Linh Square Saigon
OLYMPIA 92, Trinh Minh The Saigon
PARAMOUNT 181, Ham-Nghi Saigon
TOUR D’IVOIRE 12, Tran Hung Dao Saigon
TU-DO 80, Tu Do Saigon
VAN-CANH 184, Calmette Saigon

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

BRITISH COUNCIL 119, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 25.722
FRENCH CULTURAL MISSION 31, Don Dat Tel. : 21.423
GOETHE INSTITUTE 120, Phan Dinh Phimg Tel. : 24.568
LINCOLN LIBRARY 145, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 22.029
L’ALLIANCE FRANcAISE 135, Nguyen Hue Tel. : 21.702
NATIONAL LIBRARY 34, Gia Long Tel. : 20.644
VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION 55, Mac Dinh Chi Tel. : 25.272

RESTAURANTS BARS

AMIRAL 39, Thai Lap Thanh Saigon
ARC-EN-CIEL 52, Tan Da Cholon
ATERBEA 84, Nguyen Hue Saigon
AU BACCARA 165, Tran Qui Cap Saigon
BRODARD 131, Tu Do Saigon
BONG-LAI 1, Nguyen Trung Truc Saigon
CARAVELLE Lam-Son Square Saigon
CAPRICCIO 4-6, Ho Huan Nghiep Saigon
CARUSO 125, Vo Di Nguy Saigon CHEONGNAM 66, Hai Ba Trung Saigon
DUYEN MAI 124 b, Chi Lang Saigon
DONG-KHANH 2, Dong Khanh Cholon
DIAMOND 182, Dong Khanh Cholon
FLOATING RESTAURANT Bach Dang Saigon
FUJI 96, Hung Vuong Cholon
GUILLAUME TELL 32, Trinh Minh The Saigon
INTERNATIONAL Corner Le Loi/Cong Ly Saigon
KONTIKI 20, Phan Thanh Gian Saigon
LA CIGALE • 18, Dinh Tien Hoang Saigon
MA CABANE 108, Truong Cong Dinh . Saigon
MAYFAIR 40 B, Gia Long Saigon
MOUI.IN ROUGE 959, Tran Hung-Dao Saigon
NGOC HUONG 155, Gia Long Saigon
PALAIS DE JADE 466, Dong Khanh Cholon
PAPRIKA 136, Yen Do Saigon
PEACOCK 60-62, Nguyen van Thinh ….. Saigon PI-10 79 79, Vo Tanh Saigon
TAN-SON-NHUT Airport at Tan Son Nhat Airport
TOUR D’ARGENT Ben Chuong Duong Saigon
VAN-CANH 184. Calmette Saigon

SHIPPING LINES

AMERICAN EXPORT LINES (C/0 DENIS FRERES) 23, Ngo Duc Ke . Tel. : 22.618
AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES (C/O S.A. ALCAN ) 6, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 21.338
COMPAGNIE DES MESSAGERIES MARITIMES 46-48, Tu Do Tel. : 22.044
LLOYD TRIESTINO (C/O UFE0) 18, Ben Bach Dang Tel. : 23.221
PACIFIC FAR EAST LINES ((/0 S.A. ALCAN ) 6. Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 21.338
STATES LINES (C/O GETZ BROS, co.) 28, Ham Nghi Tel. : 23.928
THE EAST ASIATIC CO. LTD. 11, Nguyen Cong Tru Tel. : 23.441
UNITED STATES LINES (C/0 DENIS FRkRESs) 23, Ngo Due He Tel. : 22.0011

TOURISM AND TRAVEL

CAR ASIE 152, Tu Do Tel. : 20.250
DAINAN KOOSI TRAVEL AGENCY 7, Vo Di Nguy Tel.: 21.387
DONG KHANH TRAVEL AGENCY 2, Dong Khanh Tel. : 36.150
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AGENCY 11, Chau Van Tiep Tel. : 23.387
RENT AUTO SERVICE 10, Tu Do Tel. : 25.555
SAIGON EXPRESS 12, Ngo Due Ke Tel. : 24.401
VIET—NAM NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE 25, Ben Bach Dang Tel. : 22.979
VIPT—NAM TRAVEL AGENCY 7, Ben Chuong Duong Tel. : 21.338

Published by Vietnam National Tourist Office 25, Ben Bach-Dang—Saigon, Tel : 22.979-24.514