Ho Chi Minh City Activities

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If the heat starts to get you down, there are several water parks where you can splash around to cool off.

• Dam Sen Water Park, 03 Hoa Binh, Ward 3, District 11, ☎ 858.8418, 865.3453 (damsenwaterpark@vnn.vn, fax: 858.8419), www.damsenwaterpark.com.vn/en/home. Mon-Sat 8:30AM-6PM, Sundays and Holidays 8AM-7PM. Close to the city centre. Opened in 1999, with new water slides added each year — this water park offers some truly unique water slide experiences (including the amazing "Space Bowl")! The slides have been badly designed and it's a common sight to see someone clutching their head when leaving them. Restaurant, health services, and animatronic dinosaurs are on the premises. Admission is height based; under 0.8m free, others 35,000-80,000 dong.

• There's also Water World in District 9, Ocean Water Park in District 7, and Dai The Gioi Water Park in District 5.

• The Saigon River. Believe it or not, the Saigon river is for swimming! Many a traveler rave to their friends and family about this opportunity to have fun with the locals. It is considered rude to done a traditional bathing suit; instead the custom is to wear jeans or slacks and a shirt or blouse - essentially you should look like you just finished work and really want to go for a swim. The park in front of the Renaissance Hotel offers nice views and access to the river. Make sure you know how to cross the road before attempting to get there. Expect to encounter some beggars in the park.

Visiting hair salons is also a must do for tourists, as Vietnamese are famous for it. Hair wash, manicure and pedicure cost no more than US$10. However, if the salon seems to be staffed exclusively by comely young ladies in tight dresses sitting on display at the window, they may offer more than just haircuts.

If you're in Saigon on a Sunday night, then beg, borrow, or rent a two-wheeled vehicle and join the throngs for di choi. It's basically a party on wheels, where everyone just rides through the downtown streets until the wee hours.

• MegaStar Cineplex Vietnam's leading world-class cineplex venue with 3 locations in HCMC and the first to offer 3D movies (at Hung Vuong Plaza only). All locations present first-run US Hollywood and International releases and situated within attractive shopping complexes. (1) Hung Vuong Plaza (about 20-30 mins from CBD) -- 126 Hung Vuong Str, District 5, Level 7. (2) CT Plaza (near the airport) -- 60A Truong Son Str., Tan Binh District, Level 10. (3) Saigon Paragon (about 30-40 mins from CBD) -- 03 Nguyen Luong Bang Str., District 7, Level 5. The latest show session times and dates are available at "http://www.megastar.vn"

• Galaxy Cinema at 116, Nguyen Du, District 1, is a favorite among locals and bored tourists for the plethora of Vietnamese amateur adult films that are shown hourly. For an extra 18,000 dong men are shown to a private booth with maid service.

• Xuan Spa (If you have that much money. Services on the upside of 1,780,000 dong), Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, 2 Lam Son Square, District 1, ☎ +84 8 824 1234 (saigon.park@hyattintl.com), saigon.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas.
• Dai Nam Tourist Park, Thu Dau Mot Town, Binh Duong Province (Catch the 616 Bus from the Bus Station, or talk to a travel agent), travel.vietnamwebsite.net/post/118. Located about 40km from Ho Chi Minh City, the Dai Nam Tourist Park, opened in November of 2008, it is one of the newest and largest tourist attractions in Vietnam. It features the Dai Nam Van Hien Temple, an entertainment site, open range zoo, shopping areas, hotels, local and western cuisine sites, and the largest man made mountain range in Vietnam. Costing over 50 billion dong to build, this park is the beginning of mass tourism in Vietnam, although it is aimed at both tourists and locals and comes highly recommended. Transport options to the park are quite convoluted and as the park is new, online information is scarce. Reports are that you can catch the 616 bus from the main bus terminal in Ho Chi Minh, but most hotels will tell you that's not possible and insist on a private taxi. According to the locals, it is very much worth a visit, purely just to view the temple.
• Happy Ending Massage Yuan, 15B8 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1 Ben Nighe Ward Ho Chi Minh City (On Le Thanh Ton between Thai Van Lung and Ngo Van Nam. Across from Sky Garden), ☎ (08) 3825-0795. "Legitimate" foot and body massage, hostess will explain pricing to you at the beginning, usually offering 30% discount. 223,000 dong.

• www.damsenwaterpark.com.vn/en/home
• http://www.megastar.vn
• saigon.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas
• travel.vietnamwebsite.net/post/118