Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [81]
Bike and motorbike rental Most rental operations are in Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham, such as Mrs Chin at 211 Pham Ngu Lao (0903 939126); average daily costs are $1–2 for a bicycle and $5–6 for a motorbike.
Car and minibus rental Car and minibus rental with driver can be arranged through tour agents (see "Tour agents"), and Budget have now opened an office at Tan Son Nhat Airport (08/3930 1118, www.budget.com.vn), though self-drive is still not an option, as yet.
Cinema Diamond Cinema complex on the 13th floor of Diamond Plaza (see "Department stores and shopping malls"; 08/3822 7897); Galaxy Cinema, 116 Nguyen Du (08/3822 8533); Bobby Brewer’s Movie Lounge, 45 Bui Ven (08/3610 2220, www.bobbybrewers.com).
Consulates Australia, Landmark Building, 5b Ton Duc Thanh 08/3829 6035; Cambodia, 41 Phung Khac Khoan 08/3829 2751; Canada, 235 Dong Khoi 08/3854 5025; China, 39 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 08/3829 2457; Indonesia, 18 Phung Khac Khoan 08/3825 1888; Laos, 93 Pasteur 08/3829 7667; Malaysia, 2 Ngo Duc Ke 08/3829 9023; New Zealand, 41 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai 08/3822 6907; Singapore, Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi 08/3822 5173; Thailand, 77 Tran Quoc Thao 08/3932 7637; UK (& British Council), 25 Le Duan 08/3829 8433; US, 4 Le Duan 08/3822 9433.
Courier services DHL, 4 Phan Thuc Duyen, Tan Binh District 08/3844 6203; FedEx, 146 Pasteur, close to the Rex Hotel08/3829 0995.
Dentists Grand Dentistry, 183 Le Thanh Ton (08/3821 9446), is an international-standard dental clinic. Also conveniently situated in the centre is the Family Dental Practice HCMC (08/3822 4771) on the ground floor of Diamond Plaza. The International SOS Dental Clinic (08/3829 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 Trong, 143 Bui Ven. Haircut, highlights, manicure, pedicure, etc.
Hospitals and clinics International SOS Clinic, 65 Nguyen Du (08/3829 8424), has international doctors, can arrange emergency evacuation and has a 24hr emergency service (08/3829 8520). Columbia Saigon, 8 Alexandrae De Rhodes (08/3823 8888), and Columbia Gia Dinh at 1 No Trang Long, Binh Thanh (08/3803 0678), have multinational doctors with 24hr emergency cover and evacuation. HCM City Family Medical Practice, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan (08/3822 7848), is an international clinic with multinational doctors and specialist knowledge of vaccinations, as well as 24hr emergency cover and evacuation. International Medical Centre, 1 Han Thuyen (08/3827 2366), is a French-run, non-profit, 24hr hospitalization centre with in-patient wards, intensive care and emergency surgery. Cho Lon’s Cho Ray Hospital, at 201 Nguyen Chi Thanh (08/3855 4137) has an out-patients’ room for foreigners and a foreigners’ ward. The Hospital of Traditional Medicine, 187 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia (08/3932 6579), has acupuncture treatment.
Internet access Most hotels now provide free wi-fi or internet access, but there are still a few shops offering internet access for around 6–8,000đ an hour, such as at 273 Pham Ngu Lao.
Laundry Most hotels and guesthouses will wash clothes for you, but rates vary wildly so check first; upmarket hotels can do dry-cleaning; there are also a number of laundry and dry-clean operators around Pham Ngu Lao such as at 203 Bui Vien, where rates are 5,000đ per kilo.
Massage To ease aches and pains, head for the Traditional Vietnamese Massage Institute at 185 Cong Quynh (08/3839 6697; 9am–9pm), where blind masseurs and masseuses will pummel you for 40,000đ/hr (fan room) or 50,000đ/hr (a/c).
Pharmacies There are several pharmacies in and around the De Tham area, such as 65 Bui Vien. Downtown is a large pharmacy at 197–199 Dong Khoi, while the one at 389 Hai