[jack hammer]

Was in HCM over the Christmas and New Year period.

I stayed at Silverland Hotel and Spa along Le Thanh Thon. Across from the street, there is Flamingo Spa where I received a massage and handjob probably at inflated prices but as I was there on a short trip and do not want it to be "soured" due to prices, I went for it.

Further along the street towards Benh Thanh Market there is an Irish pub named Bernie's at Thai Wan Lung street (left side of the junction). I met 2 Heineken beer promoters there Thu and Jen. Both pretty and sweet but played hard to get. Not sure if they are still there and if anyone did managed to get lucky with them please post here ya. hehehe...

The best part was discovering that across from my hotel, there is a dingy looking side street. The entrance to it has a huge blue color signboard in Vietnamese so I can't tell what it is. I only discovered this place on my 2nd last night there.

Inside this street. there are many Japanese KTVs and as I discovered, it's because this whole area is known as the Japanese district. While walking there, hordes of male GROs in smart looking suits came up to me and started to offer me special prices to their KTVs. Eventually my buddies and I settled on Jumbo, which is a few doors from Cherry.

The entrance price was 700k with free flow of beer and girls. No need to tip the girls unless you are really happy. We all had a great time and I managed to convince my gal to go back with me when she gets off work.

It was here that things got interesting. She's 22, and began telling me that what we paid for was a huge discount because all the Japs have gone home for Christmas and so business was slow. We walked along Le Thanh Thon at 1am like lovers, and in hand and chit chatting in broken English.

Before long, we were both a little tired and decided to head to my hotel. We had a great time, and I managed to plant my Singapore flag there twice. In the morning, she hugged me before leaving and told me that the Japs never treated them like companions but like their playthings. Hence she felt safe to go with me and even registered her name at the hotel's front desk.

We kissed and she left : without even asking for a single cent. Later in the day, I felt bad and walked to VinCentre (along Le Thanh Thonh) and bought her a bottle of perfume. I then handed it over to her in the early evening and told her that I have to catch a night flight back. We then hugged one more time and I left.

There were also other adventures with a masseuse from Le Duyen 3 where I asked her out after her shift. A dinner and drinks later, we were in my room and again, no money was exchanged.

Please do not ask me for contact because I went there in the spirit of being adventurous and discovered the city on my own, albeit with alot of information gleaned from reading this site (kudos to the samsters who shared and posted here). Please try to do the same too and you will find your trip more enjoyable as you discover places and people on your own.

Tip : treat the bell boys nice - they are the gatekeepers and they decide who can be brought up to your room at night.