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Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh), commonly known as Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn) or by the abbreviations HCMC or HCM, is the largest city in Vietnam (population and area) and the former capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

Understand
Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. However the old name Saigon is still widely used by both Vietnamese and foreigners, especially when referring to the most central part of the city to which most tourists flock. Although the capital of a united Vietnam is Hanoi in the north, Ho Chi Minh City remains Vietnam's main economic and financial centre. While it does not have the long history that cities like Hanoi and Hue have, it is Vietnam's most modern and cosmopolitan city, with influences from the French former colonial rulers and the ethnic Chinese community in Cholon deeply embedded in the local culture, perhaps most visible in its cuisine.

Though Vietnam has been united since the conclusion of the Vietnam War, cultural differences arising from the division of Vietnam can be seen to this day. To this day, locals in Ho Chi Minh City tend to be more business-minded and less ideological than those in Hanoi in the north. In addition, Southerners also tend to be more hospitable towards Western visitors than Northerners. The Vietnam War — called the "American War" in Vietnam — remains a sensitive topic, and it is advisable not to bring it up in discussions with locals. Do not assume that all Vietnamese think alike, as many Southerners are still bitter about having lost to the North.

History
The first evidence of a settlement in the area dates back to the Funan Empire (1st - 6th century AD). Following the fall of the Funan Empire, the area eventually came under the control of Champa, during which it was named Baigaur. With the rise of the Khmer Empire, the Chams were eventually forced out, and the settlement was incorporated into the Khmer Empire and renamed Prey Nokor. It grew to have an ethnic Khmer majority, which remained even after the fall of the Khmer Empire, and it was not until the 17th century that ethnic Vietnamese started settling in the area. In 1698, by which time it already had an ethnic Vietnamese majority, the Nguyễn lords sent Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh to the area to establish Vietnamese administrative structures, thus incorporating it into the Vietnam's Lê dynasty. In time, the city of Prey Nokor came to be known by the names Gia Định and Sài Gòn. The former was the name used for the city until French rule commenced, with the city officially called Saïgon in French.

Saigon was ceded to the French under the Treaty of Saigon in 1862, and became the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina, which covered most of what is today southern Vietnam. As a result, the city has a rich French colonial heritage, with many magnificent French colonial buildings in the city centre, along with a strong cafe culture. After independence in 1955, Saigon became the capital of the capitalist South Vietnam, with Hanoi becoming the capital of the communist North Vietnam. Saigon was captured by communist North Vietnamese forces in 1975, thus reuniting Vietnam under communist rule.

Future
The Thu Thiem district on the east side of the Saigon River was cleared around 2010 for high-rise redevelopment. The government plans to move the residents of District 1 into the new housing, and then rebuild much more of that district.

Climate
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical climate with wet and dry seasons. The dry season which is from December to May. The most pleasant time to visit is from December to February when temperatures and humidity are lower. March and April are the hottest time of the year with temperatures that can reach up to 40 °C (104 °F). The wet season is long, usually beginning in May and ending in October is characterized by high temperatures and humidity. Cloudy weather is more common although periods of sunshine do occur during the wet season.

Talk
As in most other parts of Vietnam, the main language is Vietnamese. The local dialect is the southern, which differs somewhat from the northern dialect spoken in Hanoi, though speakers of both dialects are usually able to comprehend each other. Educated senior citizens and the well-educated middle to upper class are usually able to speak French, though generally speaking, English is far more present these days, especially among younger individuals.

Ho Chi Minh City is also home to a sizeable ethnic Chinese community, mostly around Chinatown (Cholon); many of them are bilingual in Cantonese and Vietnamese and many also speak Mandarin. After Cantonese, Teochew is the second most widely-spoken Chinese dialect in Ho Chi Minh City.

A few useful phrases:

 * Hello: Seen Chow (Xin chào)
 * Excuse Me, Sorry: Seen Loy (Xin lỗi)
 * What is this/that?: Day La Kai Yee (Đây là cái gì)
 * Thank You: Kam On (Cảm ơn)
 * Very Good: Rat Tot (Rất tốt)
 * Bye: Tam Bee-it (Tạm biệt)

By plane
You can get to the city center by taxi, but the buses are much cheaper. There are several routes, and all of the buses are air-conditioned and cost differently. Bus number 152 is a city bus (green colored) costs 6000 dongs and if you have a luggage it is payable extra. It departs every 15 mins. Bus number 109 is an express one less frequent and costs 20 000 dongs. When going from the airport to the center you can buy it at the terminal. If you are going from the city center, you will get to buy the ticket from a bus conductor.

By bus
If you take a bus into Ho Chi Minh City, you will end up at one of the following bus stations:

From these stations, public buses into and around the city will cost you 6,000-7,000 dong per journey.

As you hop out of the bus, taxi drivers will surround you with questions like "Where you go?" You might be confused about your location in the city and consequently some taxi drivers will try to take advantage. You will most likely already be in Pham Ngu Lao and when you tell taxi driver to head to the same place, he will just zigzag around a few blocks to inflate the fare.

By train

There are five daily departures from (and to) Hanoi along the "Reunification line". Although several of the trains are called "express", all journeys take 30–35 hr. The fastest train is SE3 departing from Hanoi at 23:00 and arriving at 05:00 two days later.

By taxi
The easiest way to get around by taxi or motorbike taxi is by using any of the popular ride-hailing apps: Grab (Android, iOS), Xanh SM (Android, iOS), or the mostly in HCMC available beTaxi (Android, iOS).

The English UI with address search makes navigation a cinch, fares are fixed and typically slightly cheaper than (motorbike) taxis, and you can pay by cash or credit card.

By metered taxi
Regular taxis with meter are numerous, and it's usually not hard to flag one down anywhere in the city centre from early morning until about 01:00, though finding one in the rain or during workday rush hours can be difficult.

Taxi rates are not regulated by the city government, opening the door for opportunistic drivers to overcharge foreigners. As a tourist, you are generally advised to stick to Mai Linh and Vinasun, the two largest companies, as the risk of getting ripped off is much higher with the other companies. Make sure your taxi driver turns on the meter when you get in — otherwise just leave. Both taxi companies also have their smartphone own apps that you can download and use to call a taxi.

Taxis are mostly Toyota Vios sedans (up to four passengers) and Toyota Innova minivans (up to six passengers), which are assembled in Vietnam and inexpensive to buy. Fares are almost always the same regardless of car model, although anything larger than an Innova generally costs more. Some older cars might lack working air conditioners.

Taxi drivers are likely to drive too fast when given the chance. Rush-hour traffic in the city has become so bad that you might consider just planning not to go anywhere between 07:00-08:30 and 16:30-18:00.

Drivers usually do not speak English, so be sure to have the names and addresses of your destinations written out in Vietnamese to show your taxi driver, and have your hotel's business card on hand in case you get lost.

For trips outside of the city or for the convenience of having a private vehicle for the day, hiring a car with a driver for the day is a good option. Many of the taxi companies such as Mai Linh and Vinasun offer these services.

By xe ôm

Regular motorbike taxis (xe ôm, literally hug-vehicle) are plentiful (get used to hearing "you want moto?" everywhere), but as a tourist as you are likely to get scammed if you just take a random one in the street. To protect yourself from getting scammed, use a reliable ride hailing app like Grab or be to call one. These are a cheap and safe way to get around provided you avoid getting scammed.

Agree on a price before you set off. Short hops around town shouldn't be more than 20,000 dong, if you go between districts this increases and all the way to the airport around 70,000 dong. Drivers are generally quite friendly and will go slower upon request. They are also not adverse to a bear hug if you are really struggling to hold on to the motorbike.

Many of the moto drivers, especially in District 1, speak some English and like many Vietnamese will repay you in a flood of smiles, and probably point out all the sights, if you make a little effort to get to know them.

By cycling
Not really a taxi replacement, but a ride on a cyclo through HCMC is a great way to see the city the way the locals do. Cyclos resemble a backwards tricycle, with the passengers sitting in front and the driver peddling at the rear. The sights, sounds and smells are a large part of the excitement of the city, and are best experienced at the relaxed pace of a cyclo.

Be careful with cameras, purses and watches while cyclo riding as these items are easily stolen by drive-by motorbike thieves.

For many reasons, not least the government's insistence on restricting cyclos on busy urban streets, this form of transportation is dying. But at around 50,000 dong per hour (Jan 2019) and given their leisurely pace, they are a good choice for taking in the city. Be sure to bargain hard with the cyclo driver beforehand. Some drivers have been known to try to change an agreed price at journey's end. Another ruse is to stop unbidden at places where the driver earns a commission. To avoid these problems, make sure all are clear on price and destination at departure.

By bus

Bright green public buses serve 150 routes throughout the city. You can find maps of the bus system at the large Ben Thanh bus station across the street from Ben Thanh Market in District 1. Go into the waiting room to the desk in the middle. The buses are cheap, safe and not too crowded. Many are modern and comfortable, with such amenities as air conditioning, music, and even television. Finding the right line can be a challenge if you don't speak Vietnamese, but with the help of maps and your hotel staff you can get where you want easily. If you cannot find your way, ask the locals nicely, they will try their best to help. At the biggest bus stations you can read bus destinations at every single stop (useful, for example, if you need to get to Cholon).

A bus route can also be found using Google Maps. The number of the bus route will display along with its frequency and time to destination.

The buses are efficient and fast. Most are staffed by two employees: the driver and a conductor. The driver keeps the bus moving while the fare collector interacts with the passengers. If you show the collector your trip on your phone, they'll charge you the correct fare and flag you when it's time to get off. Locals claim, plausibly, that buses are even faster than taxis. The reason is that buses have an informal right of way on the streets of HCMC; when another vehicle sees a bus coming, that vehicle gets out of the way. Taxis know that they are supposed to back down from confrontations with buses. Buses are also cheaper, 4,000-8,000 dong per ride, and safer than many of the alternatives. The biggest problem is that when you get off the bus, you become a pedestrian (see below).

When boarding and exiting a public bus in Ho Chi Minh City, do not expect it to “stop” at the bus stop. This means two things: first, you often need to flag a bus to stop; to do this, watch for the correct bus number and when the correct bus is about 20 meters away, make a motion with your arm as if you were hailing a taxi. Second, buses often do not come to complete stops, but slow down just enough to let passengers on and off; this is especially true the farther you get from the city center. The bus is more likely to come to a complete stop if there are elderly persons entering or exiting or a large group waiting at a bus stop. Also, if you are trying to catch a bus during rush hour traffic, it may not always be able to make its way to the side of the road where the stop is, so it may stop for passengers towards the middle of the road.

The website of the bus authority includes bus direction finder and real-time departure times. Routes and schedules are also available in apps including Google Maps.

By motorbike
You can rent your own motorbike (called a Honda, regardless of the brand) in many places, especially around the backpacker area (Pham Ngu Lao) in District 1. 110,000 dong should get you a decent 100-110cc manual bike. Automatics are more expensive.

Driving in Saigon is best left to experienced drivers. The traffic is intense and has its own rhythms and logic. Drivers with limited experience should consider renting an automatic bike (usually a bit more expensive), as at busy crossroads there is not time for worrying about how to change gears.

Beware of thieves: always keep your motorbike in sight or parked with an attendant. Most restaurants have guards/parking attendants out front who will issue you a numbered tag and take care of your motorbike. Independent parking lots are scattered around the pavements, alleys and basements of the city. Look for rows of neatly-parked motorbikes or signs that say giu xe.

By bicycle
43 bicycle stations have been set up on sidewalks along major streets, namely Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Nguyen Hue, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, and Le Duan around the district, with each station housing nearly ten bicycles.

The bicycles are equipped with smart locks and GPS services which can be operated via 3G, and 4G connections, or Bluetooth.

Users can download the TNGO app on their phones to find the nearest station and register to rent bicycles, then scan a QR code to unlock the bike. Each bicycle is rented out for 5,000 dong (0.22 USD) for 30 minutes or 10,000 dong per one hour.

By boat
Saigon Waterbus operates a service on the Saigon River from District 1 into Tu Duc District in the north of the city. It is geared more towards local commuters than tourists, but one of its stops is located near the Hotel Majestic, making it easily accessible from the Opera House and other downtown attractions.

On foot
Crossing the road in HCMC can be a nightmare and scary. If ever in doubt, HCMC's "Tourist Security" officers (in green uniforms) will happily help you across. A quicker way of getting across is to simply follow the lead of a local crossing the street.

The traffic police occupy themselves with random roadside checks and do not bother motorbikes who are running red lights or driving on the pavements. Instead police have recently cracked down on red-light walking pedestrians. While this does not mean that they will hassle you, it's possible you will be held responsible if you are involved in an accident.

Some motorbikers will use the footpath to get ahead of the traffic, so don't assume that the footpath is a safe place to be. Keep an eye out for cycle traffic coming up from behind.

Historical sites and museums

Religious sites

There are several Chinese temples in Cholon, the Chinatown district of old Saigon. Only a few are listed here.

Other

Ethnic neighbourhoods

 * Cholon - This is Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. While many of the ethnic Chinese fled Vietnam for Western countries such as Australia and the United States as a result of persecution following the Fall of Saigon, a large number of them continue to reside in the district. Many signs of the Chinese heritage can still be found in the form of Chinese clan temples, as well as stalls selling Chinese food. While everyone speaks Vietnamese as well, many ethnic Chinese residents here speak Cantonese as their mother tongue, and there is also a significant Teochew-speaking minority.

Shows
Ho Chi Minh City is a good place to experience traditional Vietnamese performances in a tourist-friendly way. The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre is a popular place for tourists to watch traditional Vietnamese puppetry. For those who prefer more modern interpretations of Vietnamese culture, Lune Production stages several shows in the magnificent colonial-era Saigon Opera House, the most famous of which is the aforementioned AO Show.

Money
For exchanging money try your luck with the gold shops around Ben Thanh Market. Also, many travel agents will offer to exchange your foreign currency, though their rates are usually not as good as the gold shops.

In case you are heading to Cambodia next and generally don't use US dollars but ATMs, you might get some very competitive rates if you help merchants (like gold shops or travel agent) to get rid of their Cambodian riel.

Shopping
Vietnamese arts and crafts, or mass-produced resin knock-offs thereof, are sold by dozens of shops around the central tourist district. The best, most expensive items can be mostly found on Dong Khoi or the immediate side streets. The goods tend to get progressively simpler and cheaper as you move west toward Ben Thanh Market (though the best wood-carving shop is a stall on the back side of Ben Thanh). A few shops have authentic woven silk textiles from Sapa and the north. Lacquered paintings, plates, bowls, etc., are quite striking and unique to Vietnam. Vietnamese propaganda posters can be very impressive and offer a taste of history.

There are two good guide books for shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City: the Luxe City Guide and the MySherpa Guide which also includes a map with shops cross-referenced.

Clothing
Vietnamese silk is excellent quality. Buying a suit can be fun and relatively cheap, but do your research first, and remember that you get what you pay for. Labour costs are not what make suits expensive. Tailors frequently use fabrics whose quality is exaggerated, for example the common claim of wool being "Italian/English Super 180". Cheap local suits don't compare to just having an US$80 H & M suit altered by a tailor. Any suit should contain 0% polyester. Any tailor should have multiple fittings, preferably three (with the third just being a check-up that probably won't require further alteration).

Markets

Malls and department stores
Malls and department stores selling luxury brands can be found throughout central Ho Chi Minh City. And indeed you can find most of the same goods at other malls and department stores throughout the world. Even if you are not planning on buying luxury brand items, there is a reason every visitor should know the locations of some malls and department stores: their free and meticulously clean public restrooms. Also, if you are travelling just before or during Tet, some of these establishments put up decorational impressive displays.

Eat
You're spoiled for choice in Saigon, which offers the country's largest variety of Vietnamese and international food. Bargains are getting harder to find, however, and restaurant prices have been rising at up to 30% per year due to a combination of higher food prices, rising wages, and soaring real estate costs. Land in the city centre now sells for around US$16,000/m2, so even a modest-sized restaurant sits on real estate worth more than US$1 million. Authentic local food at bargain prices is one of the glories of Vietnam, but it's getting harder to find in Saigon as the city becomes ever more upscale and cosmopolitan.

The local food shows influences from French colonial times. Bakeries have fresh and excellent baguettes, which they will fill with cheese (typically of the "La Vache Qui Rit" or "Laughing Cow" brand), potted meat, ham, and onions, or any combination thereof, cheaply. Beef is used in various dishes - whether in any of the many variations of pho, or in a regional specialty such as "bun bo hue" or Hue beef soup. Be sure to try, aside from pho, dishes such as the above-mentioned Hue beef soup, or "banh xeo". Vietnamese savory crepes, consisting of a delicious filling of your choice (various options included bamboo shoots and enoki mushrooms, along with meat, prawns, or both) in a crispy outer crepe-like casing.

The Chinese community has also left their mark in Ho Chi Minh City, and the neighbourhood of Cholon continues to have a large number of ethnic Chinese residents, making it a natural place to go to for some Chinese food, though much of it has been adapted to suit Vietnamese palates. That being said, Chinese food is fairly popular among many upper class Vietnamese, so there are also many upscale Chinese restaurants throughout the city.

For halal food, seek out the alleyways off Duong Ba Trac street in District 8 around the Jamiul Anwar Mosque, where there are a large number of Muslim Cham residents, and numerous food stalls selling halal versions of popular Vietnamese street dishes to cater to that community. A more centrally-located area would be Nguyen An Ninh Street near Benh Thanh Market, where there are numerous halal Malaysian and Indonesian restaurants catering to expatriates from those countries.

Local food at bargain prices is very easy to find in Saigon. Banh mi thit (pork sandwiches) can cost as little as 10,000-15,000 dong. Com tam, a plate of rice with grilled pork (or with different meats) and a bit of vegetables for 18,000 dong.

Street food

Budget
Food stalls are scattered all over the city, but there's a fair collection in the Ben Thanh market (see Buy). For local fast food, try the ubiquitous Pho 24 chain (though it can be more the twice the price of local fare).

The setback of eating street food or food prepared in holes-in-the-wall in any town or city in Vietnam is dodgy hygiene. Street hawkers are not only cooks but they are also cashiers. They touch money and often flip over the notes with their fingers moistened with their saliva. If a bun or baguette is dropped in the pavement, it is picked up to be mixed with the rest. A hawker may cough or sneeze and while preparing food, cover their mouth with their bare hands then resume what they were just doing. Food may have unwanted items such as hairs. Utensils may be washed from the same portable ice-cream container washing basin, without detergent. Debris on spoons are just wiped off from the water on that small dish. Drinking glasses may just be dunked two or three times and ready for the next user.

At holes-in-the-wall, if there is shortage of counter space, contained food is placed on the floor. Floors are mostly wet and muddy. Utensils are washed on the floor itself. Waiters tossed used chopsticks and other dishes like bowls and if they don't get in the tub, they fall to the floor to be picked up later. Vegetables and meat parts are also cut in the floor and if they fell off, they are picked up again. Big quantities of vegetables are placed in plastic buckets and cleaned in the toilet tap. The plastic buckets may have been used as bathing or toilet flushing pail. And when they are not used, they may be stacked together and stored in the toilet.

However, street food and holes-in-the-wall food are flavourful, fascinating, exotic, ingeniously contrived, and cheap with all the elements of the nutrition pyramid and all the flavours: sweet; sour; salty & hot are well represented. Despite the vastly lower prices, street food is often tastier and more flavourful than the same dishes when served in the posh hotels or tourist restaurants.

Coffee
Vietnam is the world's second largest exporter of coffee after Brazil, and cà phê is very popular among the Vietnamese. It's a paradise for coffee-loving visitors. The local style is strong and sweet; key words to remember are: sữa (sweetened condensed milk), đá (ice), and nóng (hot, pronounced "nowm"). Cà phê đá is strong, sweet iced coffee; and cà phê sữa đá is the same with condensed milk. Cà phê (sữa) nóng is brewed fresh on your table brewed in a little metal apparatus placed over a cup; just lift it off when it has cooled enough to touch (and hence drink). Prices range from 10,000 to 20,000 dong for coffee in the local style.

Since ice might or might not be made with purified water, strictly cautious visitors should avoid it, though long-term residents consume ice from reputable cafes and restaurants all the time.

Espresso, cappuccino, and American-style filter coffee are now also widely available in the tourist district, usually at 2-8 times the price of the local style. You will be able to differentiate the better places if they use UHT milk as opposed to condensed milk.

Alcohol
Saigon has plenty of places to drink, although to a certain degree Vietnamese and foreigners hang out in different places. This is slowly changing as Westerners become more familiar with the ways of the East (and vice versa). Places with live music usually have no cover charge, but impose somewhat elevated drink prices (typically 55,000-85,000 dong for beer, spirits, and cocktails.) Many places close around midnight or 01:00. Some places remain open later: Go2 Bar in Pham Ngu Lao, popular with backpackers/budget crowd; Apocalypse Now on Thi Sach St, packed with people from all walks of life (you can find anything in this place regardless of your preferences (prostitutes, straight/gay, drugs or just a place to dance the night away); ZanZBar on Dong Du St will appeal to the regular bar crowd and closing time changes daily depending on the number of people in the bar). There are other late night clubs which cater almost exclusively to the young Vietnamese crowd. Anywhere in the city you can find Vietnamese bottled beer places that will stay open until 03:00-04:00. Several bars in Phu My Hung stay open until 02:00-03:00.

Not to be missed are the pavement bars which get very busy with locals and travellers alike, about halfway down Biu Vien. They sell bottles of Saigon beer for 10,000 dong. Sit on the tiny plastic chairs and enjoy the friendly atmosphere. These are perhaps the best places to drink as a backpacker, as they are very cheap and also great places to meet people, and not just other tourists.

Where you can drink with locals

Sleep
Most hotels do not allow you to bring back a local female companion to stay overnight. However it's best to confirm guest policy as plenty of non-international chain hotels allow guests.

Budget

The main backpacker hangout is Pham Ngu Lao in District 1, just a short walk (10-15 min) from Ben Thanh Market. The lanes and alleys in the area between Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien are jammed with 5-10 room mini-hotels offering prices around US$15 per room (air-con with hot shower and cable TV). There is no difference in price between single or double occupancy so if you are traveling alone you might want to try finding a dorm bed for around US$6 (but there are not many of them around.) Keep heading southwest away from the backpacker hustle closer Ng Thai Hoc, you'll likely find that as the alleys get smaller the rooms get quieter and owners more friendly. The area swarms with touts and other nuisances. The area is not the safest, and it'd be wise not to run around carrying something like an expensive DSLR camera, thereby making yourself a target for thieves.

Mid-range

The area around De Tham is close to the Ben Thanh market and is the backpacker area of the city.

Many of Saigon's historical hotels are in the hands of Saigontourist, the former state monopoly. Thanks to competition, service and facilities are adequate, although not quite up to modern standards; but if you want to experience a little colonial nostalgia, these are far and away the best choice.

Stay safe
In general, Ho Chi Minh City is a safe city, with violent crimes such as armed robbery being relatively rare. The most common crimes faced by tourists are pickpocketing and snatch theft from motorbikes.

Scam artists operate on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. A person will strike up a friendly conversation claiming they've either seen you at the airport or some other tourist place where they work. Usually they'll be with other family members who will join the conversation very naturally and once they find out where you're from they'll mention that another family member is moving to a city in your country. You will be invited over for food at their house to help console a worried grandmother or to give advice to their family member. Once you arrive at the house however the family member is not there, or the grandmother has suddenly fallen ill and had to go to the hospital. You'll be presented with various business opportunities, legal or not, or asked for financial support for the suddenly sick grandmother.

Hotel scams are very common, even in the mid-range price level US$20-70. The hotel will remind you that you should place your valuables in the room safe or the hotel safe. Lock up everything that is more or less valuable.

Don't hold up expensive things near the street or leave them out on the table while you're having a meal, especially in District 1, especially around the backpacker area. Petty theft is a big problem, and a lot of times it's done by people on motorbikes. It's easy to prevent by not giving thieves the opportunity.

Don't buy SIM card before the immigration at the airport, they will charge you US$10 for a SIM card. After immigration and baggage area, you can find sim card booth. They sell SIM card for $6 only. Don't buy coconut more than ~USD2, real-price is ~USD0.5. If you are forced, call police:. A favorite trick is for the vendors to strike up a conversation with you, let you hold the carrying-stick, take a picture, and while you're distracted open a coconut for you that you really didn't ask for.

Also, the prostitutes on Bui Vien and Ton That Tung will try to rob you. Usually, they'll approach men acting like they're up to normal prostitute business, but their aim is to pickpocket.

Connect
The telephone code of Ho Chi Minh City is 028. Many (but not all) land line phone numbers in Vietnam have the prefix 3.

Free Wi-Fi access is provided at nearly all hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and cafés. You can find open access points that don't require a password throughout the area around Pham Ngu Lao/Vu Bien and Ben Thanh Market.

It is also possible to buy a SIM card with unlimited internet access for a month directly at the airport for about 300,000 dong. If you can wait until you reach the city, shops with a turquoise Viettel sign will sell you a SIM-Card (Nano-SIM available) for anywhere upwards of 50,000 dong. That includes a sufficient amount of free calling, SMS and 2GB of data for one month.

Medical services
Public hospitals are generally poorly equipped and overcrowded, and staff tend to speak little to no English. As such, foreigners are highly advised to rely on private hospitals instead. The French-run FV Hospital is Vietnam's best-regarded private hospital with treatment standards that are on par with the West, and also staffed by doctors and nurses who are able to speak French and English. Other hospitals that are popular among expatriates include City International Hospital, American International Hospital and Vinmec Central Park International Hospital.

Police stations
If you need to lodge a complaint, for example, about a stolen object, go to a police station. For a stolen item, you need to report to a station near the theft. It can be tricky as small stations will probably not have an officer with very good English language skills. If possible, go with a Vietnamese speaker.

Consulates and representative offices

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 * UK
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Go next
When going to the airport, specify clearly which terminal you want to go to. International flights leave from the newer international terminal (go straight). Domestic flights (to Da Nang, Hanoi, Nha Trang, and so on) are from the domestic terminal (turn left). If you get dropped off at the wrong terminal, you'll have to dash to the correct terminal via a pedestrian walkway link 600 m away. This is not recommended, especially if you're already late for boarding.

When entering the airport, taxi drivers will add an airport entry fee of 5,000 dong to your total metered fare. This is not to be confused with the airport departure tax, which should have been included in the price of your airline ticket.

If you're booking a bus around the Pham Ngu Lao area, you probably want to consider buying the tickets right at the bus company instead of one of the booking agencies. The FUTA bus line has an office at the corner Pham Ngu Lao / De Tham (orange-green building) and you get the tickets for around two-thirds the price compared to booking in an agency.

Avoid booking trips through your hotel as you'll pay a significant surcharge to join the same trips which can be booked at the plethora of travel agents throughout the city.

 * Can Gio — the virgin mangrove forest 30 km south of the city. Entrance to the park is near Ca Cam Bridge.
 * Can Tho — the biggest city of the Mekong Delta and famous for its floating market, delicious food, and fresh fruits. The name comes from "cầm thi giang", river of poems. The city is also referred to as "Tay Do" meaning "Western capital". Can Tho is 169 km (3 hr) from Ho Chi Minh City. You can get tickets at Le Hong Phong in district 3 and take a free shuttle bus to Ben Xe Mien Tay, where the air conditioned buses leave. Tickets to Can Tho cost around 100,000 dong. Free shuttle buses in Can Tho will take you directly to your hotel.
 * Cu Chi Tunnel — day-trips are tirelessly flogged by travel agencies around Pham Ngu Lao, and can be done as a half-day trip, or as a full-day with a stop at Tay Ninh to see the Holy See of the Cao Dai religion. Tours, including admission, should cost 70,000-110,000 dong, and are available every day of the week. Cu Chi tunnels are about a 1.5-hr drive out of HCMC centre. It's worth taking the trips to see these amazing structures so cleverly carved underground and used for survival during wartime. One way to get to the tunnels is by speedboat.
 * Dalat — popular hill station built by the French, offering a temperate mountainside "European" escape. Consider going via Cat Tien National Park to see wildlife (including primates, rare birds, and crocodiles) and spectacular jungle scenery.
 * Mekong Delta — boat tours are available with an almost infinite mix of itineraries. They can be short overnight trips, leisurely meanders over several nights. A two- or three-day Mekong tour is worthwhile; expect to be shuffled between tour companies along the way. 2-day, 1-night organized trips to the Mekong Delta can cost as little as $US25, including transportation, tour guides, lodging and several meals.
 * Mui Ne — popular beach resort about 4-6 hr away by bus
 * Nha Trang — beach destination reachable by overnight train
 * Tay Ninh — Cao Dai Holy See and Ba Den mountain.
 * Vung Tau — city with good beaches, about 2 hr away by bus, or less by boat along the Saigon River. The boat journey costs 250,000 dong.
 * Phnom Penh — a 6-hr bus journey to the capital of Cambodia ranges from US$10–12 (210,000-252,000 dong). When you pass into Cambodia and the bus stops for 15 min. Do not buy anything from the roadside cafe. Instead, cross the road to purchase drinks or food from the roadside shops, because prices can be up to 50% cheaper than the bus stop cafe. Alternatively you could book a tour with boat and bus, which will have you spending a night in a cheap hotel in Chau Doc before making the trip over the border (cross-border package prices may include visa support, which should cost 360,000-530,000 dong).
 * Bangkok — Thailand's capital and largest city, the main economic hub of continental Southeast Asia, and another foodie's paradise. Some distance away, but often the final destination for trips that include stops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (near the famed Angkor Wat in Cambodia); see Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City overland
 * Da Nang — Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam. It is the largest city in the region and is a popular tourist destination. Da Nang is known for its beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, and vibrant culture. Da Nang Spa are a popular way to relax and rejuvenate. There are many different types of spas to choose from, ranging from traditional Vietnamese spas to international spas.

title: Ho Chi Minh City


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Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai overland

This itinerary describes the overland route from Ho Chi Minh City through Vietnam up to Hanoi and further into China. This route is becoming a very real choice for the adventurous traveler.

Prepare
Most travelers will need visas for at least Vietnam and China. See those countries' entries for details.

For most passports, Vietnamese visas are easy to get in Singapore or Bangkok, but you need to allow several days processing time for each or pay extra for express service. Alternatively, most citizens of most Western countries are eligible for an eVisa, which saves you a trip to the embassy or consulate, but you must enter only on a specific date at a specific port of entry.

One the other hand, you must apply for your Chinese visa in your country of citizenship or residence, as Chinese embassies and consulates do not process visa applications of tourists visiting the host country. If you plan on visiting Hong Kong or Macau, you will need a multiple-entry Chinese visa.

Get in
See Discount airlines in Asia. Some of those have cheap flights between China and Southeast Asia which might fit in with this itinerary; as of 2006, there were no international LCC flights to Shanghai, but Air Asia has services from Bangkok to Xiamen and a whole host of carriers fly to Hong Kong/Macau.

Air Asia provide flights from Kuala Lumpur (LCCT), Malaysia to Hangzhou daily except Thursday; Hangzhou is very close to Shanghai. From LCCT to Guangzhou there is a daily flight, too.

Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi

 * Bus or train

 * Possible detours: Nha Trang, Hoi An, Danang, Hue

Hanoi to Nanning
The easiest but most expensive way to cross is the direct bus to Nanning from Kim Lien Hotel in Hanoi. There are also direct train services across the border.

The most popular route, though, goes like this. From Gia Lam station get on a bus to Dong Dang for around 60,000vnd. (You can also take a train, but the train station is further from the border.) They should drop you near the border and you'll only have to walk 200-300m to the Vietnamese passport control. The standard procedure requires you to throw your passport above the heads of the hoards of travelers through the hole in the office window and wait until you notice an official wandering about with your passport. Good luck.

Once you're stamped you can walk the short distance into China and enter the marble tiled efficiency of Chinese immigration control. When they set you free you need to get to Pingxiang 15km away. Don't accept the first taxi tout but wander around through the huge stone gate, see the motobike taxis and get a bidding war started. A taxi should only cost around ¥30 and a motorbike no more than ¥20. From Pingxiang get the bus to Nanning. They are more frequent than the trains and will take about 2 1/2 hours. You will arrive at Lang Dong station. (As to the trains, as of 2015, there are 3 departures a day from Pingxiang to Nanning, with the travel time of 4-5 hours. One of these trains continues to Guilin).

Nanning to Shanghai by direct train
As of 2015, several trains run directly from Nanning to Shanghai. One high-speed (G-series) day train from Nanning East Station makes it to Shanghai Hongqiao Station in 12 hours; 3-4 "conventional" (T or K series), from Nanning Station and/or Nanning East Station take 25 to 30 hours to Shanghai South Station. One can split this train trip into sections, with stops at such places as Guilin, Changsha, Nanchang, or Hangzhou.

Nanning to Guangzhou
If you want to visit Guangzhou, Shenzhen, or Hong Kong, you can several options for going there from Nanning.

During the day, there are frequent high-speed (D-series) trains from Nanning East Station (Nanning Dong huoche zhan) to Guangzhou South; they take 4 hours, with the fare of ¥169 (as of 2015). (A few of these trains serve Nanning Station as well, if that's where you are). At Guangzhou South you can transfer to a Shenzhen-bound high-speed train.

You can also travel from Nanning to Guangzhou over night. If you are happy with a sleeper bus, Langdong station is the right place to be. Bear in mind the journey by bus will take 10 to 11 hours and cost about ¥230. If you want to catch a train, which may be cheaper depending on your level of endurance, get on the number 6 bus (¥2) to the Nanning train station (Nanning huoche zhan) which takes about 20 to 30 mins. This is the better option because even if you can't get a train you can buy a bus ticket at the Lang Dong station ticket office on Chaoyang lu near the Yin He hotel, which is a two minute walk from the train station. This way you can see some more of Nanning before catching the No 6 back to the bus station. (Allow 50 mins).

When in Guangzhou get yourself to Guangzhou East station and use the new metro for about ¥5. Once there follow the signs for the Kowloon express and for ¥180 you'll be in Hong Kong in less than 1 1/2 hours. You will arrive at Hung Hom station and it's just one stop on the MTR to get to Tsim Sha Tsui east where you can find all the budget accommodation in one of the two "mansions" on Nathan Rd.

Guangzhou to Shanghai
If you want to skip Guangzhou/HK, direct train services are available from Nanning to Shanghai. Many would probably visit Guilin, which is a few hours from Nanning along the rail line towards Shanghai. Before Shanghai, the city Hangzhou is probably worth a visit.

Alternate route through Kunming
If you have the time and money, you could swing further west into China.

It is quite easy to take a Vietnamese narrow-gauge train from Hanoi to Lao Cai at the border and cross the border to Hekou, Yunnan. From Hekou, trains have been running to Kunming on the new standard-gauge railway since 2014, even as the passenger service on the old narrow-gauge line has been terminated within China. One can also take a bus from Hekou to Kunming. Both High-speed trains (since 2016) and conventional, slower, trains run from Kunming to Shanghai (as well as to China's other major cities, such as Beijing or Wuhan).

If you would like to visit Sichuan or Chongqing, direct trains are available from Kunming as well ("conventional" only). There are direct trains (high-speed and conventional) to Shanghai and Beijing from both Chengdu and Chongqing.

From Chongqing, it is also possible to travel along the Yangtze river down to Shanghai. The attractions on the way include the famous Three Gorges.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ho Chi Minh City to Shanghai overland


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Hockessin

Hockessin, is a small, rapidly growing town in northern New Castle County, right on the border with Pennsylvania. Centered between two major highways, Route 7, or Limestone Road, and Route 41, Lancaster Pike, Hockessin offers a quiet reprieve for travelers and residents alike. The center of town is based mostly around small businesses; locally owned restaurants, salons, boutiques, and a smattering of other commercial establishments. A laid-back atmosphere, peaceful neighborhoods, and picturesque scenery all make Hockessin an extremely desirable place to live: its population grew by more than a third, to 13,500, between 1990 and 2010.

Centered almost exactly between New York City and Washington D.C., Hockessin has a climate that combines "the best of both worlds." Winters and summers vary year to year, and any type of weather is possible for Delaware's usually moderate climate.

Get in
Hockessin is only accessible by car or bus, due to the fact that it has no airport or train stations. A short commute by automobile from the City of Wilmington, which boasts a bustling train station, and a roughly 45-minute drive from Philadelphia, mass forms of transportation are within a short distance. Also working their way through the town on a daily basis are DART buses, which travel throughout Delaware.

Get around
Hockessin, being a small town, is easy to get around on foot. It doesn't have a main street, but Old Lancaster Pike is seen that way; it is usually one of the busier roads in town.

Hockessin is divided into two halves; the Old Lancaster Pike/Lancaster Pike side, and the Lantana Square/Limestone Road side. Valley Road connects the two.

See
Ashland Nature Center serves as the Delaware Nature Society's headquarters and the hub for all of its activities of education and natural resource conservation. The site is open to the public year-round, features an overnight lodge for school and public groups, a seasonal butterfly house, picnic area and four self-guided trails through a variety of habitats. Programs are offered for all ages. The property includes more than 242 acres and is owned by the Red Clay Reservation, a private land trust. Ashland is also home to the Ashland Hawk Watch, a joint partnership between the Delaware Nature Society and the Delmarva Ornithological Society.

It is a fun and enjoyable outdoor experience for the whole family. While it is educational, the kids won't know the difference.

Do
Going to be around in late June? Then visit the Chinese Association's annual Chinese Festival. Located on Little Baltimore Road, it is a yearly festival that celebrates Chinese history. Through exhibits, gourmet food, and cultural performances, the event attracts thousands every year for three days.

The Hockessin Fourth of July Parade, Fireworks, and Neighborhood Relays are also a major part of town culture. Every year, old cars, firetrucks, local groups, bands, and even a few politicians parade down Old Lancaster Pike in celebration of Independence Day. The Neighborhood Relays are held earlier in the morning; they allow local neighborhoods to see which is top dog when it comes to athletics. Finally, the town of Hockessin rounds off the night with a usually stunning fireworks display; they've been getting better every year.

Eat
Need to kick it up a notch and down for some upscale dining? Voted one of the best restaurants in 2010 in Delaware Today, the Back Burner Restaurant is the go to place in "downtown" Hockessin. One of their more popular items is the "Pumpkin Mushroom Soup" and "Mideast Flatbread". For dinner, expect prices for entrees in the $20-30 range. If you're looking for a nice atmosphere but not so expensive, lunch is a good choice and lunch specials hover around the $10 price.

A local staple, Casapulla's sub shop is also an area favorite, with great subs and some of the best cheese steaks Hockessin has to offer, at a reasonable price. Another favorite is Pizza Pro, another small, hole-in-the-wall shop with some of the best wings and pizza around.

Featured on the Food Network and consistently voted Best Ice Cream by readers in the annual "Best Of" issue of Delaware Today, Woodside Farm Creamery has become a must stop for anyone seeking relief during the hot summer months. Woodside creates homemade ice cream, but the charm comes in the fact that it is literally on a farm with quaint animals to watch while feasting on ice cream. Their flavors range from chocolate and vanilla to experimental flavors. They also offer ice cream to go in quarts. The University of Delaware sells their ice cream at a store by the Fred Rust Arena on the UD campus.

They generally are open from noon until sunset.

Sleep
There are no hotels in Hockessin. However, Hockessin is a short drive (approx. 10 min) from Newark, Delaware which has many hotels from Motel 8 to a Marriott Inn.

Go next
Although Hockessin is not a major city in the region, or even Delaware, it is within close proximity to many other major cities.

Dover (Delaware) - Delaware's capital city. Known as a historical town, it has roots dating back to the origins of the country. It is a 30-minute drive from Hockessin.

Lancaster (Pennsylvania) - a 45-minute drive from Hockessin, it is renowned for its diverse culture, more specifically, the Amish. It also has a plenty of shopping outlets.

Philadelphia - United States of America's first capital. A city with a huge culinary and arts scene. A perfect city for a perfect date.

title: Hockessin


text:
Hocking Hills

The Hocking Hills are in Southeast Ohio, in the United States of America.

Regions

 * Hocking County

Cities

 * Logan
 * Laurelville
 * Nelsonville
 * McArthur
 * New Plymouth
 * Lancaster
 * Athens
 * Haydenville
 * Murray City
 * South Bloomingdale
 * Rockbridge

Other destinations

 * Hocking Hills State Park is the crown jewel of the Ohio State Park system and the Hocking Hills region. The deep gorges, waterfalls, and massive recess caves offer dozens of miles the best hiking in the entire state.

Hiking
Tons of hiking trails to explore in Hocking Hills State Park and Hocking State Forest.

Horseback Riding
Lots of horseback riding near Hocking Hills State Park.

Ziplining
There are a few places offering ziplining.

Canoeing
There are several canoe liveries along the Hocking River.

Stay safe
This is a very rural part of Ohio with many primitive areas. As long as you stay on the paved, narrow, winding roads, you should have few problems. If you wander off onto the logging or coal mine roads, be prepared for potholes, bad roads, mud and very little, if any traffic to ask for assistance. Much of this area is not served by cell phone towers and you will have little to no communications. The area is popular with hunters and all terrain vehicle users. Rumor has it that the area is also popular with marijuana growers. During hunting season, wear brightly-colored clothing if you go into the woods.

title: Hocking Hills


text:
Hodgenville

Hodgenville is a small town in the Kentucky Derby Region. Its claim to fame is being the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln was born on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville.

Get in
Interstate 65 cuts across LaRue County's western border. KY 61, also known as Lincoln Pkwy, leads to Hodgenville from Elizabethtown and I-65 and serves as a gateway to Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau. US 31E brings traffic from Bardstown and Glasgow and US 31W parallels I-65 in the western part of the county.

Events

 * Lincoln Days Celebration Celebrated the first weekend in October, this year's Festival will be October 6 & 7.

Lincolns Loft Bookstore on the square

Eat

 * Laha's Red Castle Hamburgers 21 Public Square +1 270 358-9201.
 * Laha's Red Castle Hamburgers 21 Public Square +1 270 358-9201.
 * Laha's Red Castle Hamburgers 21 Public Square +1 270 358-9201.
 * Laha's Red Castle Hamburgers 21 Public Square +1 270 358-9201.

Drink
LaRue County is dry but Hodgenville voted to go wet in 2018.

Sleep

More lodging is available in nearby Elizabethtown and Bardstown.

Connect

 * LaRue County Chamber of Commerce

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Hodgenville and LaRue County consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but a second area code (+1 364) was overlain onto the entire 270 area in February 2014. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call).

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated.

Go next

 * Campbellsville
 * Cave City
 * Bardstown
 * Elizabethtown

title: Hodgenville


text:
Hoedspruit

Hoedspruit lies in the Valley of the Olifants in Big 5 Country close to the Kruger National Park and surrounded by Big 5 Game Lodges and Private Nature Reserves like Timbavati, Balule, Thornybush, Kapama and Klaserie. It is quite possible to fly into Hoedspruit, and travel straight to the local private game reserves without venturing near to Hoedspruit town.

By plane
Hoedspruit Eastgate airport is a left turn from the R40 about 7 km south of the town. Only Airlink is flying from here to Johannesburg, so the prices are not as cheap as flying to some of the other airports. You have to go through a gate into the reserve, but if you look like you are on the way to a flight the guard will wave you through. There are no signposted to the airport from Hoedspruit.

The airstrip in the centre of town isn't the airport, and has no commercial scheduled flights.

Get around
The town is small, and would be easy to walk around. However, the attractions of the area don't lie in the town, and public transport is limited. So you almost certainly need to hire a car or be on an arranged tour or transfer.

There are various private transfer companies such as Eastgate Safaris.

There are a couple of car hire companies in Hoedspruit such as Avis and Europcar.

It is sensible to arrange your car-hire before you arrive. There are many companies on-line which will help you to arrange your car hire:
 * Avis
 * Europcar

Buy
Hoedspruit has number of shopping centres.

There is a tourist shopping centre called the Kamogelo Centre just on the right as you turn from the R40 into Hoedspruit. There are jewellers, pubs, restaurants, travel agents and souvenir shops. Fuel and other supplies are readily available.

Eat
With the majority of the restaurants in Hoedspruit not having a website, here is a full list of restaurants in Hoedspruit:

 * Hogfather Pub & Porkery
 * Sleepers
 * Arugula
 * Maroela Bar
 * Hoedspruit Cafe
 * Keystone Cafe
 * Hat and Creek
 * Yum Truck
 * Fig and Bean
 * Hoedspruit Brewery (Brewing co.)
 * La Baguette
 * Anne's Cotton Club
 * The Gelato Spot
 * Thirsty Giraffe
 * Bush Pub
 * The Venue
 * Kalimambo Indian Restaurant
 * Blue Mountain
 * The Stoned Olive

Source to the full list of restaurants in Hoedspruit with more details.

title: Hoedspruit


text:
Hoensbroek

Hoensbroek is a town in South Limburg, the southernmost region of the Dutch province of Limburg. It's part of the municipality of Heerlen but has a long, separate history and was an independent municipality until 1982. Hoensbroek's castle is one the most well-known castles in the country. Since there isn't much more to see or do for the average traveler, Hoensbroek castle is best visited as a day trip from one of the many destinations in the area. However, if you do find yourself staying the night here, there are a few options to eat, drink and sleep.

Understand
With over 20.000 inhabitants, Hoensbroek is a major part of Heerlen. Rather than being a district of that city, it's a town on itself and its people will tell you they live in Hoensbroek, not in Heerlen. Nevertheless, for outsiders it's somewhat hard to distinguish, as the two have grown together as one large built-up area.

Get in
Hoensbroek is well-connected by road, with the A76/E314 passing directly by. If you're getting in by car, follow the A76/314 and take exit 5 to Nuth/Hoensbroek. The Emmastraat connects the town directly to nearby Brunssum. There's a train station which is served by regional trains in the directions of Sittard and Heerlen. At least 8 different bus lines connect different parts of Hoensbroek to other destinations in the region. The main ones include:

 * Line 51 to Maastricht, Valkenburg and Brunssum
 * Line 42 to Geleen and Schinnen
 * Line 21 to Gulpen, Heerlen and Brunssum

Get around
Hoensbroek's center is not very large and you can get around on foot or by bike. However, since the town has limited tourist attractions apart from the castle, it's convenient to have a car at hand to explore sights in nearby towns. There's a good bus network operated by Veolia in case you're headed for the outer parts of the town.

Buy
Hoensbroek's town centre has a range of shops and supermarkets, but they clearly cater to daily needs of locals. Don't expect too much in the sense of shopping for fun, as there are only a few gift and speciality shops. While you're better of in Heerlen or Maastricht for a shopping spree, there are a dozen or so clothing stores and several drug stores. Most shops close on Sundays, although the Albert Heijn supermarket (Kouvenderstraat 100) is open from 10.00-18.00h.

On Friday mornings (08:00 - 12:30h) there's a small market on the market square.

title: Hoensbroek


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Hofors

Hofors is a town, and a municipality, Hofors kommun, in Gävleborg County, in the western Gästrikland province.

Get in
Hofors is along European route E16 route between Oslo and Gävle. Travelling by car from Gävle takes about 45 minutes. Bus 141 from Gävle via Sandviken stops in Hofors.

Regional trains run hourly from Gävle to Sandviken, Storvik, Hofors (40 min), Falun and Borlänge. Some continue to Kopparberg and Örebro.

Other trains towards Örebro via Avesta only call at Torsåker.

title: Hofors


text:
Hofu

Hofu (防府市 Hōfu-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan. It is named after its former status as the provincial capital (kokufu 国府) of Suō Province (周防国).

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Yamaguchi Ube Airport (山口宇部空港,Yamaguchi Ube Kūkō) is about 45 minutes away by car, though this only offers flights to Tokyo Haneda and seasonal services to Seoul Incheon.

By public transport, take a bus to Shin-Yamaguchi station (35 min, ¥890), then take the train. The more intrepid traveller can walk 10 minutes from the airport to Kusae station and take a train from there to Shin-Yamaguchi, which takes about 40 minutes but saves ¥480.

The nearest airport with regular international flights is Kitakyūshū, but it may be preferable to use Fukuoka or Hiroshima Airports.

By train
Hōfu is on the San'yō Main Line but not the San'yō Shinkansen, which runs through the north of the city without stopping. The nearest Shinkansen stations are Tokuyama to the east (25 min, ¥500) and Shin-Yamaguchi to the west (15 min, ¥320); Shin-Yamaguchi has somewhat better service.

Journey times via Shinkansen are broadly as follows: Local trains run to Shimonoseki (1 hour 30 minutes, ¥1490) and Iwakuni (1 hour 25 minutes, ¥1320). A journey to Hiroshima using San'yō Main Line local trains, changing at Iwakuni, takes 2 hours 50 minutes and costs ¥1940.
 * Tokyo: 5 hours 20 minutes (longer if avoiding Nozomi trains) and ¥20,690 (¥21,560 if going via Shin-Yamaguchi)
 * Shin-Osaka: 2 hours 30 minutes and ¥12,400 (via Tokuyama)
 * Hiroshima: 1 hour 15 minutes and ¥4190 (via Tokuyama)
 * Hakata: 1 hour 20 minutes and ¥6020 (via Shin-Yamaguchi)

As an alternative to the Japan Rail Pass, JR West offers three passes serving Hōfu, which are available to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports: All three of these passes can be used on the JR Bus to Yamaguchi mentioned below.
 * The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass covers all JR stations in Yamaguchi prefecture and services as far east as Miyoshi and Onomichi. It can also be used for the non-reserved seats of all San'yō Shinkansen trains (including Nozomi and Mizuho trains) between Mihara and Hakata, and the JR Miyajima Ferry. It lasts five days and costs ¥11,000 (12,000 if bought in Japan).
 * The Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass extends the valid area to Tsuyama and Takamatsu. It can be used on all Shinkansen trains between Okayama and Hakata. It lasts five days and costs ¥13,500 (¥14,500 if bought in Japan).
 * The San'yō-San'in Pass extends the valid area still further to cover the Urban Network area of Kansai (as far as Tsuruga and Wakayama) and both reserved and non-reserved seats of the Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. It lasts 7 days and costs ¥19,000 (¥20,000 if bought in Japan).

By highway bus

 * Bōchō Bus (防長バス) runs the overnight Hagi Express from Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit; this takes 12 hours 30 minutes and costs up to ¥13,400 (cheaper outside peak periods).
 * From Kyoto, Osaka (Umeda, Namba, and Abenobashi) and Kobe (Sannomiya), Bōchō Bus and Kintetsu Bus run the Karst overnight service; this takes 11 hours 30 minutes and costs ¥8500 (¥15,300 return, valid for 10 days). (The bus is named after the karst topography of Akiyoshidai, which lies between Yamaguchi and Hagi.)
 * From Hiroshima Bus Center, Bōchō Bus runs seven buses a day to Hōfu, taking 2 hours 30 minutes and costing ¥2370 (¥4300 return, valid for 7 days).
 * From Hakata, Bōchō Bus  runs two buses a day to Hōfu and beyond, taking about 2 hours 40 minutes and costing ¥3000.

By local bus
Chūgoku JR Bus runs services once or twice an hour from Yamaguchi, taking about 40 minutes and costing ¥860. This is slightly faster than taking the train via Shin-Yamaguchi, but more expensive.

Bōchō Bus runs services to Shin-Yamaguchi and Tokuyama, but these take longer than the train.

Go next

 * Yamaguchi
 * Shunan
 * Kudamatsu
 * Ube
 * Hikari
 * Yanai
 * Tabuse
 * Kaminoseki
 * Hirao

title: Hofu


text:
Hofuf

Hofuf (الهفوف al-Hofuf) is a city in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The city is located within the oasis of al-Ahsa (or al-Hasa), and the names are often used interchangeably. In 2018 this oasis was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

By train
Hofuf is around 3 h from Riyadh and 1.5h from Dammam by train. Saudi Railway Organisation runs four trains per day in each direction.

By bus
SAPTCO Bus service 3.5 hours from Riyadh and 2 hours from Dammam

Get around
Taxi service is available in downtown Hofuf, at SAPTCO bus station and at train station. Hard to find on road (Saudi Riyal 10 -20 per trip to get around in the city).

Many car rental services are also available. You need your ID and driving license (Saudi Riyals 70 to 200 per day per 200 km).

Southeast Asians provide an on-call cab service (this is usually through a personal contact that you can call later). These cabbies can take you within the city and to anywhere in the Gulf region.

Do
Reserve a Mazra (a farm house) and spend a day or two with date palm trees. All facilities including private swimming pools available.

Eat
Only shawarma, snacks and beverages are available in small shops nearby the cave. Since moving around takes at least 4-5 hours to enjoy the location, you will derive more enjoyment if you can carry own food, especially if you are a vegetarian.

Check out Alsaid Coffee for some pricy but authentic coffee house atmosphere in the Souq. Great place to chat especially in late hours when people are going out again.

title: Hofuf


text:
Hogenakkal

Hogenakkal is a city in Tamil Nadu.

By car
From Bangalore it is very near compared to Chennai, take Chennai Highway - Hosur - Krishnagiri and from Krishnagiri take the NH 7 and after reaching Dharmapuri, take diversion in the state highway to Hogennakal. An alternate route exists, slightly shorter one. If you are travelling from Bangalore, first you come across Hosur, where you should take a turn to Rayakottai, then to Palacode, Pannagram and Hogenakkal.

From Coimbatore-Bhavani-Mettur-Salem-Dharmapuri-pennagaram-Hogenakkal

From Chennai- vellore(140km)-tirupathur(84)-Dharmapuri-(61)-Hogenakkal (46 km)

There is alternative route to reach Karnataka side of Hogenakkal. The route from Bangalore is through Kanakapura- Sathanur-Halagur-Malavalli-Sathelgala Handpost-Kollegal-Hanuru-Cowdahalli-Male Mahadeshwara Betta- Palar- Gopinatham-Hogenakkal.

See
You can go boating along the water stream if we hire a boat (aka coracle or parisal in Tamil). For an additional cost one can hire these boats for a round trip, in which case the boatman will stay with the party all along. One can enjoy the view of numerous waterfalls along the way. The boat is round in shape and at a time five persons excluding the boatman is permitted.

Do
Massage oils, Massage service, and fish-fry.

Eat
You may try freshly served river fish, these fish are very tasty and affordable. Many places serve fried fish and curry fish but not all of them are clean, so be sure to pick a hygiene place. Then and there rice is cooked and given along with 'Rasam' [made with plenty of garlic].

Drink
There is a TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) liquor outlet near the bus terminus.

Sleep
There are no good places to stay at Hogenakkal. It is always advisable to spend the day in Hogenakkal and come out before night. In Hogennakal, TTDC operates a hotel there and this is easily the best of the hotels available. There are good hotels available in the nearest city Dharmapuri (45 km). The best hotels suggested are 1. Adhiyaman Palace 2. Rama Boarding 3. Hotel Saravana. On the Karnataka state side of Hogenakal, accomodations are available at Gopinatham Mystery trails at Gopinatham run by Jungle Lodges and Resorts which is fifteen kilometre from Hogenakal. Gopinatham is the native village of bandit Veerappan.

Stay safe
It is better to move out before day light goes out, for the people who came from dharmapuri , the way out is pennagaram and from the one via Hosur and from Bangalore its royakotta highroad. Do not swim in the river. Some of the interior roads are isolated and possibility of encounter with wild animals. Night travel is not advised especially with family in these area.

Go next

 * Male Mahadeshwara Betta (MM Hills)
 * Chamarajanagar
 * Mysore

title: Hogenakkal


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Hoge Veluwe National Park

Hoge Veluwe National Park (Dutch: Hoge Veluwe Nationaal Park) is a national park in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands. With an area of roughly 55 km², it is one of the largest national parks in the country and a popular short-stay tourist destination for the Dutch. The park is north of Arnhem and east of Ede, and is praised for its natural beauty, diverse wildlife and the Kröller Müller museum for modern arts.

Understand
Hoge Veluwe National Park is part of a much larger natural area called the Veluwe (1,100 km²). Tourism plays a major role in the whole of the Veluwe and is the most important source of income for the area. With hundreds of lodging options, many restaurants and a lot of sports activities, the region is extremely well equipped to cater to the traveller’s needs. The Hoge Veluwe National Park has a few options for eating and sleeping, but can get crowded, especially during summer and on weekends or other school holidays if the weather is good for hiking and biking. The park is maintained by a non-profit foundation and it's the only part of the Veluwe for which an entry fee is required.

History
The Veluwe as a whole was formed some 150,000 years ago, when thick glaciers pushed sands from the Meuse and Rhine delta aside, thereby creating the hills that are now characteristic for the area. The sandy structure of the hills causes rain water to soak in quickly, only to emerge on the surface again many metres below, where it forms streams and small lakes in the "valleys" and flat lands.

Efforts have been undertaken to restore the richly vegetated and game filled wetlands that used to surround the area but have been laid dry over the past 150 years to create better farmlands.

The Hoge Veluwe National Park was established by the wealthy businessman Anton Kröller and his wife, Helene Kröller-Müller, who was an art collector. Anton Kruller bought the estate in 1909 and started the construction of the current park by placing fences, building a hunting estate (the design for which was made by famous Dutch architect Berlage) and releasing additional game into the wild. The exotic moeflons that can still be seen today were introduced in this period. The construction of the park lasted until 1923.

Landscape
The Veluwe is famous for its diversity in natural landscapes and (for Dutch standards) partly rolling landscapes. Although most of the land is flat, it has subtle variations in small areas, with the highest point at 110 m. It's a forest-rich area, but there are large heaths, streams and small lakes as well. In the desert patches you'll find sand drifts that are among the largest ones in Europe.

Flora and fauna
The park is mostly covered by pristine vegetation, most of which consists of various conifers, shrub and grassland with a large variation of flowers. A good number of rare plants are found here as well as introduced exotic plants like American Oaks. When it comes to wildlife, there is, by Dutch standards, a broad variety of larger mammals. Commonly sighted are deer, roes, mouflon wild sheep and wild boar. Bird watchers will be pleased with their diversity and the park is home to lots of rabbits, foxes, badgers and other small mammals.

In order to maintain a naturally sustainable population in this fenced environment, a controlled annual hunt is a normal practice.

Get in
There are three entrances: from the direction of Arnhem (entrance at Schaarsbergen) on the N311, from Otterlo or Hoenderloo on the N304 or N310 or from Delen.

Hoenderloo
can be reached directly from Apeldoorn via the N304, followed by the N804 once the road take a semi-sharp turn to the right. Shortly after you will see the Hoenderloo entrance on your right. The N304 connects to the A1, which may be one of the most important highways of the country, at exit 19 (Hoenderloo). The N804 also connects near Arnhem in between Schaarsbergen and the A50.

Hoendeloo can also be reached by bus using line 108 from the Ede-Wageningen railway station, connecting to the Hoendeloo Centrum bus stop. From here, a bus runs to another entrance at Otterlo every hour. Looking down the street you're on, you should see the National Park Hoge Veluwe west from you.

Otterlo
can be reached via car using the N310 when coming from Arnhem or the N304 when coming from Ede or Apeldoorn. When using the N304, take the roundabout into town as soon as you've reached Otterlo (which can be achieved by following signposts to Ede or Apeldoorn, depending from where you're travelling). Once in town, take a left onto the Dorpsstraat, which will continue to the entry point of Otterlo.

When using the N310 coming from Arnhem, first use the N224 to get out of town, then, shortly before passing underneath the A50 highway, signs will direct you onto the N310. After crossing the A12 the N310 will seem to come to an end, instead, follow directions to Otterlo, turning left. This too will get you to Otterlo directly, and once in the centre of town, turn right onto the Dorpsstraat, which will get you to the entrance.

Otterlo can also be reached by buses. First take bus 105 running between Arnhem and Barneveld and get off the bus at Otterlo Centrum. From here you can either walk for some 15 minutes down the Dorpsstraat or wait for the next bus on line 106 to get you two stops further to the entrance of the National Park.

Schaarsbergen
can be reached by car via the A12 highway just north of Arnhem. Coming from the west, using exit 25 (Oosterbeek) is advised. From here, drive to Arnhem, turning onto the first major road on your left, the N310. This road will end shortly thereafter, at which point you should turn right onto the N311, which passes by the Schaarsbergen entrance. The entrance can be seen on your left just before the first roundabout.

From the east and north, use the complex of exit ramps around Knooppunt Waterberg (Waterberg Interchange). These exits are numbers 26 (A12, Arnhem-Noord) and 19 (A50, Schaarsbergen). In the case of exit 26, head north away from Arnhem, turning left onto the N311 where said road passes over the A50. After you will find the Schaarsbergen entrance on your right.

Schaarsbergen can be reached via public transit using bus line 9, running between Arnhem Centraal, Arnhem's main train station, and Schaarsbergen I.P.C.

Fees and permits
Entrance costs €9.30 for adults and €4.65 for kids (6-12 years old) and comes with free use of bicycles all over the park, which are a must-use should you wish to explore as much of the park as possible within a day. It is recommended that you don't bring a car into the park, but doing so isn't forbidden and possible for a fee of €6.60, while parking at one of the parkings at the park entrances costs half of that (€3.30).

Should you wish to also visit the Kröller-Müller museum, then you can combine your tickets into one, buying entry to both the park and the museum for €18.60 for adults and €5 for kids between the ages of six and twelve.

As the fenced park lies quite centrally in the natural areas of the Veluwe, bikers and hikers will sometimes have to either enter the park or make serious detours. To accommodate their needs, a reduced fee is available for those who only want to pass through the park.

Get around
Cars are allowed in the park on the few main roads, but most paths can only be used by bicycles and on foot. Walking is an option if you only want to cover a small part of the park as it is not allowed to camp in the area. There is a nature camping within the park. Bikes are available for free from the visitors centre, if you don't have your own. Maps and routes are plentiful and are available from the visitors centre too.

See
Besides the exciting landscape, visitors are advised to visit the collections of paintings and sculptures of the famous Kröller-Müller Museum, and the St. Hubert Hunting Lodge (Jachthuis St. Hubertus) in the northern part of the park.

Do
There is a visitors' centre (Bezoekerscentrum Museonder) near the Museum with a fine display of the local flora and fauna, the water systems of the park and other information, food stalls and playgrounds for children.

Hiking is very popular. A number of marked routes are available, with different lengths starting from 3.5 km. All are designed to maximise specific experiences, such as sighting game, panoramic views or seeing the goldcrests and migration of toads. Furthermore, there are four theme-based routes for which leaflets with information can be obtained from the visitors centre for €1. Other possibilities are guided walks with a nature guide (book well ahead) or GPS-routes (€10 for half a day), all starting at the visitors centre. Reservations for a guide or GPS can be made well in advance via reserveringen@hogeveluwe.nl.

Buy
The visitors centre houses a shop where you'll find honey from the park's bee population, a range of local products, park souvenirs, books, sweets, wooden toys and cloths. The Kröller-Müller museum has a museum shop, with relevant books, CDs, and other museum and art-related products.

Eat
There are a few options for lunch, snacks and drinks in the park. However, you'll have to take dinner elsewhere as these places close in the late afternoon.

Sleep
Your only option to sleep inside the park is at the natural campsite. Although there are usually enough places available, it might be full during the most popular weekends, such as Easter or for Pentecost. Reservations and even inquiries ahead are not possible. Nevertheless, if you can't stay inside the park, there are numerous options in the surrounding region, as the Veluwe are as a whole has over 500 lodging options. Nearby villages of Hoenderloo, Otterlo and Schaarsbergen have lots of camp sites. Apeldoorn, Ede or Arnhem have a good number of options if you're looking for a hotel.

Stay safe
Do not approach wild boar, since they can be aggressive towards humans when they have piglets.

Go next
Nearby destinations include:
 * Arnhem
 * Ede
 * Apeldoorn
 * Barneveld
 * Wageningen

title: Hoge Veluwe National Park


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Cayos Cochinos

The Cayos Cochinos are two small islands and several islets off the northern coast of Honduras. They consist primarily of Cochino Grande (the larger, to the northeast) and Cochino Pequeño.

Get in
If you are backpacking probably you want to go to the Garifuna island of Chachuate. To get there you need to sort your own transport (local fisherman or try to jump on an existing tour). The closest point for this is Neuva Armenia, however, the boats leave early in the morning (i.e. 8am or so) and the first bus from La Ceiba to Nueva Armenia is not until 9am so you would need to overnight it. Alternatively you can leave from Sambo Creek,. where there are less options but at least there is a bus from La Ceiba at 7am. Alternatively there are La Ceiba based tour operators, obviously these are more expensive.

Get around
You should arrange how many islands you'd want to visit with the tour operator.

Do
Scuba diving:

Eat
Probably a good idea to bring some cereal bars/chocolate/apples or something to supplement you throughout the days.

Go next
If you arranged transport with a fisherman you would have to arrange pick up at the same time eh?

title: Cayos Cochinos


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Hogsback

Hogsback is a village of 1,000 people (2011) in the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Understand
There are two theories as how the village received its name. Some think it was named for Captain Hogg, Commander of Fort Michell. Others think that it is because one of the three peaks that overlook the village, when seen from a certain angle, resembles a Hog's Back (a hog's back is a geological term describing this rock formation).

The area is known for indigenous forests, waterfalls and trout fishing. The large gardens in the surrounding area also include exotic plants from all parts of the world, and it is a destination and tourist attraction among international and South African tourists. Apart from 'the Hogsback', the tallest peak in the area is the 1 954 m Gaika's Kop.

Tolkien
The Amatola Forest in the Hogsback area is often claimed as JRR Tolkien's inspiration for The Lord of the Rings, in particular for his fictional forest of Mirkwood. This is unlikely to be true because Tolkien left South Africa when he was three years old.

The link between Tolkien and Hogsback would seem to be a back formation from the establishment in 1947 of Hobbiton on Hogsback, a holiday and educational camp for underprivileged children. This was ten years after the publication of The Hobbit which was a huge success and which would have inspired the camp's founders as they set up in such an evocatively forested area.

By plane
Fly to East London, rent a car and drive the 140 km via King William's Town to Hogsback.

Fly to Port Elizabeth, rent a car and drive 250 km via Grahamstown, Fort Beaufort and Alice.

By car
From the north, take the N1 to Bloemfontein, N6 to Queenstown, from Queenstown via Whittlesea, Seymour, Fort Beaufort, Alice, Hogsback. Do not take the road from Seymour to Hogsback.

From the east (Kwa-Zulu Natal) N2 via King William's Town to Hogsback. From the south (Cape Town) N2 via Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, turn off to Fort Beaufort and Alice.

Get around
No car rental agencies or public transport. For getting around comfortably own transport is recommended.

See

 * St Patrick's on the Hill is one of the smallest chapels in South Africa

Do
Explore Hogsback and surrounds:
 * numerous hiking trails and waterfalls in the indigenous forests
 * breathtaking views from various locations
 * visit spectacular gardens in spring
 * enjoy stunning autumn colours
 * visit various arts and crafts and pottery
 * walk a labyrinth
 * horse riding
 * watch beautiful sunsets
 * birding
 * enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountain
 * relax in front of a cozy log fire in winter
 * visit Double Drift and Mpofu game parks

Hiking and walking
There are a number of hiking routes and walks that take walkers through the forests, up mountains, past waterfalls and to viewing points and views of the area. General information on Hogsback such as maps of walks, hiking and mountain bike trails are available for purchase from the Hogsback Tourist Office near the entrance of the village. These trails vary from short easy walks to trails taking 3–4 hours and longer.

Hogsback hiking trails include:
 * The Labyrinth at the Edge
 * The 39 Steps Falls and Arboretum
 * Madonna and Child Falls
 * Kettlespout Falls
 * The Three Hogs
 * Tyumy Pools walk
 * The Three Waterfall Trail
 * The Bluff Walk
 * The Military Path
 * The Sunset Loop
 * The Big Tree
 * The Art and Craft Trail

Buy
Hogsback has 2 small grocery stores, a few shops mainly at the different eateries, arts and crafts, paintings, photography studio and local products like jams, soap and body products, and it has azalea nurseries.

title: Hogsback


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Hohe Tauern National Park

The Nationalpark Hohe Tauern is the biggest national park in Austria and one of the biggest in Europe.

Understand

The national park spans the Austrian provinces of Salzburg, Tyrol, and Carinthia. The Hohe Tauern central Alpine mountain range runs through it - approximately from the Brenner Highway in the west to the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (Grossglockner High Alpine Road) in the east. The most famous mountains in the park are Austria's highest peaks, Großglockner, and the majestic, glacier surrounded Großvenediger. The park supports a large variety of wildlife and has many scenic lakes and waterfalls.

History
Member of Salzburg Provincial Parliament August Prinzinger, and the Carinthian lumber trader Albert Wirth collaborated, and in 1913, convinced the association of national parks to form a protected region that would become the core of the park. However, the park as it is known today was formed in 1971, when the governors of Tyrol, Salzburg, and Carinthia signed the agreement that led to the establishment of the park with the proper supporting legal framework.

Landscape
Some of Austria's highest peaks, Großglockner (3,798 m above sea level) and Großvenediger (3,657 m), are in the core zone. The entire park is very mountainous with 266 mountain peaks and 250 glaciers. In the core zone, preserving ecosystems is the number one priority. The outer zone of the Hohe Tauern National Park is characterized by centuries of human activity and species-rich alpine and mountain meadows with characteristic alpine infrastructure (traditional construction methods of alpine buildings, wooden fences, stone walls, etc.).

Well-known sights of the national park are the Krimml Waterfalls, the Umbal Falls, the Innergschlöss Glacier Trail (Matrei in Osttirol) and the Franz-Josefs-Höhe on the Großglockner.

Flora and fauna
A third of all plant species indigenous to Austria grow here. Due to the different climatic conditions, the national park provides diverse habitats for a large number of living organisms. Edelweiss, the Wolf Lichen, White Cottongrass, and the Swiss Pine are common in the park.

The park has a breeding program for the Bearded Vulture - a bird which had once vanished from the Alps, but was reintroduced in the 1970's. The Golden Eagle, the Ibex, Chamois, and the Marmot are other creatures that thrive within the park.

Get in
From Germany you can reach the western part of the national park via the border crossing at Kiefersfelden on the A 12 (Inntal Autobahn), from the Wörgl junction via the B 312 to St. Johann, then via the B 161 over the Pass Thurn to Mittersill and on the B 108 into the national park area. Alternatively, you can travel from Salzburg via the A 10 (Tauern Autobahn) to the Bischofshofen junction and the B 311. Some destinations, such as Bad Gastein, are reachable via train (by Tauernbahn / Tauern Railway).

Fees and permits
There are no entrance fees to the park. There are a number of camp sites present throughout the region, which charge fees for camping.

Stay safe
Never forget that you are high on the mountains, and are subject to rapidly changing weather that can go quickly from being good to very bad. Make sure that you have adequate clothing, including rainy weather gear, and good shoes. Mountain rescuers have found that overconfidence is the most common cause of accidents. Sunscreen and plenty of water are important to have on hand.

Go next

 * Bad Gastein
 * Fusch
 * Gröbming
 * Heiligenblut
 * Krimml
 * Matrei
 * Kals
 * Mittersill

title: Hohe Tauern National Park


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Hohhot

Hohhot (Chinese: 呼和浩特 Hūhéhàotè; Mongolian: Höh hot) is the capital of Inner Mongolia and serves as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural capital.

Etymology
Hohhot is a combination of two Mongolian words: Hoh ('blue') and Hot ('city'). Thus, Hohhot means "blue city".

History
Hohhot has only been the capital of Inner Mongolia since 1947 but is rapidly growing and challenging Baotou as the region's industrial and economic powerhouse. Although only around 11% of the city's population are indigenous Mongols, Mongolian Buddhism (an offshoot of Tibetan Buddhism) continues to thrive and Mongolian culture is actively preserved. As a new capital, the city lacks an abundance of historical and tourist sites. However, it is still definitely worth visiting if in the area. The city is at its greenest and most pleasant in spring and early summer.

Because of the large Hui Muslim population, restaurants with a green or yellow sign are generally Halal and will not serve pork.

Economy
One of China's largest industrial cities, Hohhot accounts for more than 60% of Inner Mongolia's total industrial output and is home to many of China's largest companies.

Hohhot is home to two of China's largest dairy companies: Yili and Mengniu. For this reason, Hohhot is often dubbed as the "Dairy Capital" of China.

By train
There are two train stations in Hohhot: Hohhot (Huhehaote), and the newer Hohhot East (Huhehaotedong).

Hohhot is connected by high speed or conventional rail to the following regional cities: Baotou (1 hr), Beijing (2.5 hr), Datong (2.5 hr), Erenhot (7.5 hr), Yinchuan (8-9 hr).

There are also overnight trains. Beijing to Hohhot overnight train is K89. K89 departs at 21:00 and arrives at 07:20 (9 hr). The K90 from Hohhot to Beijing departs at 21:23 and arrives at 07:20 (cost is ~US$24 for a hard sleeper). Trains 4652 and 4653 run between Hohhot and Erlian. The train leaving from Hohhot departs at 22:00 and arrives at 06:08 (cost is about US$11 for a hard sleeper). International service to destinations include Moscow and Ulaanbaatar.

In 2020, the Hohhot to Zhangjiakou high-speed rail line was completed, connecting to the Beijing to Zhangjiakou line & cutting travel time from Beijing to Hohhot down to 2.5 hours.

By bus
The long-distance bus station is located next to main train station. Facing the station, it is on the left side of the square.

There are regular bus services to the following cities: Baotou (2 hr), Beijing (8-11 hr), Datong (4 hr), Erlian (6-7 hr, ¥88) and Dongsheng (3 hr).

By metro
Hohhot Metro has two lines. Line 1 runs from east to west between Hohhot Baita Airport in Saihan District & Yili Health Valley in Tumed Left Banner. Line 2 runs from north to south and connect with Line 1 at Xinhua Square Station. Hohhot and Hohhot East railway stations are both connected to the metro but Hohhot East is more seamlessly integrated. Signs and announcements in the Metro are trilingual in Mandarin, Mongolian and English. In 2024, the addition of the No. 2 subway line goes through the entire city and is also very convenient.

By taxi
Taxis start at ¥8 during the day (¥8.5 at night?) and are highly available throughout the day. Taxis are difficult to flag 14:00-15:00 as people go back to work as well as during early evening, or with foul weather. Many streets have regular traffic jams so be prepared to sit and watch the meter. There are lots of cabs at night, too.

By bus
Buses run until 20:30 during the winter. English schedules are difficult to find.

By bicycle
Bicycles are by far the most convenient and common in the city. Be careful with the new/foreign traffic patterns. Left turns occur after straight traffic, typically bicycles turn left from the bicycle lane with auto traffic through intersections. Following local traffic is often the safest way to ride and will orient you to traffic patterns, customs, and flow. During peak hours, traffic police will dictate crossing times. Parking your bicycle is easy and convenient in the 'corral' spaces. Attendants will issue you and your bicycle matching 'sticks' and your bicycle will be generally safe while you shop or go to work. Rates are ¥0.5-2/day. Hours may vary.

There are now several apps for smart phones that can be used to hire bicycles, in particular (once linked to a bank card) the social media app Wechat or the wallet app Alipay can be used to hire many public bicycles.

By foot
Depending on construction levels, walking the city is very easy and common and is perhaps the best way to interact with locals. During peak hours, traffic police will dictate crossing times. Theft and molestation is generally not high in the city, however prudence should always be practiced. As a city spectacle, a smile will often turn obvious bewilderment of the passing people into delight. Try it out! ¥0.5-1 is a reasonable amount to offer beggars and the homeless, as are empty plastic bottles.

Buy
There are many local specialties such as beef jerky.

You can also try the local salted milk tea which is also a delicacy.

The local people also have special clothing Mongolian robe foreign tourists can also buy!

Eat
One of the most famous ice-boiled mutton restaurants in Inner Mongolia. Unlike traditional mutton hot pot, which is cooked with water, it chooses to heat it with ice cubes mixed with mutton.This will make the meat firm and tasty. The store's secret condiments are also part of the reason for its booming business.
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton
 * Zecheng Ice Boiled Mutton

Drink

 * There are also local specialty drinks and well-known milk brands such as Yili and Mengniu.

Sleep
The famous local accommodation is the round shape of yurts.

Of course the local area also has luxury hotels for out-of-town travelers at the right price!

Sheraton Hohhot Hotel: As one of the well-known five-star hotels in Hohhot, Sheraton Hohhot Hotel is located in the bustling downtown area with luxurious rooms and suites, featuring a number of restaurants and bars serving Chinese and Western cuisine and drinks. The hotel also features an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, meeting rooms and other facilities to provide comprehensive services for business and leisure travelers.

Wanda Vista Hohhot: Located in Jinqiao Development Zone, Hohhot, Wanda Vista Hohhot is a modern five-star hotel. With spacious and comfortable guest rooms and suites, several restaurants, banquet halls, fitness center, indoor swimming pool and other facilities, the hotel provides guests with high quality services and a comfortable stay.

Go next

 * The Grasslands. Mongolia's history is linked to its grasslands. Recommended places near Hohhot are: Xilamuren (80 km north), Huitengxile (120 km west) and Gegentela (150 km north).

title: Hohhot