If you stay at the Kim Do or the Rex in HCMC, you can buy almost anything you need just feet from your hotel at the Saigon Tax Center. From the Rex, exit through the main lobby, turn right, cross the street and you are there. From the Kim do, exit the lobby, head left and walk about a block. Once at the Tax Center head up to the second floor. Just to the right of the escalator is a large grocery store. Be advised, they will not let you bring bags into the store. You'll either have to rent a locker to store your bag or make a point of putting your money in your pocket and leave the bag at the hotel. Anyway, this place has everything. Trust me when I say that you can leave all the bottles, diapers, wipes, baby formula, baby food and snack foods for you at home. Bottles will run about 14000VND or roughly $0.87. You will recognize many US brands. You could probably get away with leaving your hair care items and feminine hygiene products as well, but if you are picky about the brand you'd be happier with your own. They have coke and pepsi for about a quarter a can, but not dr. pepper. There are oreos, chips ahoy, doritos, cheetos, and pringles all for under a dollar. If you need a chocolate fix you can grab some M&Ms, a kit-kat or a hershey bar. There's a whole row of baby goods complete with toys, clothing, and even carriers. They have clothing, luggage, Vietnamese wines, and ice cream too. Oh, and every hotel had a blow dryer powerful enough to dry my super thick hair, so you can leave that at home too. The point is this: pack light and buy it there.
If you stay at the Kim Do or the Rex in HCMC, you can buy almost anything you need just feet from your hotel at the Saigon Tax Center. From the Rex, exit through the main lobby, turn right, cross the street and you are there. From the Kim do, exit the lobby, head left and walk about a block. Once at the Tax Center head up to the second floor. Just to the right of the escalator is a large grocery store. Be advised, they will not let you bring bags into the store. You'll either have to rent a locker to store your bag or make a point of putting your money in your pocket and leave the bag at the hotel. Anyway, this place has everything. Trust me when I say that you can leave all the bottles, diapers, wipes, baby formula, baby food and snack foods for you at home. Bottles will run about 14000VND or roughly $0.87. You will recognize many US brands. You could probably get away with leaving your hair care items and feminine hygiene products as well, but if you are picky about the brand you'd be happier with your own. They have coke and pepsi for about a quarter a can, but not dr. pepper. There are oreos, chips ahoy, doritos, cheetos, and pringles all for under a dollar. If you need a chocolate fix you can grab some M&Ms, a kit-kat or a hershey bar. There's a whole row of baby goods complete with toys, clothing, and even carriers. They have clothing, luggage, Vietnamese wines, and ice cream too. Oh, and every hotel had a blow dryer powerful enough to dry my super thick hair, so you can leave that at home too. The point is this: pack light and buy it there.
