must haves!

MarkinNam wrote:

When in Saigon, I live in district 7, the Lotte mart there carries most of the stuff your talking about above. Tea towels are hard to find but check out the local laundry, they some times have clothe left behind which can be recycled as tea towels, just stitch a hem around the edges. Also Cho lon has a lot of fabric sellers to tryAli foil is an easy 1, just double layer it, skin care_ coconut oil. Only worry about script medication and cold remedies, the stuff here is rubbish

That Lottemart in District 7...

Lotte Mart
469 Đường Nguyễn Hữu Thọ
Tân Hưng, Quận 7, HCMC
028 3775 3232
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5zwxkgmZiBemREh9A

...does seem to have a much better selection of merchandise than other stores I've visited, such as the Danang Lottemart.

Also a nice selection of restaurants under one roof there.

Perhaps you can give some specific warnings about "rubbish" script medication and cold remedies?

I'm a Registered Nurse (California) and I've been very satisfied with what I've been able to find for myself and friends in need.

My best advice to those having trouble finding the meds they need is to visit the best local hospital and get a Vietnamese doctor to write you a prescription for whatever you need.

If the medication is legal and otherwise available in Vietnam, the hospital pharmacy will fill the prescription, and the total price will still be quite affordable compared to high prices in The States.

Alternatively, there should be many pharmacies in the neighborhood of the hospital.

If you know what you need, ask a few locals which is the best shop.

In Saigon and elsewhere, the "Pharmacity" chain of stores has both quality generic meds and a pretty good system for locating what you need from another store in their network.

I went looking for more Alieve/Naproxen (local brand Propain 500mg scored tablets) at the Pharmacity Opera House location the other day.

Within 24 hours they had 3 boxes for me, calling me to notify me in English that my order was ready for pickup.

WillyBaldy wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

I was happy to find apparently genuine Gillette Fusion 5+1 blades last week from a seller at Bến Thành Market

Where do you live now? You move so much it's hard to follow! 

It's been a fun year of exploration.

Today I'm in HCMC headed to Quy Nhơn to finish up a root canal and take care of personal stuff.

Then I will be in Hanoi for a few days on both ends of my annual border run.

My new apartment is in Vũng Tàu.

Maybe I'll stop in Danang and visit friends on the way back.

I was most impressed by the Central Highlands.

The road trip from Quy Nhơn to Buôn Ma Thuột was very impressive, even though QL 29 was nearly impassable for small cars as it passes through the Ea So Nature Reserve.

However, there's no ocean beach there, so...

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

My new apartment is in Vũng Tàu.

Wow I'm surprised you "left" Da Nang to go live in Vung Tau. If I can manage to make it there for quick visit at the end of September I'll come say hello as there's a few people there I'd like to have a chat with, but I'm not sure I'll be able to make it that early. I'll have an apartment in Rach Gia and might have to go there quickly for some urgent stuff at work, will be working from home for my Canadian job.

PS: Hmmmm something's telling me there's a woman involved in your move, there always is with us tender hearts 

If you like texmex / mex or any corn flour foods at all, bring a few kilos of masa and a little tortilla press.  some green salsa, etc.  If you freeze a few kilos of freshly made "finished" tortillas, they will be fine for quite a while once here but eventually you will run out.  I find some imported tortilla in HCMC, but not great quality and very high price.  In the north, nothing yet.  Thats my 2c.

WillyBaldy wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

My new apartment is in Vũng Tàu.

PS: Hmmmm something's telling me there's a woman involved in your move, there always is with us tender hearts 

The lady's name is "Saigon", so easy to get to from Vũng Tàu.

Not because I'm especially enamored with the city.

It's the great shopping opportunities for Western products, healthcare and medications plus an airport from which I can fly directly to myriad destinations.

The only ladies who played a part in my decision are my wonderful new friends there in Vũng Tàu, most of them married.

I've been made to feel very welcome and at home with them.

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

WillyBaldy wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

My new apartment is in Vũng Tàu.

PS: Hmmmm something's telling me there's a woman involved in your move, there always is with us tender hearts 

The lady's name is "Saigon", so easy to get to from Vũng Tàu.

Not because I'm especially enamored with the city.

It's the great shopping opportunities for Western products, healthcare and medications plus an airport from which I can fly directly to myriad destinations.

It's a darn good reason, from Rạch Giá I can fly to Saigon it's a 40 minutes flight, for about USD$50 each way which is not so bad.

Razor blades, so brutal, all that dermal scraping and bleeding. Just say no.
Even my father was wrong.
I became an Independent Young Man when I discovered Braun all by myself.

gobot wrote:

Razor blades, so brutal, all that dermal scraping and bleeding. Just say no.
Even my father was wrong.
I became an Independent Young Man when I discovered Braun all by myself.

🤣🤣🤣

I hear you.

I have a waterproof electric razor to use for my head in the shower.

However, I have some sort of old-age dermatitis of my face and scalp that responds better to regular scraping...I mean, shaving...with a blade.

I respond even better when a beautiful lady barber is doing the scraping.

So my Gillette blades last a long, long time... 😎

THIGV wrote:

sadezz wrote:

I have family in Turkey and Tampax isn't available.

Is it possible that in Turkey there is a religious aspect to the lack of availability?

It's not about religion. Tampax is not very well known in Turkey and women prefer other brands like Kotex. That's why you can't find it in common stores. But there are some stores that also sell that particular brand, especially ones that substantially sell products to embassy employees.

Vahap wrote:

THIGV wrote:

sadezz wrote:

I have family in Turkey and Tampax isn't available.

Is it possible that in Turkey there is a religious aspect to the lack of availability?

It's not about religion. Tampax is not very well known in Turkey and women prefer other brands like Kotex. That's why you can't find it in common stores. But there are some stores that also sell that particular brand, especially ones that substantially sell products to embassy employees.

I don't think the question was about brands.

Tampax (for some people) implies a tampon, where as Kotex (also to some) implies a sanitary napkin.

To some people...

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Vahap wrote:

THIGV wrote:

Is it possible that in Turkey there is a religious aspect to the lack of availability?

It's not about religion. Tampax is not very well known in Turkey and women prefer other brands like Kotex. That's why you can't find it in common stores. But there are some stores that also sell that particular brand, especially ones that substantially sell products to embassy employees.

I don't think the question was about brands.

Tampax (for some people) implies a tampon, where as Kotex (also to some) implies a sanitary napkin.

To some people...

I know it's about the product itself, not about the brands but I was trying to say that tampon is commonly used in Turkey and there is no religious understanding that prohibits or alienates using that product. I might have chosen wrong brand name or product to compare but in the end, I am as close to those products as what my previous girl friends told me. I haven't used any so, some confusion might be tolerated I suppose
And I checked online, the brand that dominates the Turkish market seems to be OB.

Vahap wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Vahap wrote:

It's not about religion. Tampax is not very well known in Turkey and women prefer other brands like Kotex. That's why you can't find it in common stores. But there are some stores that also sell that particular brand, especially ones that substantially sell products to embassy employees.

I don't think the question was about brands.

Tampax (for some people) implies a tampon, where as Kotex (also to some) implies a sanitary napkin.

To some people...

,..the brand that dominates the Turkish market seems to be OB.

Of course it is...

Thanks for all the replies. Im now in Saigon and realise yes pretty much everything can be bought here, the pharmacies are not too bad and ive heard good things about the dentists too so im happy. thanks!