Ho Chi Minh City Tourist Trap Tips by worldkiwi

The one and only eating place at HCMC international airport is an absolute rip-off. Everything is priced in US dollars, which is very annoying. A sandwich I had there was US$4 and a bottle of water was an incredible US$2. I was so hungry and thirsty, that I forked out the cash. The prising of stuff in HCMC is annoying when it's in US dollars. Ofcourse, the locals think that all tourists are rich, but when you're not from the States, Japan, or Europe, a few US dollars can add up to too much!

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Alternative: Make sure you get something to eat before you get to the airport, or if you can hold on, wait till you get on the plane.

Entering Vietnam is a bit of a hassle. You must either get a visa before you come, or get a letter from Vietnamese Immigration, saying you can have a visa on arrival. If you go for the latter, your travel agent should arrange it. Mine didn't, leaving me in a very sticky situation to say the least.
Thanks to the amazing and wonderful people at Malaysia Airlines at KLIA and an agent in HCMC, the paperwork was sorted out for me at some considerable price and I was able to get a visa in HCMC. But, believe me, this is not the best way by a long shot to enter the country.
Make sure you either have the letter or get a visa from a Vietnamese embassy in advance.
A visa on arrival, with the letter of course, will cost you US$25 and be ready in about 15-20 minutes. Take your letter to the "visa on arrival" desk to the right of the immigration desks in the arrivals hall at HCMC international airport. Having two passport sized photographs would be handy as well.

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Alternative: There is no alternative!! Be prepared.