Bet your Dong at the Saigon Horse Races - HCMC - Vietnam
January 05, 2009
If you are looking for something different during your stay in Vietnam's largest city, HCMC, head off to the races!
We headed out last weekend and had a great couple of hours. Here are all the juicy details, images below.
Where
Saigon Race Track (Cau Lac Bo The Thao Phu To) - Le Dai Hanh Street, District 11
When
Saturday/Sunday with races beginning around 12pm. The last race was at 4pm.
Getting There
The track is around a 15 minute drive from District 1. A taxi should cost around 60-70,000VND, while a motor bike taxi (Xe Om) should be a little less. There were plenty of Taxi's at the track to get back!
Getting In
Entrance to the track is 10,000vnd.
Money/Betting
A form guide (in Vietnamese, some English) will set you back 3000vnd. Minimum bet is 10,000vnd, monitors at the track tell you the odds, however, I have no idea how it works! Placing a bet is simple, just head to one of the many counters and tell the ladies what number you want!
Food/Drinks
Simple Vietnamese food can be brought at the track. Mostly Bread (Banh Mi) and cold drinks such as softies, water, tea and coffee. You can not buy beer at the races.
Adam's Thoughts
Outrageously funny is what I think of when I reflect on the Saigon Races! The horse's are tiny, the jockeys around 12/15 years old and whole scene is almost surreal.
The Saigon Races is really worth a visit. Befriend a local, get some hot tips and place a bet!
Ten out of Ten in all respects!
Grandstand full of punters!
Friends studying the form guide.
Racing along home straight
Place your bets.
My money was on Number 7, he finished 3rd!
The form guide
Looking from the track back to the Grandstand
Dry, but dusty. The track conditions were good!
Pick a winner
Punters watching the races
Parading before a race.
Race details. Left = Race 1 etc. Middle = Parade times. Right = Race time.
Checking out the runners.
Before the big race
Race board. This was Race 3!
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2 comments:
Horse racing is pretty popular here in USA.
It's not so popular here, however it is one of the only places in Vietnam to gamble (legally!).
Vietnam has casino's however Vietnamese Nationals are not allowed to gamble there, you need to show your passport at the door!
Adam
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