Lee2,
Felt safer than in Manila, but there are pickpockets, etc., there like anywhere. Crime rate overall is pretty low. City was a big change from 1968, very clean and a lot of new building completed and in progress. Putting an underground Metro in the city. The old motorized cyclos are gone, but scooters/motorcycles are rampant, they even drive on the sidewalks if traffic backs up.
You are an instant millionaire when you arrive. $1=22445 VN Dong while we where there. Food prices were very reasonable in the local restaurants. Great lunches were around $15-20 including alcoholic beverages. San Miguel beer is readily available there. We bought beers, sodas, snacks, etc., at the 7-11 for about 1/3/ to 1/2 what it cost in the hotel fridge. Also the $18 in my OP is for the VISA on arrival letter, you pay an additional $45 at the airport for the Visa sticker.
Chuck