Post by dcruz on Nov 16, 2009 17:31:20 GMT 7
Good morning Vietnam..i always been curios about Vietnam, about the people, culture, and the country itself. since i was small, we all been feed by the media about Vietnam wars, the violence's and the bad impressions. We all will too scared to visit there, scared that we will be kidnapped, or like taught people there carry guns everywhere. This toughts been wandering in my head all along.
Now the questions are answered when my friend Zaki invite me to tag along with him to Saigon, Vietnam. the name Saigon actually been replaced by name Ho Chin Min city, taken from the past ruler of Vietnam during communist era. The Friday morning, i had to wake up early in the morning to catch the LRT and bus to LCCT. Actually, this trip Rasjidi also join with a few hometown friends. with my id i get discounts in tickets which make it RM115 one way. Luckily the flight not full and i managed to purchased the tickets but Zaki was not lucky enough when his passport is less than 6 month expired. too bad for him.
We made the 855am flight and arrived the at Saigon 950am. The flight took about 2 hours, and because of the time difference 1 hours, we like have an extra hour there to enjoy. When we disembarked the plane, i was impress. the Airport was so modern and cleaned, where it is opposite when i expected. the immigration was efficient, there a lot of counters opened and so smooth. But when we step out the airport, it was like chaos, but still bare able. not like other airports. People here don't harass the tourist with their so call 'cheap' tour packages. So i can smoke in peace.
We hire a airport taxi which from Vinasun company. Rasjidi advised to take this taxi because there honest and pay according to the taxi meter. From the airport to the city center called Ben Than, took about 30 to 40 min tru the busy road. Along the road, we can see the vast amount of the motorcycle around in the road. the Vietnam road famous with the no rules apply to drive here. What i can see is who ever the first it the junction, he/she will have the way, means you must have a ball to stop the cars across the roads. the city was in process of growing to become the modern city. we can see a lots of the new shops with modern architecture. On the way i love the way they made the city garden where it was cool with big trees. it made people can enjoy the garden even in mid hot day. We arrived in Ben than and check in the hotel. Spring hotel located strategically in front of the city center which 10 min walk to Ben than market and 5 min walk to well known halal restaurant. We park our bags and had 30 min rest and head out again to fill our stomach. Just in front of the hotel, across the road and garden, there was a halal restaurant call Lion City. It is own by the Muslim Vietnamese which prepared a Singaporean dishes. The restaurant was so cozy and look expensive ( and it is expensive). It was new to us and i ordered a chicken curry, plain rice and coconut juice. the portion came was a lot, actually it can be eat-ed by 2 peoples. it cost me about USD8, woo...a price like this a can eat for a day in KL. but the service and the food was so good, no complaint.
The stomach had been filled, we headed to the famous Ben than market and the shops around there. most of the things sell there was cloth by meters, bags, sunglasses, perfumes, and etc. i found some of the Communist badges sold and bought some for souvenirs, it not like i was communist but it is my first time in the communist country, well i can say ex. my intention here is to just look around and buy some small cheap stuff, but it is true what people said about things here, you will be shock with price offered. The most important here is bargaining. You must bargain to buy anything, if you don't you will pay double the amount that it should be. If you really want the stuff,you will be bargain like in Petaling Street. The Ben than market is like indoor market, ground level, with narrow alley and hundreds of shops cramp together. the seller is mostly girls with lovely smiles and will grab your hand to attract you to their shop. warning, you will be molest by the girls by the good way. Most men's enjoy their adventure along the shops here.
After an hectic shopping with lots of bargaining, we had a break at most busiest junction at Ben than. there, we had a coconut juice while watching the street transform from a vehicle's street and to stall's street in spit second. Man, these guys really can work fast like a lightning bolt. For a moment when i sat there watching the scene, i realize that i was sitting the same spot where Antony Bordain sat in his travel channel program 'No reservation' had a drink. That moment we all been actually met some Malaysian, have a chat and mostly harassed by the running around seller. We had our dinner at Lin City restaurant again and had a chance to met Mr. Husin the manager, who can speak fluent Malay. that's a relieve when we can ask about the tips and guide to shop here in Saigon. after dinner we had back to the hotel for a shower and some rest. It was really tiring but there still places to get scout about.
It about 9pm, me and Rasjidi went out again, but the rest had enough. We stroll along the .... and found out the way a lots of bars. The bar full with the foreigner entertained by the local girls. The sex industry here is illegal and it is not so open like at Thailand. But still there are lots of hanky panky going on. Between the bars and restaurants, there are still some shop open for the souvenirs, bags , shirts etc. the price here a bit pricey because this street been famous by the foreigners. Near the Crazy bull club, we found there was a newly open halal Turkish Kebab house. That's good when we can spot a halal restaurant. Next time who even want to visit Saigon, this can be reference. about 11pm we had back to hotel and had a good night sleep.
early in the morning i woke up and prepare to go back. just before i check out, i had my breakfast at the bakery shop beside the hotel. i had some french style bread and the Vietnamese coffee. The coffee is so thick and sweet that i had to ask the waiter to filled up more hot water. At the airport, i manage to get the ticket back to Malaysia about 1020am.
i can say that Saigon is no longer a communist country which been dictator-ed long time ago. the people here is so friendly and treat the tourist good. The Vietnamese rely on tourism for their economy and don't afraid to walk around the street here. see the culture after the war, y'all be amaze.
Now the questions are answered when my friend Zaki invite me to tag along with him to Saigon, Vietnam. the name Saigon actually been replaced by name Ho Chin Min city, taken from the past ruler of Vietnam during communist era. The Friday morning, i had to wake up early in the morning to catch the LRT and bus to LCCT. Actually, this trip Rasjidi also join with a few hometown friends. with my id i get discounts in tickets which make it RM115 one way. Luckily the flight not full and i managed to purchased the tickets but Zaki was not lucky enough when his passport is less than 6 month expired. too bad for him.
We made the 855am flight and arrived the at Saigon 950am. The flight took about 2 hours, and because of the time difference 1 hours, we like have an extra hour there to enjoy. When we disembarked the plane, i was impress. the Airport was so modern and cleaned, where it is opposite when i expected. the immigration was efficient, there a lot of counters opened and so smooth. But when we step out the airport, it was like chaos, but still bare able. not like other airports. People here don't harass the tourist with their so call 'cheap' tour packages. So i can smoke in peace.
We hire a airport taxi which from Vinasun company. Rasjidi advised to take this taxi because there honest and pay according to the taxi meter. From the airport to the city center called Ben Than, took about 30 to 40 min tru the busy road. Along the road, we can see the vast amount of the motorcycle around in the road. the Vietnam road famous with the no rules apply to drive here. What i can see is who ever the first it the junction, he/she will have the way, means you must have a ball to stop the cars across the roads. the city was in process of growing to become the modern city. we can see a lots of the new shops with modern architecture. On the way i love the way they made the city garden where it was cool with big trees. it made people can enjoy the garden even in mid hot day. We arrived in Ben than and check in the hotel. Spring hotel located strategically in front of the city center which 10 min walk to Ben than market and 5 min walk to well known halal restaurant. We park our bags and had 30 min rest and head out again to fill our stomach. Just in front of the hotel, across the road and garden, there was a halal restaurant call Lion City. It is own by the Muslim Vietnamese which prepared a Singaporean dishes. The restaurant was so cozy and look expensive ( and it is expensive). It was new to us and i ordered a chicken curry, plain rice and coconut juice. the portion came was a lot, actually it can be eat-ed by 2 peoples. it cost me about USD8, woo...a price like this a can eat for a day in KL. but the service and the food was so good, no complaint.
The stomach had been filled, we headed to the famous Ben than market and the shops around there. most of the things sell there was cloth by meters, bags, sunglasses, perfumes, and etc. i found some of the Communist badges sold and bought some for souvenirs, it not like i was communist but it is my first time in the communist country, well i can say ex. my intention here is to just look around and buy some small cheap stuff, but it is true what people said about things here, you will be shock with price offered. The most important here is bargaining. You must bargain to buy anything, if you don't you will pay double the amount that it should be. If you really want the stuff,you will be bargain like in Petaling Street. The Ben than market is like indoor market, ground level, with narrow alley and hundreds of shops cramp together. the seller is mostly girls with lovely smiles and will grab your hand to attract you to their shop. warning, you will be molest by the girls by the good way. Most men's enjoy their adventure along the shops here.
After an hectic shopping with lots of bargaining, we had a break at most busiest junction at Ben than. there, we had a coconut juice while watching the street transform from a vehicle's street and to stall's street in spit second. Man, these guys really can work fast like a lightning bolt. For a moment when i sat there watching the scene, i realize that i was sitting the same spot where Antony Bordain sat in his travel channel program 'No reservation' had a drink. That moment we all been actually met some Malaysian, have a chat and mostly harassed by the running around seller. We had our dinner at Lin City restaurant again and had a chance to met Mr. Husin the manager, who can speak fluent Malay. that's a relieve when we can ask about the tips and guide to shop here in Saigon. after dinner we had back to the hotel for a shower and some rest. It was really tiring but there still places to get scout about.
It about 9pm, me and Rasjidi went out again, but the rest had enough. We stroll along the .... and found out the way a lots of bars. The bar full with the foreigner entertained by the local girls. The sex industry here is illegal and it is not so open like at Thailand. But still there are lots of hanky panky going on. Between the bars and restaurants, there are still some shop open for the souvenirs, bags , shirts etc. the price here a bit pricey because this street been famous by the foreigners. Near the Crazy bull club, we found there was a newly open halal Turkish Kebab house. That's good when we can spot a halal restaurant. Next time who even want to visit Saigon, this can be reference. about 11pm we had back to hotel and had a good night sleep.
early in the morning i woke up and prepare to go back. just before i check out, i had my breakfast at the bakery shop beside the hotel. i had some french style bread and the Vietnamese coffee. The coffee is so thick and sweet that i had to ask the waiter to filled up more hot water. At the airport, i manage to get the ticket back to Malaysia about 1020am.
i can say that Saigon is no longer a communist country which been dictator-ed long time ago. the people here is so friendly and treat the tourist good. The Vietnamese rely on tourism for their economy and don't afraid to walk around the street here. see the culture after the war, y'all be amaze.