Going
back about 2 months in time, during October, in the lovely city of the old
Saigon, now more commonly known as Ho Chi Minh City.
Notre Dame Cathedral
The
background
A
brief background about this beautiful city of Ho Chi Minh. Being the largest
city in Vietnam, it was often mistaken to be the capital of the country – The
capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
The
weather
Similar
to Singapore, there are only 2 types of weather, either it is raining or not.
Being lucky, as we always have been looking at the brighter side, the weather
was constantly warm but humid during our stay in the rainy season.
The
booking
Usually
I would have booked separately my flights and hotel to get the best deals.
However, as this trip is quite last minute and it was only a short weekend
trip, I decided to save the trouble and went booking flight+hotel deal on
Expedia.
I
would say that the deal we have bought for me and my girlfriend was rather
worth it. Read: The flight/ The hotel
The
flight
The deal
we got on Expedia requires us to transit at KL Malaysia. It was a huge joke
when we almost missed our flight to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The Airasia flight
to Malaysia was delayed due to weather. I have been on delayed flights many
times in my life. Read post on Mexico and Japan. However, I was rather
astonished by the ineffective communication in the infamous KL international
airport.
So my
friend and I went to check in at the Singapore airport at the stipulated time
for check in. On our itinerary booked from Expedia, our flights clearly stated
Malaysia Airlines with the usual flight number and stuff. So as we approach the
Malaysia airlines counter, the lady was very nice to let us know that we are
actually flying Airasia despite what was being written on our Expedia
itinerary.
To anyone
who usually flies transiting airlines would have known that connecting flights
allow the passengers to obtain our boarding passes at our first check in
counter. However, as we are unaware that we are actually flying different
airlines, we have to obtain our boarding pass to HCMC at KL. And that’s when
the second horror happened.
When
we reached KL after a delay due to bad weather, a lady was waiting at our arrival
in view that we are going to miss our connecting flight. That was supposed to
be great news. The lady shuffled us to the transit counter only to find that
there were no tickets prepared for us at the counter. Then we ran, yes, we ran
to the boarding gate upon told by the transit counter staff that they have made
special arrangement for us despite the absence of the tickets. After which, it
was a smooth flight to the lovely HCMC with several lovely in flight meals.
The
hotel
As
far as the famous Ben Thanh Market goes, we stayed about 3 streets away, along
Pham Ngu Lao Street in Liberty 3 hotel in District 1. Despite being a 3 star
hotel, the hotel is cosy and near several famous sightseeing attractions.
Our hotel view overseeing a motorcycle park.
Taking
a cab/taxi
The
taxis were really cheap in HCMC. However, to note that there are some, really
just a handful of cab drivers who overcharges by tweaking the meter. We have
unfortunately encountered one of those and the ride costs us about 7 times our
normal fare. It was crazy times. A ride from Pham Ngu Lao Street to Ben Thanh
Market usually costs us about USD4 and the taxi charged us USD40 for the same
distance.
Websites
online usually recommend Vinasun Taxi and I agree. Stick to them as much as
possible. So a trick that my friend and I picked up through this journey is
that getting a Vinasun taxi is rather easy so long you know how. Here’s the
trick, go to any establishment, hotels, cafes, offices, any establishments. A
Vinasun representative usually don in white shirt with their signature green
cab will be there to assist you get a Vinasun cab. They are more reliable than
if you were to flag down one yourself. They usually take down the car plate
number and your destination.
Café
Haven
Starting
our journey from Singapore to Vietnam with transit horror, we arrived in the beautiful
city of HCM at near evening time. Ho Chi Minh City is a city stopped in time.
Unlike Singapore, a modern and urbanized country, Ho Chi Minh brings you back
in time. In the time that was not yet long gone. In this city of transit, there
are only a few attractions that all the websites around the world would have
mentioned including Cu Chi Tunnels and live rifle firing.
(http://www.viator.com/tours/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Cu-Chi-Tunnels-Small-Group-Adventure-Tour-from-Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-5060VUN)
So, in my own style I will shed a
different light on HCMC altogether. Beside the infamous Notre Dame Cathedral
which you can read about almost everywhere, a more curious place for visiting
that I recommend would be the post office. Yes, you read it right, the post
office.
The ATMs on one side and Telephone booth on the other.
Having
been to other Cathedral centuries old, the Notre Dame did not excite me. But
when we chance upon the post office, it was an eye opener.
Unique
in her own taste, HCMC District 1 has a whole spectrum of cafes and boutique restaurants
that is different in every other way. I am a frequent café hopper even in my
own country. Hence, being in HCMC with such great variety of cafes proves an insightful
trip.
1. Good Morning VN Café
“Excuse
me, I asked for an iced coffee.” As politely as I can, that was the first
sentence I uttered upon receiving my drink. I am not sure for elsewhere, but in
my hometown, a glass like that usually speaks of a warm beverage. As much as I could
have embarrassed myself, the waitress gently gestured that my drink is indeed “iced”.
Located
right at our doorstep, this franchise café is awesome. They provide free wifi
and the beverages are all rather affordable ranging from about USD6 to USD12.
2.
Au Parc Café
Having
visited the Reunification Palace 3 times only to be rejected again due to wrong
timing, wrong dress code, my friend and I finally gave up the visit for this café.
Located about 5min walk from the Palace and the Notre Dame Cathedral, this Colonial
French inspired café resides in a shop house overlooking a garden shared
amongst the cathedral and palace.
As a
fan of Earl Grey, I tried the Earl Grey Crème Brulee that melts at the
slightest touch in your mouth. Despite being a little sweeter than it should,
this Crème Brulee still have me thinking about it back home.
3.
Trung Nguyen Coffee
I
had this Vietnam Drip coffee in the morning and I had to tell them to add “just
a little” milk. Or else the entire coffee will turn out to be a sugar rush like
I had the previous evening at Highland coffee.
This
coffee is the fusion between modern and traditional. Brewed in a traditional
way, the taste of the coffee was nothing traditional. It was way too fine a
coffee.
Came
across this website recommending some of the cafes in HCMC, looks amazing!
Food
for thought
Apart
from these cafes I have shortlisted, these are some good value restaurant worth
visiting anytime of the day!
1.
Boat House (District 2)
We took
a taxi there and it costs us around USD9. The scenery at the boat house was
breathtaking. It is situated right inside a private estate and oversees a river.
The pace was slow and very attractive especially for city dwellers like us.
Despite that the food was nothing exciting, the view and the ambiance did the
job.
Mex-Tex Enchiladas (ime encanta la comida mexicana!)
2.
SH Garden
Recommended
by a close friend of ours, it sits right in the middle of the shopping area in
District 1. The food is so amazing especially this tofu that seemed nothing
like it. The staff was very attentive and friendly who whip us an almost new
dish for us as I am allergic to prawns. The view that overlooks the shopping
district was so enticing it made me feel like back in Japan again if not for
the warm weather.
The lovely hosts prepared these in squid instead of the menu prescribed prawn fillings.
Definitely
a place I would not want to miss if I ever visit HCMC again.
3.
Rex Hotel
Hotel Resident resting area
Set
on the rooftop of the famous 5 star Rex Hotel, the restaurant and bar is accompanied
by live bands and streetlights at night. Despite being a 5 star hotel, the food
is only typical, nothing fantastic. Nevertheless, the experience is still
great. However, would still recommend SH Gardens.
