Arriving Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Saigon was the more popular name of this city in Vietnam, which is the largest city here. As for us Filipinos, Saigon is familiar because the Filipina actress and singer Lea Salonga played the role of Kim in the Musical Miss Saigon.
Above: The Maritime Bank Tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where Manulife is headquartered here.
In my arrival, I got a small strawberry from Agnes so I could have a good impression of the sweet and delicious food here in Vietnam. I never thought they also grow strawberries here.
A view of District 1 at night
In the sideline, here is the story of Miss Saigon so everyone can relate to this beautiful story while you are in Vietnam and try to imagine what happened in that love story that took place during the Vietnam War. Let me quote that from this website:
http://www.stgt.com/stuttgart/saiglibe.htm
"Miss Saigon" - The Love Story of Kim and Chris
The Musical is situated within Saigon during the last weeks of the Vietnam war, in April 1975. In a nightclub the young GI Chris meets the 17 year old girl Kim. They fall in love with each other, but their luck is only to last a short time. Chris had to leave the city in a hurry, in a Helicopter, leaving Kim behind. Kim remained in Saigon without any message from him.
Three years pass by. In the United States Chris marries an American girl called Ellen, and builds his life anew, but he cannot forget Kim. Kim and the child she bore, live under the Dictator Ho Chi Minh's poor rule. All the time she still believes on the return of her Chris, who knows nothing of his son, and refuses the affection of Officer Thuy, to whom she was promsied as his wife, since her childhood.
As Thuy, in a rage, tried to kill Kim's small son Tam, she shot him. She fleed to her brother in Bangkok. A short time later Chris heard from a friend, that he had a child by Kim, and decided to find them. Together with his wife, they flew to Thailand to see his child. Overjoyed, Kim discovers of arrival of Chris and goes immediately to his hotel to meet him. There she doesn't meet Chris, but his wife Ellen, and discovers the truth about his new life in America.
Beautiful story. Anyway, I was from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and took a flight to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). When I told my parents about Vietnam as one of my itineraries, they were quite surprised why I'd go to this place. Well, considering that the Vietnam War just lasted in 1975, I believe this country might seem to be a bit of a scare if you really do not know anything about the place.
I searched the city before my arrival to Ho Chi Minh and try to check what it's like to be here. When I have read some cool stuff about the place and its people, I did not have any fear anymore of exploring the streets of this country filled with sweet people.
On the Plane
As a foreigner to a new country, it is important to be taking some time to know more about the places so you don't get lost easily. You will, of course, get lost sometimes. I was seated next to this Vietnamese girl who was on vacation from Bali, Indonesia. To my surprise, they do not speak English that much. Not really.
I was asking about the location of my hotel and it took us a lot of time conversing and the use of sign language was a necessity at that moment. One girl also borrowed my power bank and I did let her use it.
The flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was about 55 minutes total but I was making sign languages the whole time.
@amon_realtor_engr on instagram
On same plane with #Singapore National Basketball team, they're playing in #HoChiMinh city. Got the chance to talk to their coach & he said #Gilas#Pilipinas is not in this season, maybe in prep for #fiba#world. #sports #basketball
Below are some of the aerial photos I took while on the plane. We see the roof and decks of buildings in Vietnam.
This is a huge river for sure. There are plenty of bodies of water you see from up in the air while the plane tries to descend.
A huge Manulife billboard greeted me upon arrival at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
This is a famous landmark in Saigon.
@amon_realtor_engr on instagram
In one of Ho Chi Minh city's rotunda.. So many motobikes here in #Saigon, maybe the motorbike capital of #Asia .. #transportation #ride #movingaround#mobile
Public Transport
Upon my arrival at the airport, I tried to ask for a local simcard and learning that it is a bit pricey and I would not be using it anyway, I opted not to get one. I was happy to learn that they have a public transport taking tourists to the city proper.
Going around the city, you can hire a 'motordup'. It is just a motorcycle but they call it like that. Simply, it is a habal-habal back in the Philippines. That's me riding the motordup with a helmet.
Motorcycles
On the bus, I was in awe seeing a lot of motorcycles on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City. It was like seeing a huge school of fish. I was checking my phone's GPS to see if I am already near my hotel. There was this European couple who were as well searching for their place to stay. We alight at some point in District 1 and began walking the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and tried to evade the many bikes along the way. It was a fun experience. Cool!
Finally, we reached Pham Ngu Lao St, sounds like Panglao in Bohol, so I'd remember that easily. I would be on the next street though, which is Bui Vien Street. It is just like a small street with a lot of bars and hotels lined up. So this is Vietnam!
Bui Vien Street at night
For vacationing tourists in Vietnam, the fun & laughter begin when the sun is out. Lights and beers fill this very lively and enthusiastic corner of this city. Ho Chi Minh is like one of the most enjoyable places for tourists who just want to have fun. Music is also in the air as most restaurants hire bands at night to entertain guests. I even met a Filipino band who have been working in Vietnam for a long time. Filipinos are quite everywhere so you will never feel lonely in your trips.
This is Bui Vien Street in Ho Chi Minh City at night.
You would probably see this band when you visit Bui Vien Street next time. They are good. Enjoyed the music they played.
I took a photo of this bar considering the uniqueness of the design here. That looks vintage!
Food
It would be easy to fulfill the needs of your stomach as there are plenty of restaurants you can find in Ho Chi Minh City. There is also McDonalds in the intersection of Pham Ngu Lao near the plaza if you feel like eating burger and french fries.
I was enjoying sushi every now and then as it is affordable here in Vietnam. As a country facing the South China Sea, seafood is pretty much of your liking here as the price is something that you can very well afford.
There was a week long festival when I arrived here September 11, 2014 (Anniversary of the World Trade Center bombing in the United States, oh dates). At night, there are also activities in the plaza especially food fair. There, you find most of Vietnam's favorite food at very friendly prices. For the food lovers and those who like to stay in the dining table during their free hours, for sure, this is the best time to go out and eat.
The plaza in Ho Chi Minh City was well lighted as the Vietnamese are observing a week long festival. So taking a photo here would be worth remembering since it is a festival.
While roaming around the food fair, I found this sugarcane juice, tubo here in Vietnam.
You can try some seafood from this restaurant at 226 Nguyen Cong Tru, P. Nguyen Thai Binh, Ho Chi Minh City. I memorized that for my next visit, haha. If you try to look around, you will discover a lot of choices. Most cafes here, they serve iced coffee. Vietnamese people are loving that for sure, and I was not so fond about iced coffee until I arrived in Vietnam.
In one of the streets, I also tried something like a leche flan with ice and sago. You better find that place when you get the chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City.
(See photo below)
@amon_realtor_engr on instagram
Got myself a latte for 35,000 Vietnamese dong.. Just disregard the zeros coz the money equivalent of peso to vnd is very small.. If u want to taste several #Asian#food do it in Vietnam coz its very affordable here.. UL b a millionaire here in dongs. smile emoticon #Saigon #Asia #asean#trip
Dining at SamKang. It is a food chain serving this Red Rice Drink. It tastes like that cold 'lawot'. Rice drink it is.
The temple visits began in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. More temples to see in Cambodia & Thailand.
