Ho Chi Minh - Random Shots

Thus concludes my trip to Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh
{Woi! where is your write up for the pictures? lazy fella}

Vietnam Day 3

The third day was a day tour to the Mekong River. We left at around 9am in the morning. The bus ride took close to 2 hours before we reached our destination where we then proceed by boat.


Looks like a bridge construction across the Mekong river was underway.

Some of the many fishing vessels that were dock

Ferries are still used there to get people across

The first stop was to see how Vietnam famous rice paper were made.

After the rice is grind, it is then poured on top of a cloth and steamed

The steamed rice paper is then layout to dry

Next stop were handicraft made from coconut wood


Soon after we had a break for lunch which was actually part of the tour package. A Pork chop, 2 spring rolls and a bowl of soup. Didn't look like much but it taste quite ok.

Ohh we had this fried fish as well.

After lunch, we were off again by boat

Next stop was the honey farm where we were treated to some honey and some light musical entertainment

Ohh this is how their bricks for building looks like.
We then took a horse carriage ride to a smaller river where we sat on small boats which took us back to the bigger boat

The next and final stop was the coconut candy factory where they made candies from coconut.

After that we made our journey back to our buses

The map of our trip

Traffic on our way back to the City

Dinner was at Al Fresco's
That's one Jumbo pork rib :)

{Coming up next, some random shots}

The Other Half of Day 2

After the visit to the post office we went for our lunch at a place called Quan An Ngan which is a very popular restaurant to tourist and the locals. We were supposed to have dinner here the night before but we arrived too late.

No one actually thought about taking pictures of the food till it was too late as everyone was too thirsty and hungry. So below is whats left of the mud fish that we had ordered.

Least still manage to get a picture of the grill crab before it was eaten


After a really full lunch we were ready to get back on trail of our city tour. We headed straight to the War Remnants Museum. It showcased some pretty gory relic and pictures{What the heck? eat so full go see gory things?}. It was previously known as the Museum of American and Chinese War Crimes which got later change as not to offend the American and Chinese tourist. Still much of the picture showed there were from the Vietnam war.


I'll let the picture above tell the story of the picture below.

Read the picture above.
Some bombs and missiles that were used.
They even had a couple of tanks.
After the city and museum tour it was a cab ride back to Ben Thanh for shopping.
You can find from cloths to souvenirs and food stuff here. Rule of thumb was to always haggle at 70% of the price which actually didn't work much for us :P. Looks like the shop keepers had a specific limit as to how low they will sell for tourist. The lowest we actually manage to get in a discount was always around 25%-50%. Still things there were already cheap but hack nothing to lose from haggling a little.


{Next day 3}

Saigon Day 2 & 1/2

Day 2 started early in the morning, we had plan a tour around the city. Power lines were very familiar to those that I've seen in India. One mass of wire strung to a pole.
They had lots of cute stalls by the road side with small tables and chairs {Darn no small chairs and tables} which sold drinks, food and even french bread.
The famous Ben Thanh round about where the 'tourist' market place is situated. We didn't stop here first as we wanted to only do shopping later after the walk around the city. {Sky looks nice..no?}
Statue of Tran Nguyen Hai, the first person in Vietnam that used carrier pigeons. The small bust sculpture below {got cut off!!!!} is Quach Thi Trang who was killed during anti government protests in 1963
Some shops that sold wood carvings along the road

The People Committee Hall was modeled after a city hall building in Paris
Notre Dame Cathedral, build using bricks from Marseilles. Its not the same as the one in Paris thought.
Another view of the Cathedral with the statue of the Virgin Mary.The general post office adjacent to Notre Dame. Looks like a train station doesn't it.
{Hey its day 2 and a 1/2 mah.. :P Next up lunch}

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh 2008 - Day 1

We arrived late in the evening on Saturday 21/06/08. After checking in to our hotel (Elios Hotel) we were met by an old high school friend of mine who has been station in HCM. I was really glad that he was able to meet us, its been a long time since I met up with him and we had lots to catch up with. So first thing first was to have dinner. Apparently the first few places that he wanted to take us to were already closed. After walking around town we settled at a restaurant that serve some of Vietnam local food, most of consist of fresh veges, rice noodles and the ever famous rice paper which is used to roll up the food. No photos of it thought since all of us were already very hungry :)

After the dinner we headed off to Sheraton to check out some of the 'night scene' there. As luck would have it, Miss Universe 2008 was being held in Vietnam! and there was a party there. Unfortunately, we arrived a little too late as all of the contestants were already packed up on buses and were heading off. Quickly whip out my point and shoot camera and tried to take some shot. Manage to get one or two shots, but wasn't that good. Well here is one of the better once below. I believe one of the contestant was actually looking at my camera...{or the other person with the camera in front :P }

This was taken after the contestant had left as proof {LOL}

Anyway we headed up to the roof top of Sheraton to check out the view, the place was still packed with people. First shot was a quick snap of the city lights.

After bracing on the rails, I was able to get a couple more decent shot of the city. Was nice and cool up there.

{Next up pictures of Day 2}