Saturday, December 10, 2011 | By: purple taste

Ho Chi Minh - 2 Dec 2011

Day 3, we explored Bin Tay Market or Cho Lon Market as the locals calls it. It's a little further than our hotel, about 20 minutes taxi ride. Almost like going to the outskirts. That day was hot and sunny.

people crossing road amidst all the oncoming vehicles

colourful building

can transport anything and everything via two-wheelers

telecomm wirings

bustling with activities

an old building

Come to think of it, we didn't see any caucasians while we were at this part of Ho Chi Minh.

Binh Tay Market

scooters and bikes everywhere

inside the market
Binh Tay Marlet is easier to walk around as compared to An Dong Market. Bought a couple of tshirts and dried fruits from there.

But pretty soon, we're done with shopping. Next stop, lunch!

banh mi

Didn't try any banh mi though. Our lunch place is a pho place called "Pho Hing" recommended by our hotel receptionist. Food was good. Our night entertainment is to visit a drinking place, so we chose to go back to downtown area to try The Refinery, but ended up at having dinner at its neighbour, Jaspas Wine & Grill.

After dinner, we went to the night market outside of Ben Thanh again! Hahaa, another round of  bargaining!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 | By: purple taste

Ho Chi Minh - 1 Dec 2011

Day 2 began after breakfast in the hotel. We had enquired on the previous night on which are the places that locals usually go to when they go shopping. "An Dong Market." He said. And the prices there are supposed to be much cheaper than Ben Thanh.

So off to An Dong Market (near the corner of Tran Phu and An Duong Vuong) we went. By cab, of course. We had no inkling of how An Dong would look like!

An Dong Market

Arrived and saw a building that's both huge and old. Stepping inside, and I felt like I've entered a time-warp back to the olden days. Not exactly ancient, but it ain't modern.

Lots of stuffs sold in there. Food, dry goods, jewelleries at the basement while the higher levels sells stuffs ranging from jeans, clothes, shoes, underwear etc. But it was difficult to manouvre between aisles. Very very narrow and the shopkeepers were busy packing, checking goods, talking to their regulars etc.

Went through a few of those aisles but didn't get a chance to see the goods because there were always somebody who needed to pass through. Somehow, I felt as if I was intruding their spaces.

Gave up after a while and went outside for a breather.

outside of An Dong Market

Didn't manage to get anything from An Dong Market. Proceeded to the next location, which is to visit Saigon Central Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. My friend asked if I wanted to go post office to post letter (?). Hahaha, the intention is to at least see two of the famous landmarks in the city.


Central Post Office, designed and constructed by Gustave Eiffel (yep, the same man who designed Eiffel Tower)
closer view, Gothic architectural style




inside Central Post Office

Outside of the Central Post Office, was approached by a lady selling postcards (10 pieces for VND20,000). Also met an elderly man selling silk painting for USD5.

man and his painting, outside of Central Post Office

The Notre Dame Cathedral is nearby, so went over to snap some pictures as well. Visitors who wish to enter the cathedral, do take note of its opening hours for public.


 
Notre Dame Cathedral, believed to be constructed between 1863 and 1880

statue of Virgin Mary in front of the cathedral
opening hours and mass schedule

since 1880

After that, we decided to walk, so we walked and walked. Along the way, we saw these.

looks mangled, but it works somehow

not sure what these were, but makes a nice pic, don't you think?
 
in Japan? Non, in Ho Chi Minh ;)
Lush, ranked #19/57 entertainment in HCM by Lonely Planet

We walked and walked and somehow ended at a place where there were lots of Japanese eateries. So decided to lunch at Hana Mizuki restaurant at Le Thanh Ton street.

After lunch, we went to a massage place for foot massage.

inclusive of tips, total is USD10

Apparently, if you're a guy, the girl masseur will attend to you and if you're a girl, then your masseur will be a guy. Hmmm...

The massage was interesting. For the head massage, seems like they use something similar to tiger balm and dot the cream on the temple. This massage place will knead the feet thoroughly and uses hot stone at the later stage. Not sure why, but the guy masseur who's attending to my friend, likes to giggle everytime we made eye-contact.

After the massage, we went to have coffee break at a place called Creperie and Cafe, near the Cathedral.

night view at Creperie and Cafe

This is also the only place where we noticed people eating the street-side snack pancake (banh xeo).

yummy thin crispy pancake

Next, we explored the night market outside of Ben Thanh.

night market
big cars can't enter the market but scooters still can

The night market, is a place where you can buy things at a good price. Do bargain before you buy. Most of the stall owners here are friendlier than Ben Thanh market.

We wanted to try Saigon's nightlife, but Lush was closed for renovations till 9 December 2011. So, ended up at a nearby restaurant for dinner instead.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | By: purple taste

Ho Chi Minh - Asian Ruby 3 Hotel

Located at 100 Le Lai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City. Sometimes the taxi stops across the street, other times it'll drive up to the slope in front of the hotel!

hotel signage
outside of the hotel
the street right outside of the hotel

The hotel bellboys were very helpful. They even came out and crossed the street to get our luggage when we had just arrived and was having slight difficulty in crossing the busy road.

hotel lobby
retro looking phone

The hotel has free internet wifi! Woohoo! Plus points.

twin deluxe room
power socket underneath the table
safe and minibar (just remember that the slippers are not complimentary~)

The room was well equipped, and the bed was nicely soft and comfortable. Just that the room doesn't have much of a window view. Mine looked out to a staircase corner.


bathtub with rain and handheld shower
reminds me of CSI....
toothbrush (and paste), shampoo, cotton bud, shower cap and comb

Just remember to bring your own shower gel because it is not provided. You'll also need to bring world travel adapter, as the power socket expects slanted legs.

complimentary drinks (the kettle is inside the bathroom)

Breakfast is provided, so we usually ate in the hotel. Breakfast ends at 10am.

breakfast spread

There's the usual bread corner and you can toast your own bread. The breakfast spread usually includes eggs, bacon, sausages, small muffins and cakes, juices, coffee/tea/milk, cereals, fruits, mini-springrolls with vegetables, fried rice/noodles/pasta, meat item such as stewed pork ribs/stewed beef/squids/chicken, porridge and soup. There's also a pho booth.


mix of everything

yummy mini-spring roll
pho
minced pork porridge but they called it "ground meat soup"? The spring roll and vegetable was added by me for decoration.. hahaa

this cake is yummy and sweet!

freshly toasted bread (by yourself of course) with butter and cheese

remember to put some ice into the concentrated juice
bacon and egg on bread smothered with butter, equals yummy! Too bad don't have baked beans

plain porridge with salted egg and fish floss (quite salty)


There were some minor variations for the breakfast items from day to day, so it wasn't that boring on the second and third day. Quite good for a 3-star hotel, imho.