Gosh it has been so long, almost exactly one year since this blog has seen any action. I am so sorry for not keeping up. Between work, family and a little me time, I’ve had little bandwidth to keep up with this hobby of mine.
But there is a good excuse today. I am in Ho Chi Minh City, 12 years later, on a whim! I booked the tickets to fly here a week ago and ta da now I am actually here on this very ground, alone and free of children. My only companion, my trusty Eevee. (Husband caught up with work so it really is just me…)
Anyway not going to write a long post here. First impressions of the city… It is still developing so most part of it looks unfinished. Houses are flat and pretty homogeneous in looks. There has been an addition of an ultra modern skyscraper which dominates the otherwise uninspiring skyline of the city. The number of motorcycles on the roads have thankfully cleared up quite a bit though the incessant peep peep can still be heard echoing through the city. There are more neon lights and it seems like the city has become a lot more lively at night. What has remained the same – the streets are still traumatic to cross albeit there are some semblance of zebra crossing markers and pockets of traffic lights now. And innocent tourists are still fleeced of their monies. Twelve years older and still I got bitten twice today and feeling super sore about it.
Anyway I’ll leave Eevee to do the rest of the narrative.
All my bags are packed I’m ready to go!Leaving on a jet plane from T1. Looking at the super barren landscape as works for T5 commences.Ho Chi Minh City Hall. A very colonial looking palatial building fronting a boulevard that leads to the Saigon River. We will check it out tomorrow.Made it to our hotel in one piece though after being suckered of three times the normal price of an airport transfer. Pls take note it shouldn’t cost more than VND200,000. ASK and confirm the price before boarding, don’t use the meter!
PS. For my trip back to airport, I hailed a Vinasun taxi and the trip cost me only VND157, 000 by meter. So meter isn’t the culprit here, probably the taxi I took was not from a reputable company.
First order of business – learn to cross the roads in the city. Zebra crossing markers help to guide lost souls where they can try to start crossing. Don’t bother to wait for the motorcycles to stop, but they will slow down if they see you. Don’t attempt this with cars though, it is definitely gonna hurt you more than them.Second order of business – Dinner! A quick Google search recommends Den Long as the #9 place to eat in HCMC. I was bought by the word Home cooked, mmm sounds authentic so we took a 30mins walk from our hotel pass Ben Thanh Market to the restaurant.Dinner is served! Menu looks appetizing and exciting and I was bursting to try everything. Alas I have only one stomach. Ordered the grilled plaice with spicy lime sauce and it was absolutely heavenly. Grilled to a crispy perfection yet retaining the sweet marinade and the soft tender meat, dipped in the tangy sauce. Wonderful combination. Seems like this is a tourist/travellers haunt. No locals in sight but the youthful wait staff speak good English and are very friendly. Definitely worth the trip.With our tummies satisfied, comes third order of business – retail therapy and nowhere to begin your shopping expedition than at Ben Thanh Market which transforms into a pasar malam at night.. Duh. Though be warned don’t spend all your money here. This place is a tourist trap and prices start exorbitantly high to fleece innocent travellers like me. I later learn from one of the stall owners that the expectation is to bargain. What. Slash by more than half with the intent of paying no more than half the original quoted prices. Also don’t be fooled by the labels, I don’t think the stuff here are authentic.
Back at HCM state garden and it has taken on a new life from just a few hours earlier. It has become a hang out place for locals who come here to chill and feel celebratory with the lights and water fountains. And oh hi Mr Ho Chi Minh.
