Ho Chi Minh [Saigon], Vietnam (2013)

I am proud of Manila, my city.  Kahit ano pang sabihin nila maganda ang Maynila, iyong tipong marumi at mabaho pero may character.  I have not been to Bangkok and iyong mga ibang main cities so again, biased comment ito. 

Unexpectedly, my second favorite Asian city will be Saigon.  Infernes, I fell in love with the place and because of that I fell in love with Vietnam as well.  This business trip was a continuation of the 2013 Indonesia escapade.  So after the Yogyakarta adventure, I came back to Jakarta and took my flight to HCMC from there.  This was a 9-day stay.  Arrived Sunday night.

Caravelle Room

First timer, so a bit anxious kung ano ang process sa immigration and especially this is a Socialist country, baka mas mahigpit.  To my own surprise, voila!!! dali dali wala ng check check ng passport, stamp stamp lang and then exit na.  


Expected ko na nagkalat ang mga motor sa kalye pero kaloka dahil minsa limahan ang sakay ng motor.  Accomodation was Caravelle Hotel, very nice hotel - weather same as Manila, humid... very humid.


Monday to Friday, all about work.  Vietnamese, like Filipinos and Indonesians are really friendly and accommodating.  Iyon nga lang akala nila straight ako at kung sinu-sino ang nireretong mga girlalu, pretty naman kaso hanggang dun na lang iyon.  During those days, we visited interesting Vietnamese restaurants serving delicious and good delicacies.  And there was the SUPER DUPER BEST na French Restaurant pero later na iyan.

SH Garden's Lotus Rice

Lahat ng mga nakausap ko about Vietnam, food trip ang nangyayari.  Same thing with my adventure kahit na I have a boring taste bud (ayoko ng mababangong food na feeling ko made sa bulaklak). 

Below is the list of restaurants tried,

• Baby Spoon - uhmmm don't try here.  Chenes lang ito dahil na rin walang maisip na kainan
• Pizza Hut - best Vietnam pizza echos!
• Cafe Terrace - not really serving Vietnam but if you want to take a break and have Italian, keribels na ito medyo pricey though.
• SH Garden - good and wapak sa presentation
• Wrap and Roll - puro rolls, aba malamang!

Now, there are 2 restaurants na BEST BEST BEST, one serving VN food and the other French Cuisine.  

The first must-try restaurant is Cuc Gach Quan.

Rumor has it na nagdine dito ang Jolie-Pitt nung inadopt si Maddie

Then we have the French Trois Gourmands - medyo far far away na siya na kaunti from Saigon Central.  Yes - expensive siya pero compare to authentic na French cuisine, super mura na ng price dito.

Escargot

How it goes is that you will be asked to order for appetizer and main, of course drinks also.  Typically they serve Bread and Butter, iba ibang choices ng bread. Then, appetizer - I ordered escargot or suso, first timer.

After ng starter, next is the main.

Steak

After main - they will serve you cheese, variation of cheese

Say Cheese!

Super comfortable ako magiikot sa Saigon, business sessions end early, normally 3pm.  So ang ginagawa ko lakad dito - lakad doon, laging Ben Thanh Market ang pinupuntahan ko.  I say in terms of prices, di nagkakalayo sa Manila kaya ang sarap mamili.  

Suki... Pili na...

The Opera

I tried the Stone Massage, keri lang naman babae iyong nagmamasahe na hagikgik ng hagikgik.  To be honest, natatakot ako ng slight baka akala niya eh go ako sa ES, buti na lang happy girl lang siya.

 Friday ang schedule ng flight ni A to Saigon, unfortunately namiss niya iyong flight.  So iyong free Opera House chorvah namin, wala na din.  He arrived past 12mn sa Saigon and then we have a whole day (1/2 + 1/2) city tour on this day.  Kaya borlogs na ang A sa second half ng tour.

Saigon City Hall

The tour included visits to Saigon Post Office, Jade Emperor Pagoda, Notre Dame de Saigon, Reunification Palace, and War Remnants Museum.

War Remnants Museum tour was sad and eye opener.  I always thought na bida ang US sa Vietnam War turned out hindi pala.  This is something you shouldn't miss when you go to HCMC.

Overall, head over heels ako sa Saigon and maybe next time - Hanoi naman.  Fingers crossed.