Vietnam

[popdod]

By the time back to HCM. Is already quite late.
Had Pho 2000 near Ben Thah market

This is the famous pho when Clinton come over.

Got US president come. Means crowded.

Price not too ex.
Regular bowl vnd$80k = sgd$4.80.

Jiak bah bah. Go back hotel. \o/ \o/

 

[figo16]

After Cao Dai temple. Time for lunch.
Klook will include lunch if is a full day event. But most lunch r simple stuff. Can eat lor. But dun expect foodie standards

After lunch. Proceed to the exciting Cu Chi Tunnels which is about
1.5 hours from Cao Dai temple
Cu chi tunnels is a must visit place.
This is the place where they fight against Americans and a lot Americans lost their lives there.

Even though Americans are bigger build & hav advanced weapons
But
They still lose to Vietchong clever Guerilla tactics

First. We must cross then underpass fo get in the entrance
Why underpass?? Cu chi tunnel mah.

And u come out from the other side.
All the vietchong mei mei ready to welcome u. \o/ \o/

My Yandao local guide demonstrate this is the entrance to the tunnel back then.

Very small right? This is the tactic from Vietchong.
Coz
Ang Moh GIs r very big size. So they can’t squeeze in to look for them
Smart right. Using their vietchong small petite size as an advantage.
And they cover the top with leaves.

Bui kia better don’t try.
Kanna stuck must call for help. :[
Don’t waste people time.

This is how small the hole is.
San por Kia then can go in. \o/ \o/

Very exciting trip report

 

[Henabi]

i think hanoi much better than hcm. halong bay, tam coc, mui chao ,sapa aloo got nice nice scenery

mekong delta looks like a giant longkang.

A longkang which can feed 5 different countries... and a Delta which feeds the whole nation

Show some respect lah... Our sinkie leever only feed the sea

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[popdod]

A longkang which can feed 5 different countries... and a Delta which feeds the whole nation

Show some respect lah... Our sinkie leever only feed the sea

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

I think he meant the scenic view isn’t that great as what ppl described as
I think I understand his perspective.

Which is why is important to understand the history of Mekong Delta
Why so many lives lost in that river.

Once u understand the history.
U view it differently.


So better go War Muesum to understand more.
I’m sure the trip will be fun & enriching. \o/ \o/

Hard Mekong Delta Truths.

 

[Henabi]

Different areas of Vietnam offers different scenes.

I hope I can explore the rest like Hoi An, Hue, Ha long bay, sapa

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[Beefsteak]

Yeah man.

That's why I'm going there to learn more about their history.

 

[juxtaposition]

I have to say many yrs ago I went same tour as u, cuchi n cao dai temple. My conclusion is I will not revisit.

 

[popdod]

After yesterday long day out ot HCM.
Today just wanna travel nearby. Tiring.

Morning went to the Jade Emperor Pagoda.
Actually is a small temple.

This Taoist temple built in early 1900s.
Got more than hundred years history.

Next is the Vietnamese History museum
Which is very near to Jade Emperor.

This big vase is made of 200,000 coconut shells.

The museum wasn’t well maintained.
What a waste.
So many hundred of years of Vietnam history
But wasn’t presented in a nice way.
Need to improve in this area.

They even have a mummified Vietnamese dated 18xx
The body is well preserved.
Respect the dead. Never take picture.

Entry fee to the museum is Vnd$30,000 = sgd1.80
One of the cheapest museum I went so far. \o/ \o/

Next to the museum is a zoo.
But reviews said the animals r kept in a poor condition
So never visit.

 

[popdod]

Come to HCM , of coz must go Saigon skydeck aka Bitexco tower
Entry fee is vnd$200,000 = sgd$12.

This financial ctr design inspired by Lotus, and lotus is Vietnam National flower
Cost USD$300 million to build it.

The view is nice. Really shows HCM developing.
But from what I see. It will takes another 20-40yrs
To become a developed country.

On the left is district 1.
On the right is district 2 ( the upcoming CBD area in 15yrs time )
According to their master plan.

Looking at the big space. I doubt can be done in 15yrs
Unless they can follow China.

Like msia. Some of the construction r abandoned.
Lack of funds I guess.
What a waste of precious space.

The skydeck wasn’t crowded. One thing I noticed is
Very few ah Tiongs in this HCM.
Usually ah Tiongs will flood the tourist areas.

Inside the observation deck. There is a mini ao Dai exhibition

 

[popdod]

See finish Liao. Go makan lunch.
This Mam Bac is very near to Bitexco tower
3 mins walk. Google it if u r visiting Bitexco

The review say Bun Cha is nice.
But I hungry. So ordered broken rice with pork. (Com tam)
Dunno why is called Broken rice. :[

The food is delicious. And the white drink is Kumquat smoothie (juice actually)

Must try!! \o/ \o/

Total vnd$150,000 = Sgd$9

Next go to Ben Tanh market to exchange some money
This money changer is very crowded. And rate is ok
Just changed today.
sgd$100 = VND$170,000


Then jalan jalan shops

This is a concept shop. Level 2 is cafe.
They sell commes des garcons clothings but higher price

Next to Lu’sine is Ginkgo.
Ginkgo is a concept store. Vietnamese design.
But items kinda ex.

The 2 shops r just across the Ben Tanh market
Behind the mrt construction.

 

[popdod]

Read some reviews and saw this.
Decided to try it out.

Got win awards means good. \o/ \o/

This Hu Tieu Lien soup noodle is quite tasty.
Got pig liver , prawn , meat & usual raw veggies

Vnd$100,000 = sgd$6.

I think is quite expensive in local context.

Personally I quite like the taste.\o/

Jiak bah bah. Go back my hotel nearby walk walk.
At night. The lighting makes the picture different.
Looks more grand.

They have a wkend event. They sealed the road.
No wonder no motorist horning sound. Lol.

On the left. U see a lot of cubicles shops.
Those are your cafes. If you like cafe hopping.
This building is your favourite.

All the cafes.
Drink until song song.

Event programme.
Not sure what event today.

 

[Henabi]

The dragon boat festival.

It's very very big in Vietnam. That event is just the start...

When I first visited HCMC 7 years ago... D2 was almost look like an endless stretch of grass field with small pockets of shop houses here and there.

Then suddenly, condos spring up everywhere. And now landmark 81.

Sent from Henabi virus using GAGT

 

[popdod]

Ohhh. No wonder they have an event there.
Saw many security there.

 

[grapewall]

i think hanoi much better than hcm. halong bay, tam coc, mui chao ,sapa aloo got nice nice scenery

mekong delta looks like a giant longkang.

Is it a good time to visit Hanoi in December? Intending to go during christmas.

 

[fortunehunter]

The review say Bun Cha is nice.
But I hungry. So ordered broken rice with pork. (Com tam)
Dunno why is called Broken rice. :[

This dish is call Com Suon.
Com Tam is broken rice.

If you notice the broken rice you ate is not like our full grain of Thailand rice, is actually half or may be 2/3 of it.
When in the process of removing the husk from the rice, some rice may breaks and this call the broken rice in vietnam and si more expensive there compare to a full grain rice.

In Singapore or Thailand broken rice is consider a lower quality.

 

[fortunehunter]

They have a wkend event. They sealed the road.
No wonder no motorist horning sound. Lol.

On the left. U see a lot of cubicles shops.
Those are your cafes. If you like cafe hopping.
This building is your favourite.

This street is call nguyen hue aka walking street.
every weekend they will seal the road for people to enjoy and take selfie.
During Tet (our CNY) or their national day they will have much more performance and events.

 

[popdod]

This morning went to Ho chin Minh city museum
Very near to my hotel.

All these French buildings either become museums or gov buildings

Vietchong couple wanna take wedding photos here
Must pay Vnd$400,000 = sgd$24.

Wedding dress machiam not very nice.
Looks very 80s.
But
Couple Jin happy. \o/ \o/

The museum is not very big. Quite small
2 levels.
Displaying some antiques , notes , war weapons & cultural stuff
In short. Japalang all in one.
If u wanna see war stuff. Better go war museum.
Anyway. Can’t complain much.
Entry fee is only vnd$30,000 = sgd$1.80 only.

Stories of uprising war against the French.
Keep raising high taxes until the vietchong cannot take it
Chiam. Singapore gonna raise tax to 9% soon.

And also some old video of vietchong against the Americans

The museum not crowded and not well maintained.
Tiles popped out. Door frames cracking.
Guess the curator doesn’t have much budget.

Not bad to visit if u r just around the corner
A quick summary of Vietnam history.

\o/ \o/ \o/

 

[popdod]

Done with my museum walk.
Time to go Gai gai.

Heard Singapore gov invested a lot in Vietnam.
So gonna check it out.


Went to SC Vivocity. , 15mins bike ride from Vincom

It’s the same branding as vivocity.
And you see familiar developer like Mapletree.
They have mapletree office building as well.

The malls operate like Singapore version.
Well maintained. Organized & clean.

5 storey mall. Most of the shops u can find it familiar

https://i.postimg.cc/fbfD5Ygw/1-AFBC7-**-5-BC9-4-F4-D-8522-24-A834-FB3-F1-F.jpg

The usual suspects. Breadtalk, Ya Kun , Charles & Keith and even
Swee Lee. Our local guitar shop (see top left)

Walk finish go lunch.
Went to this Golden Jade Dim Sum at 1st floor.
Machiam Crystal Jade

Char siew pastry

Fried bean curd skin
+
(Ha Gao)
No need show right. ?!!

Black Sesame ball.


Total damage vnd$300k = sgd$17.90

Jiak bah bah. Time to watch movie.
Godzilla

\o/ \o/ \o/

 

[popdod]

Anyone eat this before ?
Is it nice?

They use tomatoe broth??
Any review?

 

[fortunehunter]

Anyone eat this before ?
Is it nice?

They use tomatoe broth??
Any review?

Yup makan before but at district 7.
The broth have a slight tomato taste with the mud crab and is nice, you can't get this type of taste in Singapore.

Is a must try.