Filipino Travelog: HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM

South East Asian Tour (Part 2)

DAY 1 (March 29, 2012-Thur) MANILA, PHIL

Flight:
We had a flight via Cebu Pacific at around 11pm on March 29 and arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at 1am on March 30 (Fri) (Fare: Php 926 or USD 29.53)

DAY 2 (March 30, 2012-Fri) HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) CITY, VIETNAM

Taxi:

We had a terrible experience during our first day in this city. Taxi drivers don't usually use their meter, instead they will give a fixed price to your desired destination. The driver who brought us to our hotel sucks! He asked us to pay $10 then after we got off the taxi he was now asking for $15. This driver seemed that he was not able to understand English, since no one could help us so late at night, we just didn't mind it even we tried to argue.

Accommodation:
Sunny Hotel- $21 a night for 2 with a very plain breakfast (a cup of local coffee, 2-pc sunny-side-up egg and 1 pc of baguette)

Tourist Sites

- walking tour that can be done for one whole day
1. Ben Than Market- free attraction
One of the must-visit destinations in Saigon is Ben Tanh Marker. This is a large marketplace where you can buy souvenir shirts, traditional vietnamese clothes, accessorries, and different flavor of Vietnamese coffee in reasonable price. You can easily see it with the belfry and a clock on its entrance just walking distance from the Pham Ngu Lao Road.

Admission: free

2. Ho Chi Minh City Museum- entrance fee is 15,000 VND, opens daily 8-5pm
This houses some artifacts, dioramas of typical Vietnamese life a few decades ago, Vietnam war, and people when they got their independence, and paintings made by their well-known artists.
Tips:
*The museum is actually not airconditioned, so expect that it will be hot inside.
*Basically, I was astounded that there were few staffs looking after the place. In fact, they were not that strict to visitors taking photos of things inside, that's why we had a chance to take some.

(this is how the ticket looks like)

(brochure)

Location: Hồ Chí Minh City Museum is a historical site in Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam. The museum is situated at the corner of Lý Tự Trọng and Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa streets, near Reunification Palace, originally known as Independence Palace.
Admission: 15,000 VND or USD0.71

opens daily 8-5pm

3. Ho Chi Minh City Hall (not open to the public, free attraction) you can take a photo at the gate but you have to ask a permission 1^st

Frommer's (6th ed.)

"Constructed b/w 1902 & 1908

Location: Facing Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dis 1."

4. General Post Office (Buu Dien)- free attraction

Frommer's (6th ed.)

"You can see the huge map of Vietnam on the main entrance and portrait of Uncle Ho in the rear

- specialty stamps counter has some great collector sets for sale

Location: 2 Coq Xu Paris, Dis 1

Open: daily, 6:30am to 10pm."

souvenirs at the post office

5. Notre Dame Cathedral- free attraction

Frommer's (6th ed.)

"The neo-Romanesque cathedral was constructed b/w 1877 -1883 using bricks from Marcilles & stained glass windows from Charters.

Location: near the intersection of Dong Khoi and Nguyen Du streets, Dis 1

Open: Mon-Sat, 8-10:30 am and 3-4pm."

6. War Remnants Museum-

I was pretty excited to visit the museum because for one reason, the place will cool us down from a scorching heat coming from a half-day travel outside, and to my surprise i was not prepared emotionally to witness the tragic history of vietnam war. As what other tourists mostly from different parts of the world reacted, some felt mad toward American soldiers and others sympathized to millions of war victims. The museum is a vivid collection of brutal torture, the excruciating memories that people may have been carrying until they die, and the struggle of most victims with physical disabilities, some are amputees while others suffer from mental problems. One floor is designated for things used during the war such as guns and bullets with different sizes, and some description of chemical for mass destruction of the lands and people of Vietnam. Right in front of the museum, you can see memorabilias of helicopter, jet planes, and canons used during the war.

(brochure)

Location: 28 Vo Van Tan St, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Admission: VND 10,000 or USD .48

Market:

-You must haggle the price
Ben Than Market
1. 3 pcs of magnetic Ms Saigon souvennir- 23,000 VND

2. 10-pc key chain- 67,000 VND

3. 1 pc of Ms Saigon figurine- 23,000 VND

4. 1 pc of ceramic magnetic- 7,000 VND

5. 2-pc ceramic magnetic- 23,000 VND

6. Souvenir Shirt- 70,000 VND

Food & Beverage:
1. Baguette- with ham of your choice and some garnishing (12,000 to 15,000 VND)

2. Bottled mineral water (1L)- 8,000 VND

3. A box of coffee- 25 pcs (60,000) originally at 44,000 VND

Restaurant or Fastfood:
1. Lotteria (a Korean-based fastfood)

It is a korean-based fastfood chain, more famous in this country rather than on its own.The first time I tried this, particularly the unique taste and spice of Teriyaki burger in Seoul was in 2005. It even got more scrumptious and spicier when I tried these meals in Saigon seen on photo.

H&S Chicken Ball Rice- 40,000 VND + cold milk tea (price is not included)

2. Pho (Vietnamese noodles)

A bowl of noodles with drinks- 56,000 VND (must try this in Vietnam)

PHO (VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP)
Tried authnetic Vietnamese noodle in PHo Hai Thien Restaurant, located at the city centre of Saigon.
Price:
Tainam Vien with free lemon and silantro- VND 45,000 or USD 2.14
Pho Bo Vien with free lemon or silantro- VND 38,000 or USD 1.81
Pennywort- VND 20,000 or USD 0.98