My 2nd trip for 2013 was to Ho Chi Minh City with Angela. I got to know Angela during my days at IRAS and we have kept in contact till today. In our group we have another girlfriend called Hsing Hui. But Hsing Hui does not enjoy travelling therefore we were on our own for this HCMC trip.
A very kind passerby helped to take a photo of us for Angela to send to her mom.
I am truly amazed at how long Angela's hand is! She managed to take a perfect shot at the 1st attempt! Usually people like me have to keep re-taking the shot to find 1 that is barely acceptable. Anyway here we were, ready to depart!
After 2 hours we arrived in HCMC.
Not too bad, the Q was pretty short.
Waiting for our luggage.
The first thing we did was to buy a SIM card for unlimited data network. 100,000 dong (SGD 6.10) for 4 days. Totally worth it! Maggie Lim did not buy a SIM card therefore she went missing in Whatsapp for 4 days! (btw she went HK the same time as me too!)
After a 20-min cab ride we found ourselves at Hotel Intercontinental Saigon.
Our comfortable room for the 3 days.
The mini bar.
I adore this chair which was so super comfy!
Engrossed in the world of room service.
Changed and ready to explore HCMC.
Poolside
The first experience of HCMC. Busy busy traffic which we had so much trouble crossing. But by the 3rd day, we became pros!
The very first boutique we visited.
Happily trying some clothes.
Angela & Church
I think this used to be an old train station which has become a tourist attraction.
Phone booths used at atm booths now.
At another bookstore along the streets.
Food tasting at road side stalls.
Tired from the walking, we rested our bums at Highlands coffee house, a chain coffee joint.
Angela totally happy with her purchases.
A good hairwash at the mall is a must.
I just had to use the tripod at least once.
Chill Sky bar at AB tower
Rooftop, AB Tower, 76 Lê Lai, Bến Thành, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Scallops
Salad
Beef
Cod
White asparagas
Tiramisu
The cool bar area where people come to see and be seen.
Angela went in to ask for directions to Ban Thanh market.
Ban Thanh market
Day 2: French food at Augustin! Hsing Hui recommended this place so we had to try it!
10D Nguyen Thiep, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Pumpkin soup
Grilled mussels
Steak
CL spotted along the same stretch!
Shopping at the lacquer shop beside Augustin.
Moving on for some kopi.
This shop is so small and so crowded!
Traditional iced vietnam kopi for 19,000 dong and we also bought so much coffee powder from this shop.
The very smelly Melong River.
Shopping!
In HCMC, it is common to have new and old buildings located on the same stretch.
A place where the locals eat.
Angela posing for photos.
We had no idea what building this was behind us, but it was so pretty that we just had to stop for a pic.
In my opinion, HCMC is a shopping paradise! Hahaha, u just name it they have it. Hermes, Ralph Lauren, LV, Chanel, Versace, Dior, Mont Blanc, Piaget, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre and many more.
A pretty chanel bag spotted. But it is definately not any cheaper to buy it in HCMC. This bag cost USD 4600 after the 8.5% tax refund.
But photo-taking is for free!
Dinner at a random restaurant we saw.
Oh.. I hate this traditional pancake, filled with stuff which I totally dislike (eg. bean sprouts!).
Angela having her daily dose of beer. The beer cost SGD 2.50 in restaurants and SGD 50 cents in supermarkets. Super duper cheap! It was so cheap that Angela said she wanted to wash her hair in beer "-_-""
The whole fish in the hotpot.
This hotpot only cost sSGD10.
We had such a satisfying dinner! And thats all for Day 2!
Breakfast at a local cafe on the 3rd day. This wasn't the place that we first wanted to have breakfast, but because we ran out of Vietnamese dong and there was no money changer in sight, we had to pick a cafe which accepted VISA.
So amazing, it was only morning and we were feeling lazy already.
Here I am looking so tired.
I was very amazed by this family that I spotted from our window seat.
The boy was so happy that he cannot stop hugging his mother and jumping around.
And then the little sister had to join in the fun.
After the father finished his phonecall, the 4 of them rode off in the bike. Happiness can be really simple.
When the family rode off, our breakfast arrived. Club sandwich.
Omelette with egg.
The cafe from the outside. Initially we were supposed to proceed to our cooking lesson after breakfast. But we were so, so lazy that we decided to head back to the hotel room to nap. Hahaha. And after we woke up, our feasting continued.
Lunch at the mall beside the hotel.
After napping still tired. Hahaha.
Fried spring rolls
Prawn and melon soup
Pineapple fried rice
After lunch we went window shopping and walked into any shop that caught our attention. Angela spent so much time on these origami!
And she bought the whole elephant family!
The night scenes of HCMC.
The colonial buildings were really pretty under the lights. It made us feel like we are in Europe minus the number of motor bikes on the road.
180 degrees view
Beautiful door
Opera House
Hermes
Trying on in Hermes
Ralph Lauren - Are we really in HCMC?
Dinner at Le Bourgeois Restaurant @ Continental Saigon Hotel
The was one of the yummiest whiskey sour I have ever had and it only cost half of what we pay in Singapore.
Good food makes people really happy.
We ended the day with good food and live piano music.
While waiting for Angela to get ready. H&M top, Zara jeans, Prada shades and Chanel accessories.
American breakfast! Honestly Vietnam food is not to my liking as they use too much onions and bean sprouts. So whenever there was a western alternative, that would be my option.
The pretty building in the daytime.
Having our last lunch in the city before going to the airport.
Pho 24 is a chain Pho house which can be found everwhere in HCMC.
See what I mean.
Last Pedicure (dong 250,000) + Hairwash (dong 260,000) before we leave for Singapore.
This is the first time Angela and I travelled together. Having spent 4 full days togethere, I definately got to know her better... her likes and dislikes. And likewise for her, she would have gotten to know me better too. Friendship is always the very amazing part of life. People come and people go and how do you asertain who gets to stay in your life? While we embark on this trip, Liteng said: Don't quarrel with Angela. Hahaha! I am happy to say that we had a fabulous time and we are still good to go another trip together if time permits.
Thanks for reading and up next on my travelogue, Koh Samui 24 May 2013.
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