The Heat is On..in Saigon!

Inside the Post Office

I CHANCED UPON A SEAT-SALE SEASON OF CEBU PACIFIC AIR AND SPONTANEOUSLY DECIDED TO BOOK A TRIP TO SAIGON. WHY SAIGON? I HEARD OF ITS COLORFUL CULTURE, WARM PEOPLE, AND SHOPPING PLACES.






WE BOOKED a Room in A HOTEL RECOMMENDED BY MY AUNT WHO LIVED THERE BEFORE. SHE RECOMMENDED FAMILY INN SAIGON.(LocaTED AT 84A BUI THI XUAN STREET,DISTRICT 1, HO CHI MINH CITY - COntaCT #: +8 48 3925 7461/ FAMILYINNSAIGON.COM). 

THE DAY CAME AND OUR SAIGON TRIP BEGAN. WE ARRIVED SAIGON AT 12 MIDNIGHT ON A FRIDAY (SaTURDAY MORNING). IT WAS A WEEKEND THING. WE MET WITH MY AUNT AND COUSIN IN THE HOTEL AND PLANNED OUR ITINERARY. SECOND DAY CAME AND WE WERE SO EXCITED TO START ROAMING AROUND SAIGON, WHICH IS NOW CALLED HO CHI MINH CITY. I JUST HEARD THAT MOTORCYCLE IS THE PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION HERE. WHEN WE START OUR TOUR OF THE CITY WE FOUND OUT THAT.. MAN, IT REALLY IS! VIETNAMESE OF ALL AGES, GENDER, AND PROFESSION ARE ON THE STREETS WEARING THEIR HELMETS AND DRIVING THEIR BIKES AWAY! A CHALLENGE WAS CROSSING THE STREETS! BUT, CABS ARE EVERYWHERE SO TOURISTS CAN STILL HAPPILY TOUR THE CITY. WE VISITED THE WAR MUSEUM. THE PICTURES AND ARTIFACTS IN THE MUSEUM MADE ME APPRECIATE VIETNAM'S CULTURE MORE AND MADE MY HEART BROKE A BIT, KNOWING WHAT THE CITIZENS HAD TO GO THROUGH AT THAT TIME. RECOGNITION SHOULD BE APTLY GIVEN TO THOSE WHO COLLATED THE PICTURES AND WRITTEN THE WRITINGS IN THE WALLS OF THE MUSEUM THAT NARRATES EACH STORY VERY WELL. AFTER OUR HISTORICAL TOUR, WE DROPPED BY ONE OF THE FAMOUS FRENCH ARCHITECTURES IN THE CITY - THE NOTRE DAME CHAPEL. IT REMINDED ME OF MANILA CATHEDRAL, IT IS JUST THAT OUR VERY OWN IS A SPANISH ARCHITECTURAL VERSION.

WE MET A KABABAYAN IN "BARBECUE GARDEN" WHERE EVERY GRILLED FOOD YOU ORDER IS BEING DONE IN FRONT OF YOU. AND WHAT WILL COMPLETE ANY VIETNAMESE MEAL? VEGGIES! SO EVEN GRILLED FOOD HAVE INSTANT VEGGIES AS SIDEDISHES.

NEXT STOP IS FOR SHOPPING! FOR THIS SPREE WE STAYED LONG ENOUGH IN TWO FAMOUS SHOPPING SPOTS: SAIGON SQUARE AND BEN TANH MARKET. SAIGON SQUARE IS LIKE GREENHILLS WITH STALLS OFFERING GOODS AT LOW PRICES. AND SINCE VIETNAM IS WHERE FAMOUS BRANDS HAVE THEIR FACTORIES (SUCH AS NORTH FACE, KIPLING, COLUMBIA ETC) , MARKED DOWN PRICES ARE FOUND IN THESE STALLS. BEN TANH MARKET OFFERS A MORE WHOLISTIC CATEGORIES OF GOODS- FROM FOOD TO CLOTHES TO APPLIANCES TO GIFT ITEMS. THE PLACE IS DIVIDED INTO WET MARKET AND DRY. CHEAP FINDS FOR "PASALUBONGS" ARE FOUND HERE.

Saigon Square

KFC Tart

TRAVEL THOUGHTS:

OTHER TRIVIAL THINGS ABOUT VIETNAM: THERE ARE NO MC DONALDS AND STARBUCKS BRANCHES, (AT LEAST OF WHICH I SEE PERSONALLY SEE) THERE ARE SEVERAL JOLLIBEE BRANCHES THOUGH :)



EGG TART BOUGHT IN KFC BRANCHES IS A MUST TRY! 

HOW DID WE FLY?  I WOULD GIVE CEBU PACIFIC AIR - 4 OUT OF 5. WITH A FARE EQUIVALENT TO 4,000PHP (MORE OR LESS) , AND A SMOOTH FLIGHT TO EXPERIENCE, WHY WOULD NOT I GIVE A PASSING SCORE.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The other Side of the Cathedral

FAMILY INN SAIGON HOTEL - 4.5 OUT OF 5. THE ROOMS ARE SPACIOUS AND THE PRICE IS AFFORDABLE (2.5K/ROOM/NIGHT ONLY!)WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY SERVICE OF THE STAFF AND CLEANLINESS OF THE ROOMS! WE JUST WISH THAT THE STAFF ARE TRAINED TO SPEAK ENGLISH BETTER SINCE IT COULD AFFECT THE RELATIONS ASPECT TO THE GUESTS, ESPECIALLY IN NOTICING THAT GUESTS ARE OF VARIOUS NATIONALITIES.

Hotel Complimentary

Try the MZ Cafe Burger - MZ Cafe is just beside the Hotel

Saigon Morning