Auntie Kakak Anne : Ho Chi Minh- Em Yeu Anh (Ho Chi Minh I Love You)

Assalamualaikum..

Walalalalalaweh.. everyone! This time around Aunty Kakak just came back from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Since everyone asked how was it, so here it goes.

This is my first time to HCMC. I went with a friend Miss F. She was eager to shop. So do i. But i'm more thrilled to see the places and try their local dishes. We searched for days to collect more info before we could plan our trip to HCMC. Most helpful websites are cari.com (travel), agoda, tripadvisor and etc. We booked the Malaysia Airlines Tickets to HCMC. It saves us more because we don't have to pay extra for luggage and meals. The prices are inclusive of 20kg luggage, 7kg hand luggage and a meal each, to and fro. though the price are much higher compared to Air Asia or other airlines, to go to HCMC and pay extra on luggage was a waste we think. So MAS it was.

What to bring:

Passport/ID

Of course, please check your passport. Mine was ok because the exipry date is in 2017. There was an incident at the airport when we were leaving Malaysia. A girl was scolded by the immigration officer as her passport will expire in less than 6 months. She too had a problem when entering HCMC. She was escorted by the HCMC officers. But she managed to get it through (we saw her shopping at the market the next day).

Clothes

Bring less clothes. Buy them at the markets in HCMC. It's much cheaper and you'll have more space in the luggage. Don't wear/ bring thick clothes. T shirts or blouse would do best. Jeans and trousers are most helpful. You'll walk faster in them. Try not to wear high heels or wedges. Wear as simple as you can. slippers/ flat shoes should do. To those who wear tudung, and needs pressing, bring your own iron. or else you'll be charged 20, 000 dong (RM 3-4 per piece). Err.. dont forget your undies.. i did. I ended up buying new ones at HCMC. If you prefer, wear cotton disposable undies.

Cash/ Currencies:

Vietnam uses the Dong as their currencies. 100, 000 dong equals to about RM15. It is advisable for you to change you RM to US Dollar and changed it to Dong only at HCMC. Your buying power is higher in Dong. I changed RM 50 to Dong, just enough to pay taxi and the dinner for the first night. Taxi would only costs you max 200, 000 Dong. But you can get cheaper than that. The rest of the monies, i changed it to US Dollar.

Electronics:

Hand phones, tabs, laptops, charges or batteries. Vietnam uses a 2 pin pluggins. Bring a 2 pin adapter with you. Bring your calculator with you. Not the one in your phones.

Kiblat/ Prayer times:

I downloaded Muslim Pro application in my phone. It has everything, time prayer, Qiblat direction, digital Quran, it recognizes several halal places within 5 KM around you. This helped because the hotel rooms does not provide Qiblat direction and Al-Quran. Bring you telekung or you can just bought a new one there at HCMC. I asked for extra towels from the housekeeping as Sejadah.

Others:

Don't forget your toiletteries namely shampoo, shower, razors, lotions. You don't have to bring a toothbrush because the hotel provides one everyday. But this is all up to you. Bring your sunblock lotion and apply it when neccessary. Buy a disposable face mask as it will be dusty in HCMC.

Ok here we go.

Day 1:

A dear friend of mine sent us to the airport at KLIA for departure. The flight takes off at 5.10 pm. But it was delayed for about an hour. So we departed at 6.10 pm instead. The flight attendants were all males. We were so very lucky.. hahaha (don't bother us)! We were given a meal each and i chose Fish Curry with steamed rice. Miss F had chicken steamed rice. That's for dinner. The flight took us 1 hour and 45 minutes.

We landed Than Son Nath Airport, at HCMC around 8.30 pm Vietnam time. It was one hour early here in Vietnam. As soon as we arrived, we walked to the entrance. Before the main door, you'll see an information counter on your left and a few Taxi operators counters. Head for Vinasun and Mai Linh ONLY. We took the Vinasun. Showed the attendant at the counter the name of the hotel we're heading and he'll write you a coupon. Pay for it and wait at a corner and he'll escort you to the taxi himself. (some of our Malaysians walked out of the arrival hall and head to the departure area. They say the taxis are much cheaper from there. But you have to rush and push with other passengers.). The taxi costs us 200,000 Dong/ car. So we split the pay.

It was a crowded night and our taxi driver seems to be lost. He drove to the hotel while looking at the map and calling out his friends in the phone maybe asking for directions. He seems young so we guessed he's not that experienced. Thank god we have paid earlier at the counter (pre-paid).. or else we'll be neck to neck throat cutting to pay the taxi as the meter runs. After about 1 hour, we arrived at the hotel. Being new, we expected the hotel to be majestic and whatever yada yada yada.... haha to our surprise it was just a small hotel. The buildings in HCMC are mostly in small scales but goes up. We asked the taxi driver whether we're at the wrong place but the bell boy came and showed us the small hotel. We laughed hard.

The bell boy, well.. us being informed earlier from a friend who came last week knew him immidietly. We checked in at the hotel, mentioned our name to the receptionist at the counter and they welcomed us warmly. We paid there and then the room charges. We were then escorted to the room.

We stayed at the Saigon Pink 2 Hotel. Near Ben Thanh Market. A 9 storey hotel. We took Super deluxe room. It had a lift and we were on the 4th floor.

Here's the room. A decent room.

THE TOILET AND SHOWER

THE FRIDGE (WATER & COLA CHARGEABLE)

Ouh.. did i mention that upon our arrtival at the hotel, there was a blackout in our street? So, we went out to see the places only to know that Ben Thanh Night Market was only 30 steps away from our hotel.. Wow! He're what it looks like at the Night Market.

It looks and feels the same as our own Malaysian night market. I rated the prices as 3 times cheaper than our Malaysian uptowns. Survey around first.. buy only if you really want. there's a trick to buying here. i'll tell you later.

We then headed back to the hotel after a bag of Deuter, a Kipling sling bag and a pack of fruits. We inquire the receptionist for a tour to Mekong Delta and Chu Chi Tunnel. We took each tour on daily basis. Mekong Delta one day trip. and Chu Chi Tunnel one day trip. (we would have taken the Muslim Tour but we only came to know about it during the Mekong Tour~ so.. up to you guys now). Chu Chi Tunnel costs us USD 10 and Mekong Delta USD15. After all the confirmation and the lights came back, we head straight to bed, excited for tommorrow.

Day 2:

The Subuh was on 4.35 am. We took our breakfast Mia Guy Hotel because our hotel does not have a cafeteria. But all we were confident to have were the bread and orange juices. We brought our lunches (toastem gardenia bread and a bottle of water) to the tour. Oh.. today we're leaving for the Chu Chi Tunnel. The tour bus picked us up in front of the hotel and went around the town to pickup for the rest of the tour members in several hotels.

Our tour guide, Jackie was a vietnam war veteren. He told us the history of vietnam, vietkong, khmer rouge and stuffs. Did you know that Vietnam has 91 million population and with this number, they have 45 million motorbikes on the road. Count that and imagine the traffic. We entered into the national highway to Chu Chi (btw the national highway are like plus highway except they don't have road dividers and everyone seems to be selling something at the highway-side). The bus stopped a handicraft factory. It was interesting but importantly we stopped for the toilets (which we don't prefer-it smells).

We then head straight to Chu Chi Tunnel. Jackie collected the entrance fee from us. That would be 90, 000 dong each. We were brought and explained what happened in these places. You'll know when you're there. We went into the tunnels (we took the shortest) and it was awesome. Some of the tour member even finished up the rest of the tunnel and came out perspiring like hell. We were almost soaked in sweat. Though the forest seems shady but there were no breeze to cool us off. Fuhhh.. berpeloh ketiak mak!! :) Chu Chi Tunnels were underground village of settlements of the vietnamese soldiers during WWI. It was fully equip with hospitals, weapons factory, kitchens, rooms, training spots and the field were full with dangerous traps each were deadly spikes. Imagine how they lived 6-7 feet below for over 38 years.

We then head back to HCMC and Jackie dropped us at the Ben Thanh Market (which is 5 mins walk to hotel). We took our shower and head out for dinner. We walked a bit further behind Ben Thanh Market, and we found a halal malaysian cuisine restaurant called Serai Restaurant fully owned by a Muslim Malay Vietnamese. I had the famous Pho bo (mee sup daging) and Miss F had Pho ga (mee sup ayam). We both fell in love instantly with the Vietnamese ice milk coffee.

MUST TRY VIETNAMESE PRAWN SPRING ROLL

MUST TRU VIETNAMESE ICE MILK COFFEE

After the dinner, we walked around the buildings and the night market. The prices are surprisingly cheap. I spent almost 2 million dong today. But being so carefull, both of us had it eventually. We were tricked to a high price (it seems very very super low price that time), but as we walked back to the hotel to call it a day, we found another shop unimaginably 3 times cheaper than the one we bought! Argghhh.. stress!

Day 3:

We took our breakfast at our room. But to think that no muslim / halal food served during lunch at the Mekong Delta, we had nasi lemak at Hjh Basiroh's. Hjh basiroh sells cloths, ready made kurungs and telekungs. But it also opened up a small table and a counter for halal food. The tables can only take up 6-8 persons at a time. The food was ok. They only served nasi lemak, telur mata kerbau, karipap, and murtabak vietnam.

We then took off by bus. the tour bus again picked us up at the hotel. What a funny joke when the tour informed us that there will be lunch at the Mekong Delta and in reply Miss F said we cant have those as we only eat halal food. Expect the reply, the tour guide-we called him Buffallo said "Don't worry, no babi for you". Hahahaha we laughed hard. He seems to know the word "babi".. aiyo. We then changed it to khinzir later afterwards.

Upon arrival at the jetty, we took a boat. The Mekong Delta was a huge river. Buffallo said that the river was where many battles took place during the WWI. Many people died. Many ships sanked. But the river was the main source for everyone to farm, fish and trade. There were several islands along the river. We stopped at the Coconut Island where the coconut plantations are. There, they made coconut candy (hand made) and i even took pictures with a pyhton.

Well, the candy was nice but there was a few dogs lying around under the tables where they make the candies. So, up to you guys. They also sells the candy, ginger sugar candy and nut candy. Buffallo offered us a snake wine~ Ewww...

We then took the boat to Phoenix Island for lunch. Since lunch was served non halal, we took our seats at the restaurant and opened up our lunch boxes. We had cheese sandwiches and tinned rendang ayam to go. Lucky us we met a malay muslim couple who went for the tour with a muslim tour agency. The muslim tour agency provided them nasi goreng with ayam and fried egg. They offered us a pack and we shared. Alhamdulillah. Jumpa juga orang Malaysia yang baik hati. They were Abang Rashid and Kak Azizah, Their daughter Ina joined them. We spent almsot 2 hours on the island. There were crocodiles, fishing ponds and etc.

We then head to another island i.e the bee farm. We were served with honey lemon tea. Bought us a few bottles of honey.

We then were asked to take a ride on a sampan. The sampan was rowed by the villagers be it ladies or men. they seem to be strong! There were 6 of us in one sampan. They rowed us along a narrow river. There were villages at the river banks. Everyone asked for tips.. "Tips tips tips tips" they would say to us irregardless they served us or not. We tipped them accordingly. No fixed fee. We stopped at a small jetty and walked to an orchard. We were served with several kinds of fruits and entertained by singing performances by the locals. It was fun. Ouh... more tips after their performances. hehe..

We then took off to the main jetty and head straight back to hotel. We were exhausted by then. We head back to hotel. Took our showers, and went out again for dinner at VN Halal but the menus was out of ingredients so we walked almost 2Km to Halal @ Saigon which were situated in front of the Sheraton Hotel and infront of the Blue Mosque. The Food was awesome we came nack the next day. Tried the vienamese cuisine and of course the ice milk coffee. Heading back, we met Abg Rashid and his wife. We walked back to the hotel together and stooped at places like The Opera and etc along the way. Abg and Kak Azizah shared their experiences to us where to shop, where to go etc. We departed ourselves at the night market. More shopping but with more and more caution!

We head back to hotel and called it a day. Penat kot! (balik kira duit fr tomorrow's shopping spree).

I havent the time to continnue. I have to go. But hear me this:

If you want to buy something, ask for the price. They would start high e.g 450,000. You go down to 100,000 instantly. They would refuse and bargained you. NEVER raised your price from that 100, 000. Tell them that's your price. Walk away and they'll agree to your price.

TO SHOP:	PLACES TO SHOP:
COTTON USD9-USD12	NO. 433 BEN THAN MARKET (DAM)
BAJU KURUNG MANIK USD20-USD30	TUYET SHOP (DEPAN DAM)
JUBAH MANIK USD15	THUY DOC FASHION (NO. 480, 526-530)
TELEKUNG VIETNAM USD10-11 (Kedai Hasanah/ Aziz- Row Saigon Pink 2 hotel & Hjh Basiroh)	BINH THAY MARKET (CHINATOWN)- Taxi Vinasun 40,000 dong/way
VIETNAM SILK USD6/M		BUS NO. 1 (4000 DONG)
VIETNAM T-SHIRT RM10 (quality at Taka Plaza)		LAST BUSTOP
HAND LUGGAGE USD8		NAIK DEPAN BEN THAN
SMOCK DRESS USD5	PASAR MALAM BENH THAN
Vietnam COFFEE 35-45K Dong	HONG ANH 5 MINH
FRIDGE MEGNET (Hasanah cheapest)	MAI SAIGON
JADES/ ROCKS	TAKA PLAZA
TEMPAH SUIT/ LEATHER JACKET	AN DONG PLAZA
SUNGLASSES	SAIGON PLAZA
T-SHIRT BRANDED	DUC THINH SILK (HIGH END SILK STORE)
JEANS/ SKIRTS	LE LOI STREET (LEATHER PRODUCTS)
TUDUNGS	SAIGON CENTRE
	KEDAI SARA NO. 520 (CAKAP MELAYU) TAKA PLAZA

There were also high class branded boutique LV, Gucci. Louboutine, Armani etc. Go ahead from Ben Thanh Market to the Sheraton Area. You'll see those branded items in display rooms. Prices are of course much higher and expensive.

Places to eat:

Halal @ Saigon -Near sheraton hotel (we went twice) food was great. price was affordable. viet ice coffee was the best!

VN Halal - ok but not recommended. near Ben Thanh and in row with Baskin Robbins. Ice coffee was terrible. Though JJCM wen there, we doubted the owners. Workers wear shorts and skirts, men wear necklaces and the girls had quitecks (nail polished). price was ok.

Serai Malaysian Food-Near Ben Thanh Market. Ice coffee was great. Food was nice. price was affordable. Newly opened.

Champa Restaurant- In front of Serai restaurant. It had a shop that sells tudung, baju etc. You woyld have to go inside the shop, took the stairs up and make your orders. Inform the owners you're having your lunch. Food was superb, nicely done and suprisingly CHEAP! RECOMMENDED to those with tight bugjet.

Hjh Basiroh: In front of Saigon PInk hotel and Hoang lai Hong Hotel. Biasa je. Over rated.

Here are more pictures if any help could guide you in HCMC:

REX SHOPPING ARCADE 15 MIN WALK FROM BEN THAN MARKET

GUCCI BOUTIQUE (LG FLOOR TO SHERATON HOTEL

HALAL @ SAIGON. WHOLLY OWNED BY MALAYSIAN MALAY MUSLIM (They took Over from last Indian Muslim Singaporean Owner 5 months ago. (July 2012). We met the knew owner, a young male. Walk towards Sheraton Hotel. Halal @ Saigon situated a row with 24h KK mart and in front of the Blue Mosque.