Ho Chi Minh - Cu Chi Tunnel

Cu Chi Tunnels - 9th March 2007
Cu Chi used to be a bitter battleground for many years during the Vietnam War. The journey from Omni Saigon Hotel to the Cu Chi Tunnel location took more than an 1hr to reach. Along the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels, it was interesting to see the country side with acres and acres of padi plantation and people tending to their crops.

Map of Cu Chi Tunnel

Reaching Cu Chi was unmistakable - bus loads of tourists from every where were there to listening to their guide's introduction of this place. My adventure starts at a holding area to view a video tape of the Vietnam war and how the creative Vietnamese built their underground villages. Cu Chi was a key location because this location was just 75-km from Ho Chi Minh City (used to be called Saigon) and the Viet Congs build an intricate tunnel network of over 200-km - this is amazing.

That's me in the tunnel

The guide was showing us why the termines were great 'friends' with the Viet cong because the termines were natural air vent for the soldiers in the underground Cu Chi tunnels.

Vietcongs resting

The tunnels were dark and at times very scary, I had to 'duck-walk' through the tunnel.

Coming out of the narrow and dark tunnel
There was a firing range and I shot 10 rounds of live 'rounds' (bullets) from an AK-47 - costing about US$1.10/round. It brought back nostalgia from NS army days. Vietnamese in military uniform were there to guide and told me "No need ear plugs - be a hero!" He relented after my insistance that I know better than not to wear the ear-plugs. It was great to hear to shots being fired...

Phill having a good time....

Tania firing an AK47

Interesting places in Ho Chi Minh

Visted the famous Ben Thanh market and it resembles a large, historical structure, orange in colour, with a distinct clock tower. This market is situated on District One.

Walking through this Ben Thanh market is amazing - they have all sort of things for sale. You need to bargain. Everything is for sale from a wide variety of shoes, tea-cup sets, fans, textiles, clothings, handicrafts, wicker goods, dried food stuffs. Their famous aromatic coffee beans - it is amazing that Vietnam in such a short time is one of the world's largest exporter of Coffee.

Did not manage to visit Binh Tay market - maybe next time.....

Dong Khoi Street - a good place for luxury shopping. Looking around you will find elegant gowns, fabrics of exellent quality, the Vietnamese Ao Dai. We purchased 50 sets for each conference partner a beautiful craft lacquer wine holder. The craftsmanship is very good - even deliver directly to the hotel doorstep.

Ho Chi Minh has many historical buildings with French influence that makes the charm of this city. The Notre Dame Cathedral (or Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica) is a Catholic Church which was constructed before 1890 by the French. Once you step inside, the feeling of being in France is there....the structures, statutes. The cathedral's giant twin bell towers, together with its imposing height, are what makes it an eye catching sight.

Saigon River Cruise

For tour agency, you need to beware of unscrupulous tour agency - I used Saigon Tourist company and a very reliable tour agent.

On 8th March, the Saigon Tourist coach arrive on time @ Omni Saigon Hotel for a sunset cruise on the Saigon River with fresh gentle breezes. The scenery was fantastic to see Saigon river with all the buzzing activities.

Building the bridge across the Saigon River

Old junk

We arrive at the Binh Quoi Tourist Village. Set on verdant grounds with coconut-shaded creeks and thatched cottages, the village offers a reminiscence of the Mekong Delta in bygone days. It was fascinating cultural show presenting a traditional wedding with a bridal procession on water, solemn rituals and vibrant dances.

We enjoyed an elaborately prepared Vietnamese dinner served indoors by the riverside before their return to downtown Ho Chi Minh City by car. Upon arriving Ho Chi Minh, the roads were clogged with so many motorcycles - it was amazing.

Ho Chi Minh - Food Galore...

I just love Vietnamese food especially pho (noodles). It is a known Vietnamese slang that noodles means a mistress or another girl friend. But for me it means real Vietnamese Beef soup noodles. I can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner - it just taste heavenly.

Chefs all over the world hail Vietnamese cuisine as healthy, especially since it is loaded with vegetables, spices and herbs such as mint and coriander. Many of these contain antibacterial compounds and provide added fibre to the dieat, therefore a Vietnamese meal is usually low in calories.

Famous for its lively, fresh flavours - Vietnamese cuisine uses abundant fresh herbs and greens, delicate soups and stir fries, and well seasoned grilled foods with rice or noodles are the main-stay of Vietnamese dishes. While the Vietnamese cuisine relies on fresh vegetables and subtle seasonings - it also has subtle Chinese and French influences.

Food Review - Recommended Vietnamese restaurant @ HCMC which I have tried:

• Lemon Grass - $$ - 4 Nguyen Thiep St - (opposite of Sheraton Saigon Hotel). A small three-story restaurant that serve good value vietnamese food
• Pho24 - $ - (opposite Sheration Saigon Hotel) - very delicious vietnamese noodles

• Hoavener Brewery- $ - 28 bis Mac Dinh Chi Street - This Czech brewery is Vietnam's first microbrewery pub and restaurant - a very nice brewery with reasonable priced food.
• Lion Brewery - $ - located @ 11C Lam Son Square, Dist.1 next to Caravelle Hotel - The German microbrewery uses the traditional processing method and technology of Kaspar Schulz - serves good German sausages. I went there during the Oktoberfest - the whole place was decorated very nicely.
• Blue Ginger - $$ - food served on a crisp, white table cloth, housed in a former journalists’ club at 37 Nam Ky Khai Nghia
• Hoa Vien Restuarnt - $ - located @ 148 Hai Ba Trung, Dist. 1. Next to Renaissance Riverside Saigon Hotel - very affordable and good food - you will find many locals dining here.
• Indochine restaurant - $$$ - 32 Pham Ngoc Thach (District 3), northern vietnamese - specialties in style. The menu shaped like a non (Vietnamese cone hat). Menu prices are quite expensive.

• Au Manoir De Khai - $$$$ - I think this is Ho Chi Minh City’s most opulent and grand French restauant with a glimpse of the silk and gilt coated interior of this two-storey manor. They have a very good collection of French wines.

Ho Chi Minh City - Transportation beware...

travel blog ho chi minh

Taxi companies
Travelling by taxi within Ho Chi Minh are relatively inexpensive, but you need to be aware of the differences in the taxi companies otherwise you might get 'con' by unscrupultuous taxi drivers.

This happened to me once, we hailed for a taxi at Ben Thanh market to go to Rex Hotel - got in and as the taxi turn around a bend the meter jumped from 14,000 dong to 60,000 dong and by the time we reach Rex Hotel which is about 15 minutes away was 120,000 dong - which I refused to pay and told the taxi driver in a fierce voice that this is not right, he immediately bargin down to 40,000 dong.

Be careful to look out for the taxi company names - reputable ones are Saigon Tourist, Vinataxi (part of Comfort Delgro), Saigon Sun. Avoid taking plain white looking taxis - these are the worse and you might be ripped off.

Motorbike taxi (Xe Om)These are cheaper and they are not licensed, so in terms of insurance claims you might have a problem claiming in the event of an accident. They are motorbike taxis on which you ride behind the driver. They can be found very easily in the streets, and it’s often they who find you and propose their services. An average 3 000-5 000 dong (US$ 0.30) should be expected to go in a place in the same district, 10 000-15 000 (less than US$1) dong to cross the city.

Cyclos
They are less numerous than before in Ho Chi Minh City. Current urban legislations forbid them access to some streets. Traffic becomes heavier with an increasing number of motorcycles and more recently, of cars. Only tourist like cyclos because it is a unique form of transportation and they have the time. Now with the fast pace happening in Saigon, locals and business folks don't have time with cyclos and prefer to use xe om or taxi.

Ho Chi Minh City - a City on the move

Ho Chi Minh City

The flight from Singapore on SQ into Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was smooth and not many passengers - probably it's a Saturday. It was good as I was able to catch one movie - A night at the Museum and it was hilarious.

I arrived at Tan Son Nhut Airport (SGN). It is an old airport without aerobridges. The Vietnamese government is planning to build a new International Airport and has already started work since 2004.

Tan Son Nhat is Vietnam's largest international airport and serves Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). The airport is located about four miles (7km) from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Son Nhat International Airport was first built in the 1930s, when the French Colonial government constructed a small unpaved airport, known as Tân Sơn Nhất Airfield, in the village of Tan Son Nhat. By 1956 US foreign aid had built a 7,200ft runway and the facility became South Vietnam's international airport. During the Vietnam War, Tan Son Nhat Air Base was an important base for both the United States Air Force (USAF) and the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF).

Though it was a Saturday, surprisingly the airport was crowded and it took a good 30 minutes before I cleared immigration. I was queuing up before the immigration and 2 ladies just stand beside me - pretending that I did not notice them and before I knew it they are now in front of me. This happened to me on last trip to HCMC too, which I did not take much notice of it. They were holding Vietnamese passports but not queuing at the Vietnamese immigration - I wonder why?

I arrange for the hotel to pick me up - at US$6 - you cannot argue with that. Along the way, I notice many enterprising individuals squatting by the roadside running their small businesses, particularly visible are the many motorcycles and all sorts of cargo they carry.

Crossing the Vietnamese roads is an adventure for any foreigner and is not for the faint hearted. As you are crossing the road - motorcyclists will try to avoid you so it's best to keep moving forward otherwise a sure mishap will happen.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city and river port, sprawls across an area of 2,030 sq km on the right bank of the Saigon River. The city is divided into 12 urban and six rural districts. HCMC is known as the most modern city in Vietnam, but the city still retains an ancient architecture and its own cultural identity.In a sense the French presence remains, lingering not only in the minds of the older generations but physically in the legacy of colonial architecture, long tree lined avenues, streets and highways they left behind.

Hotel Review:

Hotel: Omni Saigon Hotel and this will be my residence for the next 6 days. The frontage of the hotel looks similar to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The hotel is just a mere 10 minutes drive via taxi from Ho Chi Minh International airport. Hotel staff are very helpful and pleasant. My room is clean, good ventilation, complimentary broadband internet access, daily fruits re-filled. I would stay again at this hotel. The only disadvantage of staying at this hotel is that it is a bit far from the City central about 25 minutes via taxi. But I would recommend this hotel as the staff is courteous, rooms are clean and the ambience is great.
I was surprise to find that all major 5-star hotels have a casino in-house - Omni Saigon being 5-star probably have the license operate a casino. It's a small casino establishment and cannot be compared to the likes of Las Vagas or Macau.

Dinner was at the Cafe Saigon, they had the most delicious seafood BBQ buffet @ US$28 - with lobsters, huge prawns, mud crabs, rip-eye steaks, pork, chicken, etc. You choose your food and give to the chef a seat tag which indicates where you are seated, then the waiter will bring you the food once it's done. I think this was so cool!

Supersitions in the Year of the Pig

2007 - Year of the 'Golden Pig' for having babies

HONG KONG - Supersitious Hong Kong people believe that the Year of the 'Golden' Pig will be the best year to having babies so hospitals are getting ready for a bumper year of surging babies. Hong Kong government might decide to do away with the incentive for procreation and leave the 'Golden Pig' to do it's job.

Furthermore, it is not only the Year to give birth but also Hong Kongers are consulting Feng Shui masters to seek the best days to have babies. Parents want a good birth date to ensure their children are healthy and have a good life.

Why the rush? The Golden Pig come around every 60 years, so for anyone thinking of having it better do it this year than wait another 60 years - I was just kidding.. Feng Shui masters claimed that the 2007 "Year of the Golden Pig" will be the best for giving birth in 600 years!

The Chinese astrology is divides time into 12 recurring year-long blocks, with each year represented by a different animal: the pig is the last in the Zodiac sequence that begins with the rat, followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster and dog. For all cat lovers - the cat did not make cause it was fooled by the rat...

Each year will have different characteristics, according to the representative animal symbol.

Feng Shui masters believe that the Pig symbolises birth, according to Chinese tradition, so the Year of the Pig is especially good for having babies, and Pigs represent wealth and fortune.

Luck Runs out for Wild Boars

VIETNAM - The Year of the Pig brings only disaster to families of pigs roaming the forests of Vietnam, as supersition holds that eating them means prosperity in the year ahead. In this year of the pig, dishes featuring wild pork have become eagerly sought-after.

It is not always possible to have wild boar meat all the time as eateries have to order meat from hunters. Those hunters go into the forest to try to find wild boars. At first, the hunters will kill mature boars only, but as the demand rises they will shoot even piglets and pregnant wild boars.

Wild pork can be cooked as many tempting dishes, so Vietnamese become interested in pork that has the special flavour of game. Also, some Vietnamese like the fresh blood from a wild boars, so hunters try to capture wild boars alive. This brings them a better return. Despite the high demand and prices, Vietnamese elbowed one another out of the way to buy the meat.

I think medically it is very unsafe to eat raw pig's blood and meat and will make you very sick with a disease called yersiniosis. This is caused by the bacteria, Yersinia enterocolitica.

When the demand keeps increasing, the supply also goes up and now there is a growing fear that wild pigs will disappear from Vietnam's forests. Though, there are some places that wild boars are bred and raised like domesticated pig, the number of wild boars is not enough to meet the demand.