Travelogue around Asia Pacific

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 bec...

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 influ...

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 Gra...

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 clai...

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 i...

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...