JOHANNA.
student.
ballerina.
multimedia artist.
dreamer. believer.
lives to glorify God.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
notes on vietnam.
I finally had an out of the country trip since after Bangkok-Singapore in 2001. This time, went to Vietnam. Thanks to Tita Miel and Mash for bringing me along. I had a good time, really enjoyed the trip. ;)
Went there last week, April 27-May 02. Left the Manila Monday night. Stayed in Saigon. Went back early Saturday morning (as in early, before sunrise. ;p).
Here are some stuffs about Vietnam.
1. Their airport is beautiful.
2. Vietnamese people are really thin. As in.
3. Their money is in thousand form. Bread costs 10,000. Coke in a bottle is like 7,000. A cab's starting fare is around 12,000, depending on what cab you had.
4. Bui Vien is the street for all foreigners/backpackers. Hotels, restos with non-Vietnamese cuisine, tours offices, souvenir shops can be found there.
5. They have a cigarette brand there named BASTOS. For real. :))
6. Most of the hotels and housing buldings there, like the people, are thin. TALL AND THIN. As in really thin. Like whoa. WAHAHAHAHA.
7. The iced coffee with milk there is really good. You can buy them along the sidewalks, for around 7,000! (that's cheap there, ok.)
8. Their green mangoes are not sour, it doesn't have any taste actually. But it's still good, coz it's refreshing. (especially the ones sold along the streets coz they're placed in ice.)
9. Touring around the city is better when riding the motorcycle.
10. Warning: Ho Chi Minh is a motorcycle city. There are A LOT of motorcycles more than cars. And, I think every person there owns a motorcycle.
11. They don't obey traffic rules. Cross the street at your own risk.
12. The motorcycles don't stop. They make a way to continue moving even if the stoplight is red.
13. In their rotonda, they don't turn even if it's circular. The motorcycles go straight to where they're going!
14. Salt and pepper with lime is something to try on when eating fried foods.
15. Patience is needed with cab drivers. They cannot understand and speak English! Better to ride the SaigonTourist cabs, they have understanding drivers. ;)
16. A must buy is their shorts. The one with a colored-fold thing. It's comfortable. :D
17. Ben Than market is a place where you can buy cheap stuff for souvenirs.
18. Paying in US Dollars is also allowed in Ben Than. Bargaining is possible too!
19. Most of the architectures there are French styles. So pretty. ;)
20. The Opera House and City Hall are much prettier to visit at night because of their lights. The Post Office, Notredame Church, and Palace is better in daylight, because you can enter and see the inside. They're all beautiful!
21. CyClo is better to ride on at night because there are less cars and motorcyles on the streets.
22. Cu Chi Tunnel is one of the must-visit. And also, experiencing going inside their tunnels!
23. Prepare to be in tears when visiting the War Remnants Museum.
24. A tour on the Mekong River is another must-do when in Vietnam.
25. Trying on their local foods will allow you to feel their culture. Eating on sidewalks makes it more challenging!
Enjoyed it much.
Shots will follow, I still have to transfer them on the computer. ;)
2:08 PM
//
0 comment(s)
Went there last week, April 27-May 02. Left the Manila Monday night. Stayed in Saigon. Went back early Saturday morning (as in early, before sunrise. ;p).
Here are some stuffs about Vietnam.
1. Their airport is beautiful.
2. Vietnamese people are really thin. As in.
3. Their money is in thousand form. Bread costs 10,000. Coke in a bottle is like 7,000. A cab's starting fare is around 12,000, depending on what cab you had.
4. Bui Vien is the street for all foreigners/backpackers. Hotels, restos with non-Vietnamese cuisine, tours offices, souvenir shops can be found there.
5. They have a cigarette brand there named BASTOS. For real. :))
6. Most of the hotels and housing buldings there, like the people, are thin. TALL AND THIN. As in really thin. Like whoa. WAHAHAHAHA.
7. The iced coffee with milk there is really good. You can buy them along the sidewalks, for around 7,000! (that's cheap there, ok.)
8. Their green mangoes are not sour, it doesn't have any taste actually. But it's still good, coz it's refreshing. (especially the ones sold along the streets coz they're placed in ice.)
9. Touring around the city is better when riding the motorcycle.
10. Warning: Ho Chi Minh is a motorcycle city. There are A LOT of motorcycles more than cars. And, I think every person there owns a motorcycle.
11. They don't obey traffic rules. Cross the street at your own risk.
12. The motorcycles don't stop. They make a way to continue moving even if the stoplight is red.
13. In their rotonda, they don't turn even if it's circular. The motorcycles go straight to where they're going!
14. Salt and pepper with lime is something to try on when eating fried foods.
15. Patience is needed with cab drivers. They cannot understand and speak English! Better to ride the SaigonTourist cabs, they have understanding drivers. ;)
16. A must buy is their shorts. The one with a colored-fold thing. It's comfortable. :D
17. Ben Than market is a place where you can buy cheap stuff for souvenirs.
18. Paying in US Dollars is also allowed in Ben Than. Bargaining is possible too!
19. Most of the architectures there are French styles. So pretty. ;)
20. The Opera House and City Hall are much prettier to visit at night because of their lights. The Post Office, Notredame Church, and Palace is better in daylight, because you can enter and see the inside. They're all beautiful!
21. CyClo is better to ride on at night because there are less cars and motorcyles on the streets.
22. Cu Chi Tunnel is one of the must-visit. And also, experiencing going inside their tunnels!
23. Prepare to be in tears when visiting the War Remnants Museum.
24. A tour on the Mekong River is another must-do when in Vietnam.
25. Trying on their local foods will allow you to feel their culture. Eating on sidewalks makes it more challenging!
Enjoyed it much.
Shots will follow, I still have to transfer them on the computer. ;)