Ok, back to Ho Chi Minh, I yet to up load tons of pix.. Besides the traffic, I got more Vietnam travelling tips to share which is $$ issue, Vietnamese dong. They do accept SGD and USD but Dong is still commonly used in the city.
You can be millionaire in Vietnam, multi-millionaires! Everyday we carries stacks of hundred thousands in our pockets. A meal probably cost you a quarter million (about SGD$8-9), not very expensive because this is the range for proper restaurants, clean enough for tourists. Otherwise, if you want to experience the vietnamese lifestyle, you can sit by the road and order from makeshift foodstalls. 1 meal probably cost only SGD$1 (<14K dong).
Taxi is the only form of transportation for tourists, unless you dare to risk your life to rent a bike and ride with the flow or taking a stroll along the streets. Taxi charges is about SGD$2-3, appt 30K dong, for 10mins ride, approximately from Tampines to Simei. Similar to us, they do have taxi surcharge but is so much more affordable, about another $1.5-$2 additional.
Streets of the city.
Our first meal of the day, KFC - Fingers' licking good! There's waitress who serves your meal to your table. Food are put in proper plates, unlike us - disposables!
Beef Phở for lunch at Phở 2000, a famous food chain in HCM. Phở is famous vietnames noodles soup, it is made of rice and is often serve with basil, lime and peppermint leaves. I must say that this is really yummilicious! I had it every day in HCM. =x
One of the well-known tourist attractions - Ben Thanh Market.
Ben meaning "wharf", and Thanh meaning "turtle citadel". It is a big shopping place with the traditional wet market (like Singapore). You can get lots of souvenirs, accessories, local cusines and ao dai - Vietnam traditional costume for ladies.
snippets of the market, selling coffee beans, spices, dried food etc. You need to brush up your bargaining skills before you buy anything from here. Because the vendors margin is almost 100% mark up. Beware!
Going nuts? Another important thing to note, there's very limited ventilation in the indoor market. Do rem to bring your oxygen tank along!
We are introduced to this specialty fruit - Vu Sua aka 'squeeze breast' for direct translation. Literally, the fruit is round and soft when u squeeze it, milk will flow out from the bud.
This is how the inside look like, taste like soursop without the sour taste. Feel sticky after eating as the milk stained your hands etc. And your mouth will have the weird aftertaste. Don't forget to try 'squeeze breast' when you visit HCM ok?
That's all for tonight, stay tune for more HCM adventures..
thanks thanks!
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