HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE - DAY 5 (BYE-BYE SAIGON)

This is our last day in Saigon. So, we rise up early in a wet morning to walk and shop around as our taxi driver is picking us up at 12 noon to the airport.

Due to the bad weather and don't want to be 'kiasu' , we wore our brand new rain coat (USD1) and roamed around in the nearest morning market next to our hotel.

By 11am, all of us went back to the hotel happily with few goodies bag except me (my balance of USD2 were spent eating hawker food in the market) . Sharp 12 noon, we boarded into our taxi and arrived at the airport in less than 30 minutes despite the busy and noisy traffic on the road.

While at the airport, we 'look see look see' in the some of the shops to kill our time. By 4.30pm, we check into our flight for home sweet home ((*.*))

HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE - DAY 4 CRUISING MEKONG RIVER & BACK TO SAIGON

All of us have been waiting for this day i.e cruising along the Mekong Delta. The morning kicked off with breakfast served by the hotel.

Accompanied by our tour guide, we took 10 minutes walk to the jetty for our boat. Along the way, we passed by a colorful market and spotted man chopping pigs bones at a road junction.

We embarked from here to Cai Rang Floating Market This two hour cruise in a local boat allows you to see beautiful scenery and the daily activities of the locals who live along the Mekong canals.

With bright and sunny sun in the morning, I don't feel hot but totally relaxed and enjoyed breezy wind from the river. I closed my eyes for about 20 mins and I said to myself 'this is the meaning of enjoying life to the fullest'. It was unforgettable experience.

As our boat approached the floating market, we saw many boats filled with fresh vegetables, fruits and food. This is how the locals make a daily living.

Next, we visited a shop making rice noodles.

Each sheet of rice paper are inserted into a machine allowing it to cut into fine noodles.Process of making rice paper
Ready made rice paper are dried under the sun

We left this factory to take a ferry back to the jetty. It was 1pm we reached the jetty and quickly scout around for lunch. Shortly after 10 minutes, we landed up in Restaurant HO DON BAN LE serving Italian cuisine.

MIXED FRUIT SHAKE (VND19,000 per glass)
to quench our thirst in a hot and sunny day! infused by milk+fresh fruits+ice =thicked fresh shake

Paella (VND65,000) + Spaghetti Mabiroba (VND55,000)
Quite disappointed with Paella cos' it turned out to be seafood fried rice although the taste is acceptable. However, the juicy and succulent prawns & squids + springy spaghetti came hot piping in a pool of flavorful gravy was definetely a star.

PIZZA AL SALMON (VND80,000) This is the best pizza we have ever tasted. Slices of fresh salmon and melted cheese on each piece of pizza! (I'm drooling now while writing this)

After lunch, our coach took us to a bus terminal in Can Tho for a transit bus back to Saigon. While inside the bus, we were counting our money and among the three of us, my pocket was left with USD5 only which is sufficient for dinner and buy some souvenirs tomorrow.

That night, we had our dinner in one of the hawker stall located outside Ben Than Market. We didn't capture any photos cos' all the food which was far better in terms of taste and service.

Since I still have USD3 left (after a sumptuous dinner), we stopped by a small pub and shared a bucket (big glass) of Vodka for USD2 only....meaning in my pocket there is USD2 to finish up before waving bye bye to Saigon tomorrow.

HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE - DAY 3 (2D/1N IN MEKONG)

We started our third day with a 2 day/1 night tour for USD23 to Mekong or Can Tho (biggest city in Mekong Delta). The package inclusive of a night stay in a budget hotel, air cond coach, boat trips, entrance fees and tour guide.

As usual after our daily breakfast served by the hotel, we took a bus for three hours journey. Along the way, we saw green paddy fields strecthing towards the horizon.

The weather was terribly hot and sunny and I must warn you to bring at least 2 big bottles of mineral water to quench your thirst and wear a hat. The feeling of tireness disappeared when I saw beautiful and gigantic buddha statues in front of Nam Mo Duong Lai Di Lac Thon Phat temple.

Gigant 'Smiling Buddha'
Kuan Imm/Goddes of Mercy

Entrance to the gorgeous temple

It was almost 12 noon, we crossed over to Tortoise Island for lunch.

FM CAU TAU PORT TO TORTOISE ISLAND

A floating attap house

Besides a plate of fried noodles for each of us (included in the package), we were strongly recommended to try the famous mud river fish or known as Elephant Ear Fish for VND200,000 including rice paper, vermicili and fresh vegetables (basil, mint leaves and other herbal leaf).

The fish was crispy, meaty and sweet. Wrap few pieces of fish meat+ fresh vegetables+vermicili in a piece of rice paper and dipped with chili sauce.....just like eating fresh spring roll (minus fresh prawns)


We were happy after enjoying our glory lunch. Next on the itinerary was rowing boat to Unicorn Island and enjoy tropical fruits while listening to traditional folks songs (sorry, no photo taken due to camera ran out of battery)

Entrance to the boat

The small boat.....it was fun and breath taking

After an hour in Unicorn Island, we proceeded to Ben Tre province to visit a handmade coconut candy outlet.

We had a chance to see the making of coconut candy from cutting to packaging into boxes. The coconut candy wasn't too sweet while the coconut beer was quite diluted.

Each of us braved ourselves posing and snapping photos with a huge and not poisonous snake. But I dare not hold this cool blooded reptile on my own for fear that it would strangle and kill me (watching too many snakes show, lol). However, I did touched the reptile body which was slippery and solid, yerks !

All of us were having too much fun till our tour guide informed us it's time to head back to Can Tho for overnite in a hotel.

Our room key in a budget hotel

clean double + single bed

We had exotic dinner in restaurant nearby our hotel.

Stir Fried Snakes...meat was tough

Total bill was about VND130,000 including the above, stir fried squid + vegetables, grilled rat and 3 fresh coconuts. Our vote goes to Grilled Rat which tasted like ayam goreng berempah (sorry, camera ran out of battery)

It was a fun day filled with sightseeing and laugther...couldn't wait to cruise in Mekong River tomorrow!

HO CHI MINH ESCAPADE - DAY 2 LUNCH/SIGHTSEEING/DINNER

After a tour in Chu Chi Tunnels, our coach took us back to Saigon and stopped in the front of War Museum. As soon as we alighted from the coach, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant (only 1 food photo taken cos' we were extremely hungry and tired).

Our order was quick as it was after lunch hour. Baked cheese clams and snake fish soup was our favourite and goes well with a plate of rice. We paid VND350,000 for the lunch including 2 fruit drinks and 1 mineral water.

(fm l to r), baked cheese clams, fresh rice rolls and fermented prawns

Feeling energized after lunch, we proceeded to visit War Remnants Museum which is located 5 mins walk from the restaurant. We did not enter the museum and other historical building since we are able to snap photos from outside.

Reunification Palace (Presidential Palace)

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Catheral Post OfficeThe Saigon Opera House

To wrap up the night, we had Mexican dinner in Amigo Restaurant at Nguyen Hue, District 1 @ VND485,100

Complimentary salad (top) and appetizer (below)

We had two rounds of salad and the appetizer made up of fried nugget with a bed of fresh salad was tantalizing.

Lobster Bisque - VND90,000Our bowl of lobster soup came with crispy pastry skin. Thick and flavorful.

Beef Tend Burritos - VND240,000Combination of pan fried rice with multi colour capsicums + a doze of stewed vegetables + slices of black pepper beef meat enveloped the pastry skin

Vincent Wings - VND80,000The chicken wings was not freshed and lack of taste maybe due to the seasoning ingredients.

As usual on the way back to our hotel, we passed by few pubs and could not resist by getting ourselves a bottle of beer at USD1 .