Hanoi, Ninh Binh & Halong Bay, Vietnam (Sneak Peek)

Xin chào Vietnam!

Three years ago, I went Vietnam for the very first time and spent a week in Ho Chi Minh City alone. Although it was my maiden visit but this beautiful yet chaotic country was so fascinating and captivating, tremendously intrigued me to explore more. At that point of time, I always looking forward to visit the rest of Vietnam's cities such Danang, Hue, Hoi An and Hanoi.

Cut the long story short, I was lucky to grab the airfare to Hanoi last year within my limited budget from one of my favourite airlines, none other than AirAsia for as low as RM290 for return flight,. How could I ever resist this? One year passed in the blink of an eye and without realised here we are, landed in Hanoi, the capital city and second biggest city of Vietnam. 

#1: Red Huc Bridge of Hoen Kien Lake  

#2: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater 

Admission Fee: 60,000 dong for normal seat and 100,000 for VIP seat

Schedule: Daily at 3.00 pm, 4.10pm, 5.20 pm, 6.30 pm and 8.00 pm

Initially, our plan was to go Sapa which takes about 9 hours by train but we changed our last minute plan to Ninh Binh, which only took two and half hours by train instead. In Ninh Binh, we're given a choice to visit either Tam Coc or Trang An, and so we decided to choose the latter one which is renowned for boat cave exploration. 

#3: Travel on their local train is what I always want to experience and now I had accomplished it

By Train:
From Hanoi to Ninh Binh: 79,000 dong for airconditioned soft seats and schedule at 6 am, 9 am, 1.10 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.10 pm and 10.00 pm
From Ninh Binh to Hanoi: 68,000 dong for airconditioned soft seats and schedule at 1.06 pm, 2.30 am, 3.21 am, 9.56 am, 1.14 pm and 5.27 pm

The journey from Hanoi to Ninh Binh takes about two and half hours. 

#4: Trang An is also known as "Inland Halong Bay"

Last but not least, Hanoi trip is incomplete without a visit to one of New Seven Natural Wonders of the world, Halong Bay. We even signed up for the two days one night package where we got to experience the amazing and spectacular overnight cruise. Trust me, it's way better than Star Cruises which I experienced early of this year.  

#5: Junk boat along the Halong Bay

#6: Papaya Cruise booked from Agoda. Thanks to Jeff Chuah for recommended this

Of course, every trip of mine couldn't avoid with all these non-stop fun-packed gastronomic delight.

#7: Banh Mi (the best baguette I ever had), Pho, fresh spring roll and legendary egg coffee 

Summary of My 6D5N Trip

Day 1: klia2 to Hanoi 

Day 2: Hanoi to Ninh Binh by train (US$12 for a single trip but it is advisable to purchase directly from train station as only charge 79,000 dong)

Day 3: Ninh Binh back to Hanoi (68,000 dong for one trip by train)

Day 4: Halong Bay cruise

Day 5: Back to Hanoi around 4.30 pm

Day 6: Goodbye Hanoi 

The exchange rate: US$1 = RM4.358 and 5,000 dong for RM1

We may not cover as many places as we want but still, travel independently is definitely way more fun than joining the organised tour operators. 

7D6N Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Complete Itinerary (2012)

Here is the compilation for all the post relating to my trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last year for 7 days and 6 nights. 

Day 1 (1st April 2012)

Alone to Ho Chi Minh City & Stayed in Thien Xuan Hotel (Accommodation)


Day 2 (2nd April 2012)


1. All Under One Roof in Ben Thanh Market
2. Reunification Palace Saigon - Admission fee is 30,000 VND
3&4. Notre Dame Cathedral & Saigon Central Post Office  

Day 3 (3rd April 2012)

One Day Mekong Delta Tour

One day Mekong Tour cost 210,000 Vietnamese dong or USD$10 per person (aprox. to RM30), which includes air-conditioner tourist bus, English speaking tour guide, boat trips (for both motor and rowing boats), entrance fees, 1 water bottle, some fruits and honey tea as well as lunch. On top of that, it includes pick-up and drop-off from where you stay. 

Day 4 (4th April 2012)


Top: War Remnants Museum - Admission fee is 15,000 VND
Bottom: Saigon Square

Day 5 (5th April 2012)

Cu Chi Tunnel & Cao Dai Temple

It cost 180,000 Vietnamese dong or USD$8 per person (aprox. to RM24) which includes pick-up and drop-off from where you stayed and English speaking tour guide. However, admission fee and lunch is not provided and we have to bear on our own.

Day 6 (6th April 2012)

Coffee, KFC, Night Market & Random Photos


Day 7 (7th April 2012)

Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Saigon Opera House & Goodbye Ho Chi Minh City


Extra Features

• 2012 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Sneak Peek)
• Travel Haul & Expenses
• Foods Around Ho Chi Minh City 
 

Tips when visiting Ho Chi Minh City

1. Highly recommended to stay in District 1 cause there are lots of famous attractions around such as Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace, Saigon Square, Saigon Central Post Office and more. And if you are looking for backpacker area, the intersection of Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham streets is the place. There also plenty of ground packages, restaurants, cafes and bars are available there.
2. Remember if you plan to take taxi, just find MaiLinh or Vinasun.
3. Change few Vietnamese dong before arrive because not all shops accepted US dollar.
4. The best place that I think is worth to change Vietnamese dong will be inside Saigon Central Post Office.

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Foodie Friday: Foods Around Ho Chi Minh City

Travelling Period: 1st April - 7th April 2012

Whenever I travel abroad, I will not purposely go and hunt for those famous eateries or restaurant of that particular places or cities cause I believe everyone has different preference and taste. What might be best for others but may not suits my liking. Plus, some of those highly recommended seems to be overrated and taste so-so only. What worse was most of those recommended restaurants or eateries only filled with foreign tourist, not the local. One of the travel tips that I came across is discover where the locals eat. Therefore when we were in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), most of the restaurants or eateries we visited were patronized by the local.

#1:Cơm Tấm Cali. This small little restaurant located not far away from our hotel and the plus point, it comes with free WiFi connection. The staffs spoke very little English but no worry, there is English translation in their menu.

#2: Bun Cha Ca Nuoc (Noodle soup with fish paste) - This bowl of noodle is so flavourful with the mixed of tender and soft fish paste.

#3: Nhà Hàng Ngon - One and only grand and fancy restaurant we visited when in HCMC. This two floors open-aired restaurant is recommended in Lonely Planet and almost all the seats occupied by both locals and foreign tourists.

When we browsed through the menu, it was filled with wide selection of foods but then, it was kinda pricey for budget travellers like us. However, it worth every value we paid where not just that we can enjoy the authentic Vietnamese food but the buzzing and delightful atmosphere as well. These were what we ordered from Nhà Hàng Ngon:

#4: "Ngon" special fried rice

#5: Salad roll with shrimp and pork

#6: Steamed banana cake with coconut milk

#7: Grilled pork

#8: Pork porridge

#9: And on the other night, we decided to have our dinner at the open air stall outside the Ben Thanh Market

#10: Crunchy fried spring roll

#11: Fried rice

#12: Scrumptious sweet and sour pork

Last but not least, when in one's country, experience like the local. A visit to HCMC wouldn't be complete without experience Vietnamese local and Asia-Europe fusion foods on the sidewalk of a busy street. This is the real culture of Vietnamese people do everyday - eat streetfoods. 

#13: This is how food vendors prepared the foods on the sidewalks

#14: Crispy rice paper mixed pork

#15: Fried bun - crispy on the outside, delicious on the inside

#16:Crystal clear spring roll with mixed pork and veggies - This one taste kinda weird. Not recommended.

#17: One of Vietnam's famous cuisines - Pho

#18: How can you miss a cup of coffee when in Vietnam? It's a sin if you missed out.

Although I didn't get the chance to try baguette in HCMC but luckily I got to try in other Indo-China countries like Cambodia and Laos. As for exotic foods, I try my best to avoid cause I have a weak stomach to absorb those foods. And I was being asked whether did I try dog meats, hell no I will have those cause I am dog lover. Don't you think it is so cruel to eat dog and cat meats?

P/S: This is another scheduled post cause I'm currently away for another short weekend getaway. It's Cuti-Cuti Malaysia! 

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My Travel Haul & Expenses of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2012)

When my parents went Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) a year before me, they bought plenty of souvenirs for me and I did blog about it - click here for more. So when it's my turn, I just bought those necessary for my dearest family and friends only. The following are my hauls throughout my 7 days and 6 nights trip in HCMC, Vietnam:

#1:Overall of my haul from HCMC

#2: Those two in packets bought from Highlands Coffee outlet whereas in the box, it's Trung Nguyen Coffee - the number 1 coffee in Vietnam which I bought from Ben Thanh Market.

#3: Coconut candy from Mekong Delta day trip

#4: Always and forever my favourite travel collections - keychains and fridge magnets. All grabbed from Ben Thanh Market.

#5: Hand painted bookmarks and postcards

#6: Grey envelope bag bought from somewhere nearby Ben Thanh Market which cost less than RM50

#7: Silk nightwear - My mom requested me to buy this for her cause she only bought one before and she said it's nice but regret for only bought one. So I bought more for her.

#8: Vietnam embroidered art tote handbag which I bought from the port leaving to Mekong Delta and it cost USD$5 for 3 and also embroidered silk pouch from Ben Thanh Market for USD$1 each.

And the following is my sharing of the full details of my travel expenses that I spend throughout the 7 days and 6 nights trip around HCMC, Vietnam:

(The rate as at the time I changed; RM1.00 : 6,680 VRN whereas RM3.00 : USD$1)

NOTE:

1. Return airfare for just only RM12 but I burned the one from KL back to KK. At the end, I booked another last minute flight from KL back to KK. Don't get it wrong. It's not that I miss my flight, just I wanna return back home earlier.
2. Baggage allowance for flight to HCMC was 15 kg (RM40) and flight from HCMC was 15 kg (RM40).
3. Stayed for 6 nights throughout our trip. For more information about this budget hotel which comes with complimentary breakfast, click HERE. 
4. I was travelled alone on the first day. Hence, I need to bear this cost alone.
5. Taxi from hotel to the airport cost USD$10 and divided among three of us. 
6. Including air-conditioner tourist bus, English speaking tour guide, boat trips (for both motor and rowing boats), entrance fees, 1 water bottle, some fruits and honey tea as well as lunch. On top of that, it includes pick-up and drop-off from where we stayed.- post here.
7. Including pick-up and drop-off from where we stayed and English speaking tour guide. However, admission fee and lunch is not included and we have to bear on our own.- post here.
8. Actually this is just based my estimation because I lost my travel notepad which I always keep track of all my travel expenses and I left in Melbourne, Australia before I managed to key in all into Excel form. Clumsy me! 
9. Same goes to this too but I remember overall I only spend three pieces of USD$100 throughout the trip. Most of my souvenirs and shopping haul are as photos above. Also including postcards and stamps.

 

 #9: My Vietnamese dong leftover. Save for another Vietnam trips, perhaps?

Ho Chi Minh City Hall, Saigon Opera House & Goodbye Ho Chi Minh City

Date of Visit: 7th April 2012

Just like any other of my trips, there will always a time where it's hard for me to bid goodbye. Sames goes to my Ho Chi Minh City trip. The people and their culture, the local foods and also their amazing and spectacular architecture were among what I admired the most.

Since our flight back to Kuala Lumpur was 4.20 pm local time, hence we still got plenty of spare time to wander around the city. As usual my friends will do their last minute shopping in Ben Thanh Market where they bought few packets of lotus seeds. We noticed that there are many of Ho Chi Minh City's famous landmarks that could go and take a few shots before leaving this bustling city.

#1: A statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of Ho Chi Minh City Hall

One of the famous landmarks is Ho Chi Minh City Hall. It was built in a French colonial style and it was renamed as Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee afterward. Unfortunately, the building is not opened to the public or for tourists. Therefore, we could only took few shots outside the building. Some recommended to come at night and you will get amazing nightshot.

#2: The overview of Ho Chi Minh City Hall

#3: Saigon Opera House

Located not far away from Ho Chi Minh City Hall is the standing grand and elegant Municipal Theatre of Ho Chi Minh City, which also known as Saigon Opera House. It is an opera house for the city and this is another example of French colonial architecture in Vietnam. It has beautiful and stunning carvings on the building. Too bad it was closed and we're not allowed to enter to see the interior design of this well-preserved building.

#4:Louis Vuitton in the middle of the city

I just can't held myself from keep taking photos around the city. Almost all the buildings architecture never failed to amaze me and even in some point, I thought myself was somewhere around in Europe until the scorching hot weather awake me. Ho Chi Minh City was really hot but we could still bear with that kind of weather just like how we experienced back in Malaysia.

#5: One of the most impressive hotels in the city - Hotel Continental Saigon

#6: Tran Hung Dao - Vietnamese military leader

As we walked further, we came across a standing tall Tran Hung Dao statue. He is known as the legendary in Vietnamese history, a brilliant military strategist who defeated two Mongol invasions and became a cultural hero among modern Vietnamese. While on our way back to the hotel, we spotted this skyscraper as the photo below:

#7: Bitexco Financial Tower - Ho Chi Minh City's tallest building. But don't you think it looks alike Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur TM Tower?

#8: Saigon Tourist, for more of the travel information and also service center

Around 2.30pm local time, we requested the hotel to book the taxi for us to the airport. Like I mentioned before in one of my previous post, either you request from the hotel or you take taxi on your own, always remember to take the MaiLinh or Vinasun, the most reliable taxis in the city, or else you will being ripped off badly. And remember as well, do not open your purse/wallet widely for the driver to notice cause he will try his best to request for more. The journey from District 1 to airport took roughly less than half an hour and it cost USD$10. This is the normal rate from what I research and in case, the driver requested for more, instantly switch to other taxi.

#9: Tan Son Nhat International Airport is so huge, not like what I expected

Regardless whether have any luggage to check-in or not, it is compulsory to queue up for documents verification, eventhough we have printed out our boarding pass earlier. This is because for purpose of exchange for the typical boarding pass instead of using the AirAsia printed boarding pass when going through the immigration verification. And for your information, they were very strict too on the hand carry. Do not carry more than 7kg, or else you have to check-in your bag or luggage and bear the extra expensive cost.

#10: My boarding pass and my cute passport holder. I always love and keep all my boarding pass as collection. Check out my boarding pass collection in Instagram - click here.

#11: No, I'm not flying with Vietnam Airlines but I hope someday I got the chance to experience this.

And that's the end of my 7 days and 6 nights Ho Chi Minh City travelogue. I would love to go back again someday but for more outskirt area such as Dalat, Hue and Hoi An. And if you ask me would I recommend anyone to Ho Chi Minh City, I would definitely say YES! Seriously, I am pretty enjoying myself at there - lay back, no rush and relax throughout my trip.

By the way, Happy 56th Independence Day to Malaysia and 50th Independence Day to Sabah! Merdeka!

[Credit To: Encyclopedia Britannica]