It's an easy pass through security, given Monday is a public holiday in Hong Kong I had expected lots more people would be around but alas no.
Mum and I have a quick stop in the lounge before heading to the gate; like my flight to Tokyo a few weeks ago we were late boarding with no announcement.....got to love air travel! On going through the last passport and boarding card check my boarding pass beeped; my heart beat increases then I think that won't work (upgrade) given we are on the same ticket and they won't upgrade all 3 of us. And alas I was right; it was a beep to ask them to see my Vietnam visa. Interesting as it didn't do that for Mum and Dad.
The flight is an easy 2 + hours. On arrival into Saigon airport clearing customs is a little painful. I had expected they would allow Mum and Dad to come through the APEC lane with me but no - what a pain!
As soon as we leave the airport grounds we are in the middle of motorbike city, Aah how I've missed this place!!! Our taxi driver clearly works for either ‘grab a taxi’ or ‘Uber’ (as well as this company) as every 5 seconds his phone goes off with a new job. The noise gets old very very quickly.
After checking into our room, on the 5th floor with no evaluator....whoops! (thankfully we didn't have to carry our bags) we headed out for some dinner. The place is buzzing.
Saturday (26 September) morning I'm awake early, thanks roosters. We have breakfast then head out to explore Saigon. The heat hits us as soon as we walk out the door.
This is a new area for me (I usually stay in the same hotel) so have to rely on Dad and his trusty navigation skills to guide us towards the Cathedral (once there I will know where to go).
We walk through Cultural Park, a small reprieve from the hot sun. There are a few couples ballroom dancing, others just sitting enjoying the moment.
Finally I start to see places I've seen before; it's well time for coffee. We choose a cafe that supports a charity for autism. Our small way to giving back.
Sitting upstairs, under the trees with a well-placed fan, watching the world go by. It's my first coffee in at least four weeks so goodbye sleep for the next two days! Man its good! One lady is keeping herself very busy with her baskets of goodies and every now and a customer. I could sit here for ages but it's time to move on.
We enjoy the outside view of the Notre Dame Cathedral; visiting hours are weekdays only so we'll return. Directly across the road is the Post Office. Yes I appreciate it's a bit weird to visit one unless you need to post something or buy stamps, but this post office is beautiful. It was built between 1886 and 1891. The frescos on the wall along with the big maps could keep me here for a while. If only it was air conditioned!
I take Mum and Dad into the area where I usually stay, even though we are staying in district 1 this part of district 1 is a lot more touristy. It's so nice not to have the constant stream of people trying to sell us stuff as we walk out our hotel door!
I decide to return to a favourite place for lunch, every time I'm in Saigon I come here and it never disappoints! We get a table right at the front, perfect for people watching. I’ll pass on the false dog meat dish thanks.
I have mentioned to Mum and Dad about visiting the War Remnants Museum. I'd been the first time I came to Saigon and didn't really want to return but.....
We all walk out of the War Museum feeling pretty sombre. In a lot of cases the photos were extremely graphic. Back to the hotel we head – a beer is needed!
After walking through Cultural Park we decide a cold drink and a/c is needed and quick fast! It's bloody hot!!
Finally we are back to the hotel - we are greeted with cold towels and iced cold water, heaven!! I think Mum and Dad need a break from walking, definitely no more walking today......right ooh time for a pedicure for them both.
It's only 4.40pm but feels so much later - not surprising given we left the hotel this morning at 9.15am. Time for a beer!! After a few failed attempts we decide on this place that looks more like a restaurant, hey ho they serve beer so we are in. Even better they don't bring out the glasses with ice already in them.
For dinner we go with a recommendation from the hotel; they get us a taxi and we're off into the crazy Saturday night traffic! On arrival to the restaurant the man that greets us calls out my name very loudly, yes thanks for telling the restaurant we are here!!! It's a very steep stair case up (going down will be interesting...), then a duck of the head (even for me) and a massive step up. Finally we are at the table.
The menu is never ending so after ordering drinks we decide to get recommendations from the waiter otherwise we will be here all night. The food doesn't disappoint.
Sunday, 27 September, after packing up (we are moving rooms), we head down for breakfast. This morning we are the only ones, it’s nice just sitting and watching the madness go on outside.
Just after 9am we leave the comfort of the fan and head outside to the heat! The lady had very kindly told us what way we need to go to get to Ben Thanh Market so off we headed. Anyone want some veges for the walk???
Before walking into Ben Thanh Market we decide on a meeting place in case we get split up. Within seconds we are pounced on! It's hot (no a/c) which makes the small alleyways of shop after shop after shop after shop even more awful. Mum is given strict instructions not to converse with anyone at all.....we are asked time and time again what we are looking for. I keep saying "the exit" - I want to get out! At point the answer becomes "that's a very good question, we don't know" which makes the ladies giggle.
This place is a maze gone wrong!
We have been in here less than 30 minutes and I'm well and truly over it! Time to get out, find somewhere to have coffee and regroup. The thought of having to go back in makes me feel sick but Mum wants too. The things you do for your parents……
For now we enjoy an iced coffee watching the constant stream of motorbikes go by.
Now that we are energized it's back to the maze we go. Mum has said what she is looking for so we are more forceful with the shop ladies if it's not what we are after.
After getting a few more things it’s time to move on. We are all over the clothing, bags, shoes, nik naks etc so head to the food section. After walking down an alleyway selling mainly coffee, dried produce and fresh veges and fruit we go off to the meat section. The smell thankfully isn't as bad as I expected! The first thing Mum and I notice is a man scrubbing his feet.....nice. It between the meats is some flowers, massive blocks of ice and a lady wearing what I believe are pj’s and gumboots washing dishes in the gutter. It’s all fascinating to look at and oh so different to where we come from.
We come to the end, woo hoo, so out we go. We wander the streets in the direction of our hotel. Stopping en route for lunch and a well-deserved cool beer. This is the life!
On entering back to the hotel we are greeted with ice cold water - heaven! We have a few minutes wait for our new rooms to be ready. Late afternoon we head out for a walk, it looks like it might rain.....please hold off until after our tour ends!! Although the rain would help to lower the heat and drop the humidity.
We wait outside the hotel from 5pm for our tour (XO Tour – Foodie Tour); it's nice just sitting watching the world go by. We spot many bikes with four people on. Thankfully tonight it’s a two person bike.
Finally it's our turn for the bikes - let the fun begin!! We are given the instructions and within minutes it’s helmets on, 3 Jordan’s on the back of a bike each then the drivers get on. Saigon streets here we come!
It’s absolutely amazing to be right in the thick of things, traffic is going in all directions but remarkable I feel safe with my driver. Our first stop is really the start of the tour, where we meet up with everyone else. The first here is a pho type soup which has pieces of “meat” floating on top. Hmm think I’ll pass on the “meat” thanks very much. Back onto the bikes we go zooming off to Chinatown. Driving into Chinatown there is still the fresh food market going on. People on their bikes driving up to the “stalls” to collect what they want. Chinatown is an area of Saigon I’d never been too before; on arrival we are given the history of the area and are told it’s primarily a wholesale market. Aah that would be why I’ve never been.
After having some photos we are back onto our bikes and straight into the madness of the Saigon traffic. Great fun! The next stop is at a huge local BBQ place. We sit with our drivers who man the BBQ’s. The majority of the food is super tasty – goat, beef, prawns, and some type of vege all washed down with beer and a shot of something. Thank goodness I’m not driving!! There was frog on offer but no thank you, not for me. It’s decided there will be a peanut game with chop sticks…..this will be interesting after the drinks we are having. The object of the game is for the driver to pick up a peanut with their chop sticks, give it to their passenger who is holding their chopsticks who then needs to drop it into a bottle. It’s all very amusing and lots of fun. Somehow Dad manages to beat Mum, which really is fascinating given he doesn’t use chopsticks.
Time to head off again. Traffic seems to be getting busier and busier, which really doesn’t bother me. I’m actually enjoying being on a bike more than the food part.
Our next stop was in Singapore / Korean town. It was so peaceful! Big pavements and road and so clean. You really wouldn’t have known you were in Saigon.
Our last stop was at an outside restaurant…..thankfully no rain! No cooking required this time, well there was but just not by our drivers. We ate Quail, crab, clams, scallops then a dessert of coconut jelly and cream brûlée. All super tasty!
I really don’t want this to end! One of the couples with us had been telling us about their day trip on motorbikes to the Mekong River, yes I’ll be in for that next time!!
Unfortunately it’s a very quick bike ride back to the hotel – life will be tough having to go back to our feet for our mode of transport tomorrow!! An absolutely amazing experience and one I’ll remember for a very long tour. Well worth it for anyone visiting Saigon.
Monday, 28 September I'm awake well before my alarm – always the way when you are on holiday. This morning we had arranged a tour out to the Cu Chi tunnels (will be my third trip and I promised myself last one). We are picked up at the hotel by a shuttle bus and off we go. After having the compulsory stop at a lacquer ware factory we arrive at the outskirts of the tunnels. Similar to my other visits we watch a video before we shown around the site.
We arrive back into Saigon just before 3pm – first stop is somewhere for lunch as we are all hungry! We decide on a place close to the hotel that does broken rice; our drivers had spoken about it last night so we thought we would give it a try. It didn’t disappoint!
Late afternoon we all had foot massages then Mum and I went for a manicure. Nice way to end to the day. Dad chooses to enjoy a beer sitting outside the hotel watching the world go by.
We had been recommended a place for dinner which the hotel had booked for us. The city seems quiet but I suppose it is a Monday night so perhaps everyone is cooking at home???? I seriously doubt it – perhaps it’s just that we are early. Regardless it’s not nice to have a million people around us.
Our last dinner in Saigon doesn’t disappoint!
Tuesday (29 September) I start the awful task of packing up…..hard this part of being away. We enjoy our breakfast before heading out for coffee one more time then it’s off to the airport. Da Nang here we come! The relaxing part of our trip.
It’s a bit of a mere at the airport – people are pushing to jump the queue – unfortunately there is no option for us to check-in via the business class line. A school girl error for not checking-in online!
We’ve had a wonderful time in Saigon; it’s such a vibrant city that I love coming back to. Relaxation here we come!
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