I flew to HCMC from Danang since there's not much difference in the fare compared to taking a train, and I have extra 12 hours too! And after eating pho for 2 weeks, I was so pleased to see a fast food chain! Ahh... the taste of a cheeseburger is such satisfying!
Throughout the flight I was somehow amazed that the air hostesses thought that I was a Vietamese, as I had been getting remarks from the taxi drivers and tour guides that I looked Japanese / Korean / HongKong, and I had to constantly remind them that I do not speak Vietnamese!
Having landed in HCMC's Tan Son Nhat International Airport, I grabbed a bus and headed downtown to the CBD, and it only costed me like 4000 dongs (if I remembered it clearly!). The trip took me around 30 minutes and having arrived near Pham Ngu Lao I had to navigate my way to my hotel. After departing from Hanoi for so long, I eventually get to experience the madness of the Vietnamese traffic here again! Nonetheless, in Vietnam there's this tourist friendly traffic police which facilitates poor helpless tourists (like me) to cross the road a midst the endless stream of traffic! What's more? They also give you unbiased directions and tourist advice too!
After locating my hotel and settling down, I started heading out for the Reunification Palace, where the President for South Vietnam resided then. According to the guides, this palace was maintained in its old form even after its surrender, just like how it was when the first North Vietnamese tank barged into its main gates.The tour around the palace was interesting, demonstrating its lavish and somehow extravagant design, as we ventured into the President's offices, guest reception rooms, living suite, and his personal war bunker.
Later on, I took a short stroll to the other favourite tourist sites, starting on from the Notre Dame, the Opera House, and the Post Office, where I sent a few postcards to a friend and my mom. I can't explain why, but I just am terribly fascinated with the architectural design of such old buildings, as it brings an intricately warm sense of posh to myself.
What surprised me was that I spotted a row of shops selling branded designer goods! This communism country somehow has embraced capitalism in a very clandestinely subtle way! Probably Uncle Ho would roll eyes in his mausoleum in Hanoi!
Ultimately, I headed back to Pham Ngu Lao, the touristy district area or HCMC's equivalent to Khao San Road, to catch a quick dinner, and book myself for a 1/2 day trip to Cu Chi tunnels the next day. And what else? I slept like a baby throught the night!
Later on, I took a short stroll to the other favourite tourist sites, starting on from the Notre Dame, the Opera House, and the Post Office, where I sent a few postcards to a friend and my mom. I can't explain why, but I just am terribly fascinated with the architectural design of such old buildings, as it brings an intricately warm sense of posh to myself.
What surprised me was that I spotted a row of shops selling branded designer goods! This communism country somehow has embraced capitalism in a very clandestinely subtle way! Probably Uncle Ho would roll eyes in his mausoleum in Hanoi!
Ultimately, I headed back to Pham Ngu Lao, the touristy district area or HCMC's equivalent to Khao San Road, to catch a quick dinner, and book myself for a 1/2 day trip to Cu Chi tunnels the next day. And what else? I slept like a baby throught the night!
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