Flight AK880 KUL - SGN (ETD 0910). The one way ticket only cost me RM35 when I bought 8 months earlier (really loves the tag price when Airasia do their zero ticket fare sale).
0730 hours reached LCCT (international check-in counter opens two hours before and closes 45 minutes before boarding time). Now travelers can opt to wrap their check-in luggage at the airport for a small fee (RM10 per bag). The lady at the counter was polite & being very helpful towards us. She helped us to reduced all our check-in fee from RM80 to RM60.
The flight went well and reached Saigon at 1035 local time (-1 hour difference with Kuala Lumpur). Immigration was fine, despite of the officer in charge 'ketat' face. Approached one of the taxi booth (we decide to get a taxi instead of hoping on the bus 152) and was given a markup price of USD10 for one trip to our guesthouse which located in district 1. No way that we are paying that much for a taxi. As we walked a way, the lady again approached us offering USD7. Much better bargain and we walked to our taxi. The airport was clean & clear from any 'ulats'.
Scary road of Saigon! We were on the right side of the road (Malaysians drive on the left). Motorcycles are everywhere! 30 minutes later, we reached Ngoc Thao Guesthouse. Complimentary welcome drinks. The staff helped us to buy Saigon - Pnom Penh bus ticket (USD12) and booked Cu Chi tunnel tour the next day (USD5).
Freshen up and we start venturing around Saigon. Surprisingly most people get excited when I told them I am from Malaysia. This is due to the fact that we nailed their football team during the recently Suzuki cup match. Congrats to team Harimau Malaya! Went into one of the tailor shops, to make a tailored dress/blouse. A blouse from USD13 & a dress from USD25 (siap overnight!).
We walked towards Ben Thanh Market located about 10minutes walk. Alot of things could be found here (am not in the shopping mood yet) t-shirts, souveniers, food, fabric & jewelry. Its a long walk from Ben Thanh - reunification place - water puppets theatre - and back to our guesthouse. Near to my guesthouse, there is a halal Indian restaurant (had our lunch & dinner there).
We walked towards Ben Thanh Market located about 10minutes walk. Alot of things could be found here (am not in the shopping mood yet) t-shirts, souveniers, food, fabric & jewelry. Its a long walk from Ben Thanh - reunification place - water puppets theatre - and back to our guesthouse. Near to my guesthouse, there is a halal Indian restaurant (had our lunch & dinner there).
Next morning, breakfast served from 0600 - 1000. Had breakfast baguette (the second best baguette I've ever ate) & telur dadar. The tour guide came and pick us up from the guesthouse at about 0745. Journey to Cu Chi tunnel took about hour and a half to reach. We stopped by a handicrafts center for a 20-minutes break. Expensive but amazing piece of arts.
Entrance fee is VND80,000 (USD1 = VND20,000). My tour guide name is Hai. He used to be in the army and lives under the ground inside those tunnel! He brings us around the area. Vietnam people are slim & slender, that is why they can fit into those tiny holes. There is also a bobby-trap exhibition (scary ok!) and a target-shooting range. I was so determined to try one of those bad boy toys. A minimum of 10 bullets per purchase are required. I split the 10bullets with my friend. I Choose to shoot with AK-47 (USD1.50 per LIVE-bullet). The experience was truly new to me. Im glad that I tried (a must do if you step foot into Cu Chu Tunnel). Hai also told us that the lady selling coffee by the entrance was born in that tunnel!
Next to do list is to crawl inside one of those tunnel. The tunnel was about 100m long, the height is barely my height and the width has been widen two times the original size to cater for mat salleh to experience. Those having high-blood pressure, pregnant, cardiac history & claustrophobia are advise not to enter the tunnel at all. It was dark and dusty inside. This is the the moment to see the lights at the end of a tunnel.
We were also served with ubi rebus (tapoica) there. The half day tour ended at about 1330 and by 1500 we were back in town. Hunt for good halal Vietnamese food, and we manage to stumble upon Un-Halal restaurant within walking distance from our guesthouse. As expected, plenty Malaysians was having later lunch here. We order egg rolls, beef noodle soup, fried egg noodle seafood & grilled beef noodle. AWESOME~~~
Weren't able to go to the night market near Ban Thanh area due to all the tailors appointment. If you are looking for cheap affordable rejected backpacks (deuter & the north face) Saigon is the place. U can bargain a 30L TNF for below USD8! There is also TNF goretex windbreaker, but you must inspected the inner part weather it is sealed-tape or not. The most promising TNF goretex I've seen having the price of USD60 (about RM190).
Budget :
USD7 per taxi from airport to town district 1
USD5 per person Cu Chi tunnel tour (guides & return transport)
USD4 (80,000VND) Cu Chi entrance fee per person
USD10.50 per person per night @ Ngoc Thao Guesthouse, District 1 (breakfast included)
USD12 per person bus ticket Saigon - Pnom Penh
Our bus to Pnom Penh was at 0900 ETD on 31.1.2011.
1 comment:
You make me wanna go there la, yang! Can't wait for pt 2!
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