Ho Chi Minh: The Paris of the Orient

Just what my fellow travel blogger, Chyng, said: "Summer is forever". And indeed it is. So here's for another Asian Travel, probably a continuation of my Amazing Race from Singapore to Malaysia after two years. Like what I said in this post, I will continue my Asian travel. This time to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Actually from Singapore, you can travel to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with either a train, bus or coach and minivan as they are interconnected by Land.

I have a dream to travel in Paris and other parts of Europe. Somehow, I came close to that dream when I went to Ho Chi Minh City or what they call, the Paris of the Orient. (Parisian style of some of their grand buildings and monuments.)


Hotel Continental Saigon
April 26 - After work, I hurriedly went to the airport by cab. I was a bit running late for my flight schedule since it was rush hour that time. I did not have buffers with that but my fingers are crossed that I still can catch my flight. I went straight ahead to budget terminal only to find out, it was not my terminal. I took Jetstar airlines bound to Ho Chi Minh and the plane takes off at Terminal 1. I got there and it was already 20 minutes before my boarding time. So, I ran back to a taxi and as I arrived to Terminal 1, the counter was already closed. I asked them what happens to my ticket, and replied me back that ticket is no longer valid. I immediately proceeded to information and asked the next available flight for tonight. Luckily, they got me a flight but I need to run all the way to the shuttle train for Terminal 3 to buy a new ticket. It was like a race and I was hoping to still get on to the next ride. However, when I got there, the ticket was so expensive. I definitely did not go with that. I just opted to stay overnight and get the much cheaper flight early morning. I went to Terminal 2 to get to the budget terminal. And got my ticket from there.


Chanel at Rex Hotel
Following this events, our itinerary was still not messed up. Only that my kumareng Weng, had her overnight in Ho Chi Minh while I had it in the airport. I arrived at the Saigon airport at nine the next morning. I met my kumare in one of the hotels in Pham Ngu Lao Street and had our breakfast. After that we went out looking for Mekong Express tickets which was near the place. We book our bus trip for Phnom Penh, Cambodia on the same day. Our call time was three in the afternoon and it is about five to six hours travel.


Louis Vuitton at Opera View
After that we rented a taxi to get us around the place for USD20. There were a lot of signature shops there. The locals are still using the symbolic conical hat. There were also a lot of motorbikes. Like the majority of locals used motorbikes.



When our stomach was growling, we asked the cab driver to drop us to a food chain or something. I was surprised to find out the unbeatable happy bee, our very own, Jollibee. For so you know, I have been craving for a delightful spaghetti the past few weeks. And so, this is my moment!! :P


After that unforgettable event, it's time for us to go back to the bus station. We were on time, but our bus forgot us, that's what the bus lady told us. Good thing there was a next bus coming in about fifteen minutes. It was Kumho Samco, a Korean bus worth for USD12.

The race continues...