VIETNAM TRIP 20th~26th JULY 2009
As uploading photos here is a GREAT CHORE, and that i've put them up at facebook, I shall do a Travel Entry without photos for the first time.
Anyway, potential Vietnam visitors, Do make this an essential read! =)
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Phase 1: Ho Chi Minh City 20th~21st
TIP #1: DO NOT get your VND anywhere outside Vietnam. It's quite a controlled currency, and rates outside the country is VERY BAD. Which also means to say, SPEND ALL OF IT before you return. Even the airport serves good rates. There's a row of currency exchange before you leave the Arrival Hall, do drop by them. All of them provide better rates than what is shown on the electronic boards!
TIP #2: Going to the city? Take a bus if you're not pressed for time. Board at the Domestic Airport, I heard it takes about 1.5 hours, but it costs just 3000 dong per person, bringing you right into the city centre.
TIP #3: If you fancy a taxi, opt for MaiLinh Group, which has drivers in uniforms. And if possible, ask for a METERed charge. It will typically cost 100,000 per cab to the Backpacker's Area (District 1). So, if you're quoted a lump-sum fare, make sure it doesn't deviate much! In any case, arm yourself with the hostel's number, or even request for airport transfer with them.
And so, we got ripped a little, with a 150,000 dong/cab charge to our hostel. But we were smart enough to ask for Meter EVERYTIME we hailed a taxi. And it was cheap! The starting fare's just 9500 dong (about S$0.80)!
TIP #4: Stay at Vy Khanh Guesthouse! This family-run house only opened in Jan this year, but has the most reviews and highest rating on HostelWorld among Ho Chi Minh Hostels. Squeaky Clean and spotless. Dust-free. Free computers with wifi to use. Cable tv in your air-con rooms with attached bathroom. Nice, comfy bed. Hotel service at hostel price! Ms Vy's a very helpful lady, and got us great deals with tour bookings/taxi bookings/recommendations on food & places/helped us buy coffee for souvenirs! Interested? You can get the email from me, so that you can book directly with them, probably saving a 10% from HostelWorld!
We went Ben Thanh Market (and tried our first Pho somewhere there!) , Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Post Office, Diamond Plaza Shopping Centre (and played pool and had dinner) and the Night market near Ben Thanh (where we had our first practices of bargaining).
TIP #5: BARGAIN for EVERYTHING. Whatever you're quoted, they're probably sold 50% less to locals. Target about 40% off the quoted price, and let them earn abit too la! Pretend to walk away if you want a lower price. If they stop you, they'll agree to your asking price. If they don't stop you, the next shop sells the same thing too!
TIP #6: Vietnam's traffic doesn't regard traffic lights, if they ever are working. Motorbikes and cars just go on continuously. How to cross? Don't bother looking left/right or waiting for the traffic to lighten. JUST STEP ONTO the road and walk as if the bikes running towards you are transparent. Look straight or close your eyes if you want--you'll find them swirving pass and dodging you, and you're opposite the road in no time!
So it was fun trying out new stuff on the first day! Pho is a must-try dish, we had it at a 'Pho 24' branch . ANd i love Vietnamese Spring rolls! And their coffee just made me want to try every single day there. Very intense and sweet, almost diabetic, but I kinda enjoyed the taste. My first impression of the city, was that it resembled certain Malaysian cities. Just that the words were different, and it was harder to communicate with the locals.
On the 2nd day, we took a half-day tour to the famous CuChi tunnels.
TIP #7: Sinh Cafe is an established tour agency, and most people stick to the brand. But throughout the trip, we didn't book any tours with them. Some alternatives were as good and cheaper, but some were just unsatisfactory. If you don't mind not getting the cheapest deals, go for the tried-and-trusted Sinh Cafe might be a good thing.
Our CuChi tunnel tour guide was very good. For this once, I believe our tour might be better than a Sinh Cafe tour, since whatever they offer would probably be identical. It was very impressive, to learn about how the guerillas stayed inside the tunnels for years in their fight against the enemies in the Vietnam Civil War. 3 levels of tunnels, in a 200km network! ANd the traps really awed me, though I feel sad for the many who perished in the ideological war. CuChi is definitely worth a visit!
TIP #8: Do consider bringing Ponchos/ Insect repellents / Caps if you're going CuChi tunnels. For obvious reasons, eh.
Ms Vy, the guesthouse owner, brought us to a nearby provisions shop to buy coffee back! It was very cheap, and I lugged 2.5kg back. (YES, carrying a very heavy luggage everywhere for the rest of the trip too!).
TIP #9: Don't buy the coffee from touristy places. Trung Nguyen coffee is said to be the best in Vietnam, with it's own dedicated coffee shops. It's worth checking out the prices at provisions shops first.
And we had a massage session! The 1-hour long massage is nothing like wad YS went through in Miri, cos there was a robe for you to change into! And it's a professional spa shop, done in a big private room where everyone's together. haha. Ok, I couldnt stand the ticklish feel, and so wasn't totally in a relaxed state. Which means it wasn't very very enjoyable actually. But being a first-time, it's for the experience huh.
TIP #10: Kinda random, but Vietnam uses a 2-pin plug! So if your chargers have 3-points, you'd have to find a way to ration your batteries!
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Phase 2: Mekong Delta 22nd~23rd
I was quite interested to find out about Mekong Delta, after reading much in my Secondary School Geog TB. Mekong river's also one of the world's 10 greatest rivers, so I guess it was good to dedicate some time here, right at Vietnam's Southernmost.
Frankly speaking, I wasn't very impressed with the tour that we booked. Probably some other tours by other agencies might be better. But still, i got to feel the river. Just that the tour probably brought us to too many factories etc, to try to get business from us? But we still got to see first-hand on the lives of the river people. Like the floating markets, for an example.
Then, during some part of the tour, it rained! All the way until the evening, when we were supposed to check in at Can Tho, a province at Mekong Delta. But what happened was, we had to carry our luggages for a good half-km in the rain, and walk to a small pier, to take a boat across the river to reach Can Tho. That's when some of us (not me!) became very grouchy and black-faced. Hah. Frankly-speaking, to me, the most interesting memories of a trip would come from unexpected incidents and happenings. This, for one, qualifies, and adds to the joy of travelling, no?
TIP #11: If you're going Mekong from HCMC, you can seriously consider leaving your main luggage at your previous hostel/accommodation. Just bring whatever you need for the 1 night stay at Mekong.
TIP #12: TRY THE DURIANS THERE! You won't see alot actually, but do keep your eyes open. The durians there have small seeds, but VERY FLESHY meat! Can you imagine, biting a mouthful of durian flesh! Totally 毛山王 standard, at a price you can never, ever imagine. Seriously!
TIP #13: DO look out for Durian Tau Sah Pia, ONLY AVAILABLE in Mekong Delta. Spam them and load tons of them into ur luggage (if it isnt already packed with coffee!), cos it's really really really heavenly. Look out for durian pictures on the packaging, though really hard to find, cos of the foreign language. But you wun regret spending the effort to find. At provision shops.
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Phase 3: Ha Long Bay 24th~25th
We reached Hanoi by flight at 1am, and checked into the hotel. But the hotel sent us to another sister hotel, and the room we got was THE WORST EVER. The room was unmade (since the last guest checked out), and everything was choking! The air-con was faulty too! We had to bunk in with the girls..
And I SERIOUSLY THINK the hotel cheated us of our booking! We booked through the hotel, and I'm 98.2319% sure that they collected the USD 69 per pax, and booked us into a CHEAPER and LOUSIER alternative. That's because we got less than what the itinerary showed. And, the other angmohs on the same boat paid less than us. So, it was quite obvious that we were not checked into the CORRECT boat. Damn. I gave the hotel bad ratings on HostelWorld. That's the only thing i could do.
TIP #14: BOOK all tours when you're in Vietnam. This can help you compare your choices with all the other agencies around. And of course, bargain!
We visited Thien Cung cave (天宫洞). The cave was full of stalagmites and stalactites that resemble animals! Elephants/dragons/dolphins/jelly-fish etc etc. But looking at the state of the cave, i was most unimpressed. It was tooo well-made. Colourful lightings were installed, along with a cooling system. Steps were built too. It all made the spectacular cave seemed so commercialised and made-up. Kinda sad, really.
But the Ha Long Bay view was nothing less than breathtaking. It is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nothing. It is not a running nominee for the New 7 Wonders of the World for nothing. The 2000 islands (mostly unnamed) may look similar to the next, but I'm sure each has it's own grandeur and are all splendid and awesome. Some of us (not me!) felt that it was boring looking at the same scenery for 2 days 1 night onboard, but i really beg to differ. I'm glad I paid attention to the islands. I spotted the Dog-lookalike island!
We had Kayaking on the bay, and I'm glad to be partnered with this Venezuelan freshgrad, who is doing his round-the-world trip. He has toured Europe, and is now in his Asian leg. He flew to Vietnam after a few days' stop in Singapore. And he should be in HK at the time i'm typing this, before going TW and Mexico. He's very accomplished! I always admire and envy people who are well-travelled. I probed into his travel experiences, and really got inspired but his knowledge on the places he had been to. I guess travelling really cultivates a person, in a very wholesome way. What stands between me and be a globe-trotter, is just Money. Any kind helpers to fulfill my dreams?
Ha Long Bay's really pretty. I took some postcard-worthy shots, even with a digital camera. I guess this phase of the trip was the best for me. Well, even better IF we were checked into the right boat, and tried more things, as planned in the itinerary la!
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Phase 4: Hanoi 25th~26th
Yes, this had to be the worst part of the trip, thanks to the pickpocket incident. But as mentioned in the previous entry, there were bright sides to look at, so it wasn't really that bad. But it's true that I began to view some of the locals in a suspicious way. My eyes were also unknowingly scouring the sides of the roads to see if there were any discarded cards, that the crooks might have thrown out from my wallet. None though.
TIP #15: DO carry your bags IN FRONT of you. I am the living example of the consequences otherwise.
TIP #16: You're bound to meet crooks who force you to pay for their (uncalled-for) services. Like a fruit-seller shoving her hat and baskets for you to take photographs, and collecting 'photo-money'. Or a shoe-shiner running up to you and start his work on your shoe. Just be firm and warn them that you would not be paying, and walk away. Hold on to your valuables tight.
TIP #17: Just like all other countries that you travel in, it is important to split your money and hide them at different places. Do make a photocopy of your passport and put it somewhere too. This may be more relevant in pickpocket-infested places like Hanoi.
The police station was very run-down. Ok, not a station. It's actually occupied along a stretch of shops. There was nothing inside! ONLY A TELEPHONE. The policeman even needed my hotel's assistant to help to photocopy the form before i could fill!
The bags at the shops near the Hoan Kiem Lake were good. Very Very well-imitated. Except the crumpler bags though--the logos included the word 'crumpler' which spoilt everything immediately! IF my wallet wasnt stolen, i would have bought backpacks home. Although i could easily have borrowed some cash from my travel-mates to splurge, but really, the urge and joy of shopping had been killed by that crook.
THe only place of interest we visited in Hanoi was the Museum of Ethnology. It was great, I would say, for giving us a glimpse of some of the 56 ethnic groups in the vast country. Actually i did have quite a good read in the museum, and would probably have stayed longer if i were alone. The cultures had some influences from China, and I suppose some ethnic groups are similar to those that you can find in their northern neighbour.
We had quite a fair bit of ice-creams there. Not very expensive. We actually had KFC and Gloria Jeans Coffee here too. Oh, McDonald's has yet to break into the country yet.
On the last day, at the Noibai airport at Hanoi, there was actually a blackout! I wonder if this happens on a frequent basis?
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Vietnam's really an interesting place. There's actually so much more to see than I thought. If you ask me if I would return, it'll be a yes. That's because I'm quite interested to explore the central parts of the vast country, where there are adventurous stuff to try, and is probably where the poorest regions of the rapidly-developing country are found.
But such a trip would most probably not be anytime soon.
人生是黑白的.
10:53 PM <3
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