4 years in Vietnam

Nicci, Marien and I celebrated 4 years of our friendships here in Vietnam. 

We missed the rest of the group but I am still happy they visited me here even just for a weekend. 

AT first I planned to bring them to Mui Ne.

I have not been there also so I really really want to go there.

But the koya travel agency did not recommend to be there just for a day.

It will be a waste of time daw.

Usually, to maximize the experience, we have to allot 2 days minimum.

So I gave up Mui Ne. 

Next time nalang. 

Plan B is to go to Vung Tau for beach. 

But the girls didn't feel like going to the beach. 

And I too, so Bye Vung Tau.

We end up city tour on Saturday and a spontaneous decision to go to Cu chi Tunnel on Sunday.

This post is our Saturday HCMC escapade.

[More pictures to be uploaded by my photographer visitors. :)]

After eating Banh Mi Thap Cam for breakfast in Bready, we do a walking tour at District 1.

Banh Mi Thap Cam in Bready is the best!
Nicci loves the salt and lime concoction.

 First Stop: HCMC Notre Dame Cathedral.

Even though I always see this almost everyday, I still adore the contrast of the blue sky and the red brick of the cathedral.

  What is unique this time is that I got to go inside :)

I missed Baclaran church. hahaha! 

A bit of trivia:

Vietnam population are majority Confucianism and Buddhism. 

But a big fraction of their population is Catholic. 

Catholicism is brought to Vietnam by Alexander de Rhodes, a french missionary. 

He also devised the system of writing that the Vietnamese are still using today. 

This is the reason that in the Indochina region, Vietnam is the only nation that uses Roman characters in their writing.

Interesting, isn't it? 

Next stop is the Reunification Palace.

It was the White House of then South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, when the South and the North is still divided. 

The South Vietnam then was anti-communist, backed up mainly by the US. On the other hand, North Vietnam was an ally of communism and was supported by other communist nations.

Vietnam War is the war between these two opposing regions and it was ended on the Fall of Saigon, when a tank of the North Vietnam Army bulldozed through the main gate of this palace.

This moment signifies the REUNIFICATION of Vietnam under the communist rule.

To be fair, Vietnam history is very interesting.

Today, this palace is very popular tourist spot in Ho Chi Minh City. Everyday, buses of tourist arrive here.

And to be fair, the palace is well maintained :)

We love the greenness of the grass.

I love the blueness of the sky.

Unlike the heavy, ghostly feeling I expected from an old antique building, this place exudes a light and historical feel, that made the visit more interesting. 

 

 

It is very noticeable the American influence in the architecture and the interiors of the palace, especially this leisure room which is so american 70-ish.

View from the veranda on the 3rd floor.

The rooftop is a helipad.

 I think this is where the Americans escaped through a helicopter when the North Vietnam Army is taking over the palace.

 

And to complete our history lesson, we then went (again, for me) to the War Remnants Museum. 

 The museum focuses on Vietnam War. 

It showcases the brutality of the [pakialamerong] America. 

I swear, whenever I see my pictures of this place, I feel anger and sadness. 

What is socially involved?hahaha!

 Lunch is at a rice chicken house near the war remnants :) very gwud!

The best is the thap cam rice chicken and roasted duck and fried pork.

And of course the dessert which I don't know the name.

 What i like in Vietnamese food is their wide array of condiments to make their food even more tastier!

Very busog after so we walked towards Ben Tanh to do shopping! 

Of course, when you say Vietnam, it means cheap bags and clothes to tourists. 

But I told them that bags here are thap cam originals and imitations. 

If you're the type who buys the brand, I really don't recommend you to buy bags here unless from the authentic outlet stores which sell the surplus stuffs directly from the factory.

Just go to Cambodia We Export Shop. 

But to be fair, their imitated bags last 3 years! So if you just don't care, it is super worthy!

 

SO, they end up spending 45minutes in this store selling brass accessories.

what is namakyaw? 

TIPS: Very useful vietnamese phase when shopping: 

Mak wah! - so expensive!

bak di - give me discount!

I am not sure though of the spelling. hahaha! 

Usually, people in Ben Tanh (and the rest of the tourist district) knows how to speak in English and amazingly, Tagalog! hahaha! 

I can randomly here tinderas saying, "maganda and mura!"

Kewlness!

They also bought candies for pasalubong.

 They love these peanut candies. 

I don't. haha!

Dinner was at my favorite in Pham Ngu Lao area,  Cafe333.

Break from our heavy Vietnamese lunch, we ordered pizza and pasta. 

I convinced them to try the Schweppes plus lime for drinks but it failed! 

di pala sya masarap.

And we were very exhausted for a very long day of walk.  

We have to prepare for the next day's whole day tour to Cu Chi. 

We slept early - 12mn :)

 too sleepy to proofread....zzzZZZZZZZ

-July25-


P.S.
Thanks Marien for some of the pics :)