Ho Chi Minh - Cabs

Most of them run by the meters...avoid those that don't...they are ready to rip u off!

7-seater cabs can readily be flagged off the road and the charges are the same as the 4 seaters!

Cab fares are way cheaper than S'pore!! Payment is in VND.

Saigon Square - Ho Chi Minh

Sells lotsa wind breakers, bagpacks, bermudas, Kipling wallets. Bought a Vaude Atlanta sling bag at 150,000VND ....yah...yah... not exactly dirt cheap >o< Sigh...aint much of a bargainer!

It's about 10mins walk from Ben Thanh night market where we had dinner for 2 nights. Cheap, good food! Had prawns, clams, beef, omelette, squid, spring rolls, BBQ pork, sour sop drinks. Each of us paid only 54,000VND!

Hanoi - Fundamentals

• CURRENCY
  

1SGD = 10,400 VND

1USD = 15,500 VND

Some shops accept USD. But they frequently use an exchange rate of 1USD to 15,000 VND....not as favourable.

Change USD to VND at the airport. The rate is about 15,800 VND.

Get hold of some VND before u take off.... available at your next door money changer

• HOTEL

When making hotel reservations....ask if they have a lift....err...it's really important to us when we have extreme age groups in the team.

We stayed in New Paradise Hotel @ Yen Thai. Pretty good location. Dong Xuan market and the lake are all within walking distance. O yes! 

The baguette and fried noodles for breakfast is yummy! 

Stayed in a room with 2 single beds....not much walking space. Internet access is free at the ground floor....but the speed is....well, just tolerable >.<

Hanoi - What & Where?

115 Phung Hung -> fabrics

167 Phung Hung -> steam boat makan

183 Phung Hung -> lights

Hung Thinh Outdoor 13 Dinh Tien Hoang -> bought a North Face Yavapai backpack at USD24, the rest of the gang bought lots of crumplers from the shop next door

Vi Lan Cafe 24 Hang Giay -> bought a box of G7 3-in-1 coffee with 20 sachets inside for 25,000 VND. Weasel coffee beans are also available. The owner...real friendly, honest guy.... grinds it on the spot for u

Lien Nguyet 83 Hang Luoc -> bought a set of 12 toy cars for 25,000 VND

Kiti Cafe 38 Hang Hom -> ate one of the tastiest fried vietnamese spring roll in Hanoi! Restaurant setting

Kem Fanny 48 Le Thai To -> chill out with strawberry ice cream! Sedap! Not cheap by local standards 

My Hanh Shop 9 Hang Gai Street -> bought 5 small dragonflies for 1USD...after much bargaining. 

Hang Ma -> stationary, toys

Hang Chieu -> plastic bags of various sizes and other kitchen disposables

Hang Giay -> titbits

Hanoi - Halong Bay

The wonder of God's creation!

Temperature hovered between 12-15 deg Cel! 

Sailed out towards the limestone caves and spent one night on the Thai Bin Duong (it's a boat). And haha.....there's limited hot water for shower! We figured out later that 2 bunks must be sharing the same water tank. Grrrrr....some of us had to brave thru a cold shower.

The night was exciting. The crew tending the boat got real hyper fishing squids. Each catch was greeted with a triumphant yell!! Some squids must have measured about 20cm. After a reasonable harvest, the cooks on board steamed them without clearing the black ink that  ooozed out.....yuck...so I gave it a miss.