HO CHI MINH CITY
I am back again.
I am back again.
My second visit to Ho Chi Minh City (15 Nov. - 18 Nov. 2013) in the Vietnamese soil can be considered as a thorn among roses. The party comprised 11 members, 10 attractive ladies and I was the only male. The visit coincided with the school holidays. Shopping, visiting shopping complexes and markets dominated the activity and the traditional island in the Mekong Delta was the sole destination to step on.
The main attraction definitely The Ben Thant Market. Its strategic location and unlimited choice of goods and products at bargain-able price flocked particularly Malaysian tourists to the spot. After sunset the vendors moved their goods to set the night markets. Actually they were dealing the same goods and products but no different in business
Surprisingly, the Vietnamese vendors communicated understandable Malay and the transaction can be considered in RM apart from the Vietnamese dong and USD. A couple of a year ago they could hardly uttered Malay words and their American English, definitely shattered.
Halal food stalls and restaurants were just around the corner
 |
| All in the group The thorn among roses |
 |
| Myself and spouse |
 |
| Myself at Mekong Stop |
THE MARKETS AND THE SHOPPING COMPLEXES
 |
| The main attraction! One of the main entrance |
 |
| One of the section inside the Ben Thant Market |
 |
| Another attraction but only for the locals. No transaction occurred |
 |
| Just a window shopping |
 |
| The madams of the group |
 |
| Confessing satisfaction |
 |
| The night markets Just by the main market |
 |
| Bargaining shoes The second quality could be more expensive without wise bargaining |
 |
| Sipping the Vietnamese coffee delicious and reasonable . |
 |
| Another attraction, Cho lon the china town Similar to Ben Thant |
 |
| One of the city's main road Motorbikes dominate the roads and streets to cater the 16 million inhabitants |
 |
| Helmets are sold freely in market stall various shapes, colours and style The price is affordable |
THE MEKONG DELTA
 |
| The Mekong Stop. On the way to the Mekong Delta |
 |
| The Mekong Stop. Full of greenness, soothes everybody eyes |
 |
| The dense lotus covering the pool |
 |
| The floating flowerings combination of green and litmus red |
 |
| At the pier before floating to the traditional island |
 |
| The boat that floats us to the destination |
 |
| Floating and relaxing over the Saigon River It took a quarter of an hour to reach the opposite bank. |
 |
Over the Saigon River, one the Mekong's dis-tributaries |
 |
| Finalizing the traditional product the coconut cookies. |
 |
| Bargaining the product. |
 |
| A memory with the retarded who begged for living |
 |
| Trying the traditional means of transporting light goods and product. Reminding me during childhood lending hands to my grandpa carrying fish and green produce. |
 |
| Row row the boat, gently down the stream.... Interesting to me but a hair raising journey for my madam. This 2 km journey by narrow milky stream passing through dense nipah vegetation took 20 minutes to the river pier |
 |
| At the pier trying the traditional rag hat |
I enjoyed the excursion and hope to be back again for the third time.
Truly Vietnam is a fast growing nation, rich in agricultural products and human resources. Vietnamese are polite, friendly and laborious.
Extra Photos
 |
| Another section of the Ben Thant market |
 |
| "The heart throbs" |
 |
| The squatting madams HEN GAP LAI SEE YOU AGAIN. |
