Saigon 2007 : Floating Restaurant

Wisata kuliner Vietnam... Saigon ....

Saigon River Floating Restaurant

It was a ship modified into a triple-decker restaurant. The most popular menu was seafood, indeed, as we are floating on the Saigon River. Overall taste was good, not extra ordinary though (the shrimp makes me allergic). The gala dinner lasts for about 90 minutes. And after a long horn blew, the ship is moving departing from the port to circle the Saigon River delta. It took about 40 minutes to get to the embarkation point. During the cruise, we were entertained with an Indian dancer and the Saigon Lady of Fire show. I saw a real-life romance there, the dancer and her manager.

Saigon "Lady" of Fire show

While enjoying the cruise, I stood on the deck and the view was ‘humanity’. I saw a family of boat people. I saw raw material carrier docking under yellow argon light. I saw family boats with Myanmar flags. And I was aware that one of the orifice of Cu Chi tunnel is under this river!

Rohingnya Boat from Myanmar

Good sea food and flowers for our dinner

Saigon 2007 : Ho Chi Minh Opera House

Saigon...

The Opera House was a leftover from French colonial government. It is now functioned as a gathering place for socialite community and foreign diplomats. Cultural show and performances are often played especially in the weekends and yes for those fancy people only. Not interested, next!

Saigon 2007 : Sheraton Hotel

Saigon...

Sheraton Saigon is one of the fanciest hotels in the country. Established 25 stories, it’s the tallest structure in the Saigon river delta.

My room was on the 19th club floor. A 62m square studio has a huge decent bathroom with double washbasins. Settled on the South corner, my view was Ho Chi Minh capital with harbor tip on the left hand side. The rising sunlight in the morning looked gorgeous at this angle!

my room studio

the bathroom with various aromatherapy herbs

On the 21st floor club lounge, there is a loft for light meals and internet corners, restricted to Starwood Privileged and Club Floor guests only. The hotel has a famous nightspot on the 23rd floor. The clubhouse is one of the fanciest where celebrities are spending the nigh time during weekends. The outdoor restaurant on the same floor gave another thrill; dine in the open space at stunning 23-level high.

Rex Hotel, one of the fanciest in town as seen from my room balcony

downtown Saigon view from my room

One thing that bothers me was the fact that this hotel has no parking lot on its basement. I didn’t aware where they put the guests’ cars, must be somewhere nearby. And for our tourist coach, they charged 25,000 VND (US$1.6) for half an hour parking!

Located in the heart of business and tourist district, Sheraton is the landmark of HCMC where all tourist hotspots are available within walking distance from the hotel.

The closest one is the Vietnam House, a gothic restaurant where 90% of its visitors are foreigners, including former US president. Along the road—which I could not remember how to pronounce it—many silk stores displaying traditional Vietnamese gown. My friend bought one for VND 350,000 (US$21.85). Within 100 radius from the hotel, we can spot Louis Vuitton boutique, the Opera House, a branded mall (at the ground level of the hotel) and Gloria Jeane’s Coffee where I met Marcus, my old friend.

Saigon 2007 : Tan Son Nhat Airport

Saigon....
5 Dec 2007

The arrival hall

The nite was just fell when we touched down the long and spooky runway of Tan Son Nhat. Local time showed 18:40 when we landed with SQ186 from Singapore.

On the right hand side of my window, there were silos—ex-war bunkers—which were functioned as operations barracks of the airports. Fire engines, securities and many logistics supplies are located underneath those silos.

the bunkers

Far on the right, it’s read “Tan Son Nhat International Airport” sign in a gloomy blue neon. The plane was arrived 10 minutes ahead of schedule, thanks to the tail wind pushed us faster than it supposed to be.

Commercial area

The arrival hall was a brand new showcase. HCMC would like to give a warm welcome to its guests. Immigration process took no longer than five minutes, served by fresh-grad youngsters from a government academy, I think. The immigration guy was chattering to his friend asking whether Indonesian visitors need no visa… (in Vietnamese but I can overheard and interpret it though). Seemed unsure, he stamped my passport anyway—yeah I got a good guy face, much more valuable than entry visa.

Down the escalator to baggage claim area, we picked up our load. A lotus flower neon box says “Welcome to Vietnam” catching everybody’s attention while waiting along the conveyor belts.

Baggage claim area

I heard it’s not recommended to take taxi from the airport and therefore we booked an airport shuttle from the hotel, it’s a minivan with large windows able to carry around 12 people (and quarter a ton of luggage for sure!). The 7 kilos distance to the downtown Ho Chi Minh was driven in about one hour amidst a busy-hour nightmare traffic.

Chaotic traffic on the way to downtown HCMC

The idea of this airport is pretty much similar with that of Singapore's Changi. Modern and simple. There's row for check in located in the main hall. The airline sign is indicated on a flat screen hang in above the counters. Unfortunately, there is no commercial area at the departure hall. There's only one fast food restaurant and the rest was nothing.

check in counters

boarding lounge

executive lounge for SQ passenger ; good food, nice view, cozy sitting


this indoor garden is pretty much similar with Changi


restaurant of all Asian delicacies, along with rows of souvenir shops at the 2nd floor after immigration check point

I am gonna miss this airport someday....