Dec 12 2024

Thien Hau Temple


36/7B Huỳnh Tấn Phát, Tân Thuận Tây, Quận 7,
Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps & TA

Chee Hsin QX #113b/163b?

We stop at the Chua Ba thien hau after the wild ride in Saigon.

It’s a Chinese-style temple, deified Chinese Goddess of Sea (Mazu 妈祖) Lin Mooning (林默娘) on the busy Nguyễn Trãi Street in the Cholon (“Chinatown”), in District 5 (or 7?). It was built in 1760 by a group of Cantonese.

Again, many young girls or couples are dressed up for photos.

 


Dec 12 2024

Saigon ride


Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

The second day starts with the rickshaw ride on the busy streets of Saigon, during the morning rush hour, because the forecast indicates rain later on, which it did.

I don’t really think of it much because it was one of my childhood means of transportation in Beijing.

It’s interesting, we get to see different part of Saigon

The ride ends at Ba Thien Hau Pagoda or  the Thien Hau Temple.


Dec 12 2024

Durian 榴莲


How difficult is it to eat durian?

Super hard: wrong season and most importantly, you can’t eat in your hotel – at least all the hotels we stayed, all forbidding it. Someone did bring it to their hotel room … but I didn’t feel comfortable to do so, when I purchased one after lunch at Ngon Restaurant in Saigon.

Dorian bars or lounges are very much needed.

The king of the fruits is NOT treated like a King at all.

芳香的榴莲 吃起来有多困难?

没有地方吃
🇹🇭🇰🇭🇻🇳 最后在西贡吃到 – 品质差

How difficult it is to eat durian
芳香的榴莲 吃起来有多困难

非常 因为没有地方吃
🇹🇭🇰🇭🇻🇳 最后在西贡吃到 – 品质差: 可能季节不对

有人在酒店里吃 … 俺奉公守法小民一枚
委曲求全 广场里解决.
谢胡爷了 后面是他们旧的市政府

还是回家吃吧 [Chuckle]

纽约下城的唐人街有个摊档卖的好 还替客人开 … 不知道他们从哪里拿到新鲜的榴莲 [Drool]

不想去那么远 就只有冻过的 [Chuckle]

有人在酒店里吃 … 俺奉公守法小民一枚
委曲求全 广场里解决.
谢胡爷了 后面是他们旧的市政府

还是回家吃吧 [Chuckle]

纽约下城的唐人街有个摊档卖的好 还替客人开 … 不知道他们从哪里拿到新鲜的榴莲 [Drool]

不想去那么远 就只有冻过的 [Chuckle]


Dec 12 2024

Ngon Restaurant


160 Pasteur, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix and videos on Google Maps & TA

Kitsch: A huge place. Multiple levels. Loud decor. Red color.
Fake flowers.
Fake plants,
Fake produces.
Open air with high roof.

We’re seated on the third floor. Gabled roof, open air, multiple floor fans cool the area. But imho, it only makes the area hotter and restless.

While waiting for food, I went to the bathroom on the ground floor. Oh what a heaven: it’s air conditioned. I hide there, appointed myself the director, and showing the patrons where the air dryer is.

We ordered ma po tofu which is not sweet but tasteless. The pork filled spring rolls are yummy but bit too thick. It came with one leaf, and I asked for more to wrap the spring rolls.

The presentation of the food is good. But I couldn’t wait to get out of there. December is their winter. I could NOT imagine to dine there during the summer months.

Once outside, I found a durian seller -:)


Dec 12 2024

Saigon City Hall


86 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon 710212, Vietnam

… more pix n videos on Google Maps

Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee building (web site) was a French colonial time’s city hall. Our guide calls it the City Hall, now a landmark in the city.

It’s not open to the public.

The area is busy with traffic, pedestrians and tourists. Rex Hotel to one side (hosting luxury brands) and more luxury brands on the other side. In the middle, is a statue of Ho Chi Minh, who is widely respected.

I’ve my durian here: where else can I have?


Dec 12 2024

Viet Kitchen


15 Đ. Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

… more pix & vid on Google Maps & TA.

Will return

This restaurant is on the ground level at the Renaissance Riverside hotel (Marriott), where we’ve our daily buffet breakfast.

The layout is pleasant, service is very good and the food is fresh and delicious. I particularly appreciative that they nip off the ends of the bean sprouts.

 


Dec 12 2024

Li Bai, Cantoness restaurant


80 Đ. Đông Du, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps & TA

Definitely will return.

The chilli paste!!!

Love their simple and elegant decor, even the menu is beautifully bounded. The service is on the spot. Presentation is beautiful and appetizing.

Li Bai (701-62) was one of top poets of China. Kids in China grow up with his poems.

The restaurant offers more than Cantonese cuisine. I’m so looking forward to an authentic Cantonese dinner, so we went.

Our bellies could only take two dishes:
Steamed cod: most wonderful.
Dongpo Pork 东坡肉: the meat is tender, dish is tasty and well presented but it’s not the traditional dongpo. The color of the meat is too light and dull, and tasted different. I was expecting the deep and shiny square pork belly, often served strings tied like a gift box. The mahogany color is from caramelized rock sugar. I don’t like my food sweet but this is one of few dishes that I don’t mind.

The freebies are delicious: tiny fried anchovy with the chilli sauce, and cashews. Their hot sauce is the best during my three weeks trip, hands down. What a treat! When I mention this to the young lady, she said sweetly “I can give you some to take home.”I wasn’t going to but after she refilled it toward end of the meal, I said, “ok.” since they’ll threw it away. … AND I shared it with my friends the following morning, and we finished it – we’re dying for a good chilli paste. I’ve two bowls of pho, seriously, all because of this.

Wish their ceiling could be a bit higher. Being on the third floor in the Sheraton, this will never happen.

We didn’t order dessert… because I want my durian -:)


Dec 12 2024

Gánh Chả, Saigon


90 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps, TA

I was stopped by their floor tiles: one is identical and one looks similar from my great granduncle’s Chee Hsin Tiles company in China. This is the second restaurant that I saw Chee Hsin tiles.

Although my belly was full from lunch and looking forward to dinner at Li Bai, but I went in and ordered the spring rolls anyway. It was yummy … I thought was the most delicious spring rolls – how much it was influenced by the tile is incalculable -:)

Happy holidays


Dec 12 2024

Saigon / HCM Book Street


39 Lê Duẩn, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix & videos on Google Maps.

A lovely, quiet street, next to the beautiful central post office. Book stores and cafes line the one block street. One end looks out to Saigon Notre Dame.


Dec 11 2024

Cho Bến Thành Market


Ben Thanh, District 1,
HCM / Saigon, Vietnam

… more pix on Google Maps & TA

I’m not a snob but don’t find it alluring to shop or eat at the market, especially in Asia. They’re usually in an old structure or on the street, hacking fake stuff, local specialties and cuisine (not sure all that healthy …) If happen to pass by, I’ll walk through it.

After lunch at Soul, I’ve 20 minutes on hand, too short to go else, so I went in. Nothing spacial. Really, just some fake stuff …