185 Đ. Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường 6, Quận 3,
Hồ Chí Minh / Saigon, Vietnam
… more pix & vid on Google Maps & TA
The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument
A small square to honor the monk who burned himself: Thích Quảng Đức (chữ Hán: 釋廣德 (1897 – 11 June 1963). He was protesting Diem’s persecution of Buddhists – Ngô Đình Diệm was a Roman Catholic.
Bến Nghé, District 1,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
… more pix on Google Maps
Can’t miss Watsons -:)
This one is at the ground level at Bitexco Financial Tower. It’s the 2nd tallest building in Saigon, we can see it, and an easy walk from our hotel.
The Tower has a simple lobby. The lower floors have a shoe bazaar, a famous hotpot from China – 海底捞 Haidilao that offers free nail polish service.
Watsons: it sells a lot of more products. Not sure because it’s in Vietnam.
43 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh/Saigon 700000, Vietnam
… more pix videos on Google Maps & TA (1st)
Pricy cigars: an upscale cigar shop in the upscale location.
There is a small table with two chairs near the entrance, obviously for decor – this is not a bar.
02 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,
Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam
… more pix n videos on Google Maps & TA
A beautiful building in Saigon but too many tourists, and way too many social medial personalities, like everywhere in SE Asia.
“Why so many girls or young couples dressing up?”
“…they’ll post it on Facebook and social media…”
Across the street, is their Notre Dame but is under renovation, as well.
Next to it (northwest) is the lovely Book Street, and the yellow building locates at 22 Gia Long Street, that is southeast of the post office, was where the last American helicopter left.
… The Book Street next to the Post Office is nice to visit.
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.
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.
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]
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 -:)
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?
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.
