vietnam: Ho chi minh Tiger tours ( Tour on a bike)

Decide to try out something new.

We took a night tour on the bike.

The pickup point was at our hotel.

There are other available but this is one of the cheapest. There is a more famous one but it was fully booked. 

The guides are all females.

My guides were students who used this as an opportunity to improve their English.

Dinner and desserts were included in the package.

They were helpful in taking photos using their camera and mine.

Photos are included but quality may not be very good.

The ride was safe and not bumpy.

There was no speeding because they are just too many bikes around.

It was fun because I never taken a bike before, and they bought me to eat delicious local food and the guides were friendly and sincere.

Taking photos on the ride, although is not really advisable.

But they were not speeding so the ride was quite stable. I took a lot of photos.

 The model of the scooter will varies as is the driver's personal bike.

Dinner.Vietnamese food

The guides can speak good English. 

They bought us to a simple Vietnamese restaurant or maybe is like a coffee shop.

They show us the food and the proper way of eating it.

The food taste really good.

 Visited the flower market.

Bran Binh or chinatown.

We got down to shop for a while.

Small night market.

Desserts at a local favourite eatery.

I visited this eatery on my own the next day, is popular with the locals and the food taste good.

more about the restuarant

Then they sent us back to hotel.

You can chat with them about ho chi minh during the meals and bike ride.

Bring a bit of loose changes to tip them if you like them.

Vietnam free and easy : Ho chi minh Accomodation Saigon Signature Hotel

First impression.

The staff is quite good with their English.

It takes less than 10 minutes to walk Ben Thanh market and less 15 minutes to backpackers area.

Hotel room is new, spacious and clean.

I like it because is not carpeted. 

The bath tub is a mini jacuzzi.

and a computer in the room.

Free wifi in the hotel too.

Breakfast in the hotel.

Slight variation in breakfast everyday.

Vietnam free and easy : Ho chi minh Cuchi tunnel and Cao Dai Temple Tour

Sinh Tourist. The more famous agency where most people booked their cuchi tunnnels and other tours.

I booked from Viet vacation travel because I find the sinh tourist has more people on each tour bus and also I don't like the crowd I see in there.

Actually is ok to book from any of the travel agencies at the backpackers area. My tour bus picked up people from various agencies. We booked from different agencies but end up on the same bus and tour group.

Price may differ by a bit and you can pay in USd or dong.

There are smaller group tour but it will be slightly more expensive.

The bus and our English tour guide. His English was ok. There are times I don't understand what he is talking about.

He is a nice and friendly guy.

Some random shots on the bus ride

We stop by for a drink, snack and toilet break before arriving at Cao Dai Temple.

The toilet is clean and dry.

Cai Dai Temple.

I don't think it was really worth the few hours ride.

We watched the prayers for a few minutes and walk around the temple.

Then went back to bus because there was nothing much else to see and the weather is like hot and humid. It was around 30+ degress

Stop for before going to cuchi tunnels.

The food was quite bad. and the restaurant was hot and humid with no fans or air conditioning.

I will recommend you pack your own lunch and enjoy it on the bus.

MAn demostrating how they hide in the small hole in the olden days.

Roofs on the ground and houses built underground.

Deathly traps.

sounvenirs? 

If you are buying empty bullets, remember to keep them in your check in luggage and not hand carry luggage. If not, it will be confiscated.

Shooting range.

Durable shoes made from tyres.

The sunset.

Overall. The trip was cheap but bring your umbrella, food and cold water as weather is hot, sunny and humid.

Cuchi tunnel was definitely more interesting than the temple.

I will suggest a half day city tour which just bring you to cuchi tunnels.

Just EAt : Singapore Halia at Raffles Hotel

The hallway

 Ordered two small dishes( Celraic Lasagne and oriental pulled duck) and  three big dishes(HAlia Chilli Crab, Seafood in Saffron Orange broth and Sous Vide Baharat chicken Leg)  for four girls.

Sides can be added.

My friend likes the Celraic Lasagne. I like the toasted mushrooms that is scattered on the Lasagne.

As I am a meat and seafood lover, I prefer the Seafood in Saffron Orange broth as there are seafood like mussels, salmon, cod, prawns. It does not taste spicy. More of a milky and sweet soup.

Halia chilli crab taste good but the taste of the crab is not really prominent so is more of a chilli crab sauce with pasta for me.

The Chicken leg was tender and the skin crispy.

The oriental pulled duck is a no for me as I don't like sesame oil and the soba is coated with sesame oil.

 The Desserts:
Ginger Nougaut PArfait, Sticky toffee pudding and white chocolate mousse.
We were not customed to the taste of ginger so it taste a bit usual. However, it taste better when eated together when the caramelized pineapple.
The Sticky toffee pudding is more of a moist and dense sponge cake. Eat is with the ice cream and caramel. Average.
I enjoyed the white chocolate mousse the most, the white chocolate is sweet and the chocolate ice cream taste good with the crumbs.

 As the original shop is situated at botanical gardens, I think that is why there is a number of fake trees in the restaurant.

We did not order drinks. The bill came up to around $170.

The service is good. Waiters and waitresses are friendly and attentive.

Quiet place for a Saturday evening.

Around half of the restaurant was filled.

Singapore Food: Porridge Buffet at Crystal Cafe

The food available.
Is not fantastic but I think is worth the price.
for people who want a simple but traditional buffet.
Good place to bring elderly who prefer chinese and not too expensive food.

Orchard Grand Court
131 Killiney Road
Tel: 68302020

Available: 12pm-2:30pm; 6pm-10pm
Monday - Thursday Lunch and Dinner
Friday Lunch
Lunch $13.80 for adults $11.80 for child.

Friday Dinner.
Weekends, eve of public holidays and public holidays
$15.80 for Adults $13.80 for child

not inclusive of gst and tax

Vietnam free and easy : Ho chi Minh TAxi Transfer and 3G sim card

On the plane.

Ho chi minh airport is quite small. You can see this counter after you exit the area which you pick up your luggage.

There are various package available for both sim, micro simcard and nano simcard.

You can pay in both USD or VND.

The person at the counter will help you set up your phone.

If you just need the data plan, is only 3 USD.

We went out and enquired about the taxi rate. It is only around 1 USD difference if we book from the taxi counter inside the airport. Therefore, we decided to take the taxi from the taxi counter as it is much safer.