I'm only blogging about my Vietnam Trip (21 - 25 Dec) now because I had no access to Blogger for the past few days. Probably due to the earthquake in Taiwan, the internet connection to Blogger has slowed down tremendously. Nevertheless, I want to capture the special memories I had in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) in words while they are still freshly linger in my mind.

Vietnam - a destination filled with vibrance and mystery. Indeed Ho Chi Minh City turned out to be a stunning package(I had never expected that Vietnam would actually appeal to me). On hindsight, I went with little expectation for I always thought that Vietnam was a place flooded with paddy and rice fields; undeveloped and backward in development. This trip to Vietnam changed all these.

For I discovered that Vietnam is 'a land of contrasts' (as Thomas Cooks put it). For there you see history and traditions, side by side with economic prosperity and development. Indeed, Bangkok to me was a boring place. Vietnam provides the raw edge and charming innocence that I have not seen in other places. Perhaps this can only be offered because the tourist industry in Vietnam has just started to open up. Perhaps Vietnam will be another Bangkok or Bejing in time to come due to commercialisation. However, I liked what I saw and experienced in Vietnam. The lack of packaging, the spectacular scenic beauty and the rich history of Ho Chi Minh has made me fall deeply in love with it.

Anyway, I had only managed to finish setting my re-exam the day itself of departure so packing was the last thing on my mind then. Luckily I didn't forget to bring anything . Anyway the shopping started the minute we entered the dfs lounge. Haha! I bought 2 Clarins slimming cream(1 for myself and the other for bro's gf) and a mosturizer from Jurlique. Met K(a Sec 1 CO student) with her mum along the way and I was rather surprised when she mentioned she was going to Vietnam too! It was such a coincidence that we were on the same flight - SQ178.

The plane was freezing cold as we bundled and made ourselves comfortable for take-off. Anyway, I managed to catch the movie Step Up on KrisWorld (half of it actually).





Step Up to the Groove








Silly me actually felt proud that I was taking the national carrier. Due to budget constraints, it has been a long time since I flew SIA. Anyway, it helped that the air steward was rather cute and attentive!

Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport, we felt totally overwhelmed by the huge throng of locals and tour guides eagerly waiting for the arrival of their friends/visitors. We were then ushered into a waiting bus nearby and headed for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant. To us, this was the best dinner we had throughout the entire trip. Perhaps it was the first meal in Vietnam that added to the appeal. However, I believe that it was the hunger and fatigue after a long day that made the meal special. Check out the sumptous feast we had!