Ho Chi Minh

I took a few days off and went to Chi Minh city for a shopping trip!

A few tips:

1.        Be prepared for the heat and humidity. Sunblock, sunglasses, hats are essentials. Bring along bottled water to hydrate yourself.

2.        Crossing the roads can be scary. DO NOT RUN. I repeat. DO NOT RUN. Walk slowly to cross. The vehicles will go around you instead.

3.        Food is a plenty. Halal food too. You will not starve.

4.        Best buys: Anything that’s custom made. Pants, dresses, shirts, skirts, blazers. Very affordable. Love their Japanese cotton.

5.        Vietnamese people are really lovely. If you do not wish to buy from them, just say no politely, with a smile.

6.        Bargain, bargain, bargain. Bargain really hard. 60% off the said price.

7.        Remember to try the Vietnamese rolls. To die for!

8.        If you are the type who loves to shop for branded items, this is not the place.

I had a great time shopping. And I will return. I think Ho Chi Minh has just become my favorite shopping paradise. Move over Bangkok! 

Celebrating Us!

We turned 10th on 30 April! Married for 10 years. Marriage changed me. Marriage is hard work. But I would not trade it for anything else. I love celebrating my wedding anniversary. We do make it a point to spend some time together, and we headed for Phu Quoc! (sans the kids)
Well, I’ve never heard of Phu Quoc, until a few months back, while surfing the web and trying to look for romantic places to go to (with a small budget hehehe!).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phu_Quoc
Phú Quốc is the largest island in Vietnam. Phú Quốc and nearby islands, along with distant Thổ Chu Islands, is part of Kiên Giang Province as Phú Quốc District, the district has a total area of 574 square kilometres (222 sq mi) and a permanent population of approximately 103,000.[1] The district of Phú Quốc includes the island proper and 21 smaller islets. The district seat, Dương Đông, is located on the west coast, and is also the largest town on the island. The economy is centered on fishing, agriculture and a fast-growing tourism sector. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, just 12 km south of the Cambodian coast, the island has long been a bone of contention between the governments of Cambodia and Vietnam, both of which have an historical claim to it and the surrounding waters.

Vietnam Airlines offers direct flights into Phu Quoc from Singapore (less than 2 hours).
Accommodation: http://daisyresort.com/

We had an awesome time. Rustic and old fashion. No high rise buildings, no malls.
Just perfect for us! We spend our time reading, going to beach, go for lovely walks, snorkeling, eating and just enjoying each other’s company.

 

Next Destination – Phu Quoc

3.5 more weeks to the next destination.
Phu Quoc
Every year (well almost!!!), I’ll try to arrange for a short trip with the other half (minus the kids) on our wedding anniversary.
Last year was “30 hours in Kuala Lumpur” – that was madness.
Since we are celebrating our tenth (we made it!!! yey!!!), I thought we could do with a slightly longer trip to a beach resort.
There were a few to choose from, without bursting my bank.
Phuket, Krabi, Bintan, Bali, Lombok
Phu Quoc didn’t even make to the list because I was not even aware of its existence till 3 months ago, while surfing the Internet.
Out of curiosity, I checked up on the flights and woah..Vietnam Airlines was having a real good deal for a direct flight.
And there were plenty of resorts to choose from.
Went to Trip advisor and read a few reviews and chose 1.
Send an email directly to the resort for booking and airport pick up arrangements. Very smooth. Easy peasy.
Flight tickets – checked!
Accommodation – checked!
Annual leave application – checked and approve!
Childcare arrangements for 4 days (in other words “grandma needs to take care of the kids”) – not check. This needs proper timing. Wish me luck!