To Ho Chi Minh City

Sightseeing Ho Chi Minh City

My recent 2 days stop-over at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has also uncover many interest spots. Unlike Hanoi, landing into Saigon is liked stepping back into history, maybe 10 – 20 years although the city center is very much modern and with the highest building Saigon Trade Center rising some 33 floors. Similarly, the City has many things to offer, the sites, the food and the entertainment.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam. Under the name Saigon (Vietnamese: Sài Gòn; it was the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent state of South Vietnam from 1954 to 1975. In 1976, Saigon merged with the surrounding province of Gia Định and was officially renamed Hồ Chí Minh City (although the name Sài Gòn - formally known as District 1 - is still commonly used.
The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers from the South China Sea.

The metropolitan area, which consists of Hồ Chí Minh City metro area, and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million people, making it the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam. The Greater Ho Chi Minh city Metropolitan Area have an area of 30,000 square kilometers will have a population of 20 million inhabitants by 2020.



11040 – Somerset Chancellor Court, quite near to city center and convenient to get around with Cab.


11039/41 – Busy Day-time Traffic rush



11045/47 – Lunch at Quan An Ngan, lots of variety from the well organised stalls











11048/49/50/53/55 – View of Saigon City from the 33rd Floor , Saigon Trade Center, present tallest building in Vietnam



11056 – Bar Area for Dine/Wine – PANORAMA 33 at 334d Floor

11064 – Saigon City by night

11065 – Top Brand and Fine Shopping, a favourite for the ladies.

11066 – Wine /Dine and light entertainment & variety of restaurants/accommodations

11067 – High Class Sheraton Saigon right in city center

11062 – Tu yet Lan, Dong Khoi St – A boutique ship with massage at the top floor

11063 Plenty of quality shopping along the brightly lit streets

11069 – Another spot for dining seafood, Ngoc Suong Seafood Restaurent at Le Quy Don-Quam 3

Posted by
Ivan

Vietnamese Hanoi

Moving around Hanoi city

Recently, I made a short business trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. When I landed, it is liked stepping back into history, set back some 20 to 30 years back, albeit with many of today’s technology and comfort. Nevertheless, the City has many things to offer, the sites, the food and the nostalgic feeling it gives one.
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. The native name of Vietnam is Viet Nam.

The city is located on the right bank of the Red River. Hanoi is located at 1760 km north of Ho Chi Minh City formerly called Saigon.
Hanoi's total area is roughly 334,470 hectares and divided into 29 subdivisions with a population of 6,232,940. October 2010 will officially mark 1000 years of the establishment of the city.

Ha Noi, was the name given to the city by King Minh Mang in 1831. Ha means river and Noi means within - Ha Noi means within the river.


Somerset Grand Hanoi, very good value for money accommodation in the city center. Somerset Grand Hanoi by night


SDC 11002 – Somerset Grand Hanoi – Surrounding View


SDC 11005 – Pho Vuong, Ngo Thi Nham Road , for a late night about 10.00 pmdinner/supper. Restaurant closed earlier, and got turned away from others at 9.30 pm


11014 – Downtown morning traffic rush hour


11018 – Scene by the lakeside. There are many lakes within the city as you travelled by


11025 – Le Thai To surrounding


11026 – San Ho Seafood & Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant, Ly Thuong Kiet Street A very good place to Dine/Wine,




LE Tonkin, a good Vietnamese lunch hangout for the foreigners


11037 – An imposing Entrance site, common to many Government buildings

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Ivan

Cameron Highlands Malaysia

Take a Cool and refreshing vacation at Cameron Highland, Malaysia

Over a short two day weekend trip, Cameron Highland in Malaysia is a good vacation spots for both the family and a larger group for a peaceful weekend as well as enjoyment and bonding.

A totally refreshing and cool retreat is what most people who visited it has to say. Some say this is the biggest hill holiday resort.

Traveling by car from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, it will take about 2 hours very easy drive along the North-South Highway before reaching the foothill. There are 2 routes uphill, one from Tapah Town and the other route detour out from the Highway at Simpang Pulai.

Travel from the Tapah way is slow and winding, but with more view and sites along the way, but may cause travel sickness to those unable to stand the winding road, take about 45 minutes. Travel via Simpang Pulai is easier via wider and much less winding roads but faster. Travel via whichever way will take about 3 hours.

Few major towns along the way that worth stopping, walking around and buying souvenirs as well as taking your food are Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang.





On the way up, you may stop at the Tea Plantation and enjoy a cup of the Cameron Tea together with the Scone, something left behind by the British and still very much practice and appreciate by the discerning few.
For those who hold a nostalgia for the colonial times, can opt to stay at the Smokehouse. Built and left by the colonial days, the Smokehouse remain a very popular place to stay and have your English breakfast.



Smokehouse. Is located between Tanah Rata and Brinchang just below the Casa Dela Rosa Hotel and separated by the road junction.




Directly opposite the Casa Dela Rosa is the the Golf Course… For those who like a game of golf, you may have to count on your luck as the weather is a bit unpredictable, as it rain on both days of my staff.



For my staff, it was pre-arrange at a holiday bungalow know as Bintang Falim. Again, the bungalow is located on a very large area, some maybe 20,000 sq feet. The bungalow is a bit run-down but have lots of space for activity.



The large open compound overlook the Golf Course owned and managed by YTL.
Further up to Brinchang, there is Equatorial Hotel.


With the arrival of many tourist, shopping at the makeshift markets for foodstuff, flowers, vegetables, fruits and souvenir is a real bargain.



Afterall, Cameron Highland is known for its agricultural produce such as the variety of vegetables, flowers, fruits and known to export down to Singapore daily.


Cameron Highland is definitely a choice to consider for a holiday at a hill holiday resort.

Posted by
Ivan