Mekong Delta Day 10 - Shopping Time in Ho Chi Minh City & Goodbye Saigon

Good morning Saigon, the hotel has moved us to another hotel which is about 300 metres away due to a so called mistake by them in the booking. On the bright side the hotel is reasonably conducive and it is tucked within the narrow alleys of Pham Ngu Lao (Backpacker Street). Day 10 was bicycle free day for us.

Our first target was Thai Binh Market (GPS : 10.766821, 106.688866) which was about 500 metres away from Saigon 237 Hotel. Again abundance of food to choose and savour.

We found a corner in the market  though it's rather pack but truly authentic, I like the atmosphere and I patronised this grand lady's noodle. Obviously it was pho again hehehe.

Some of us tried her Banh Xeo (pancake). Her face might not be sweet and friendly but her food was delicious.

Surrounded with interesting local foods and that is the most ideal place for breakfast. Of course not forgetting their Vietnamese iced coffee cà phê đá. I prefer it hot without milk and sugar .... and it's really kaw kaw to the bone..

One of the interesting vendors selling cooked crabs and it looks so enticing.

My favourite visit to anywhere is to see the market scene of lovely atmosphere the different scent and the interesting food to savour. I simply love it.

I love the many rustic corners of this old Ho Chi Minh city and there is a lot of it.

From the Backpackers' Street (Pham Ngu Lao) we slowly walked toward north west for some famous spots.

The weather was fine and ideal for walking.

I was surprise to see an Indian temple in Ho Chi Minh City it's the Subramaniam Swamy. It was built in the late 19th century by the traders from India and has been well kept and preserved.

Ho Chi Minh City Hall located at Nguyen Hue Street (GPS : 10.776486, 106.701164). It stands up majestically and beautiful as you approach towards the building, a French colonial architecture built in the early 1900.

The statue of Uncle Ho Chi Minh in a memorial park in front of the City Hall.

Mr. Ho Chi Minh, I hope you do not mind me having fun with the local children for a picture together with you. Thank you to the future of Vietnam.

Another beautiful building at the same vicinity is the Saigon Central Post Office. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. It counts with Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. It was constructed between 1886-1891 and is now a tourist attraction.

A row of interesting arches seen in the main interior of the building. The floor finishes made of fine marble slabs and a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh hanging high above everyone at the end of the building.

Classic telephone booths serving as a reminder of the past where the post office played before the era of email and mobile phones.

 Just next to the Central Post Office we see the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon. This was constructed between 1863 and 1880 with two distinguished bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters. It was built to serve the community of French colonialists during that time.

So much of sight seeing and it was time for some serious shopping.

Ben Thanh Market (GPS : 10.773048, 106.697436) was placed as our last visit for the day where we would shop, buy and carry some back home.

 A must go market in Saigon it not only serves the locals fresh vegetables and dry goods, but also sells items such as souvenirs, T-shirts, traditional handicrafts including lacquerware and embroidery.

Our serious trading was carried at this stall everyone of us took part in it and eventually left Cho Ben Thanh with something in our hands. Well, a bit of negotiation skill was required to trade which turned out to be of a better deal than those fixed prices items sold by the Government controlled stalls.

Joe fulfilling his obligation with a few kilo of cashew nuts to bring back home. It was indeed a happy shopping day.

Day 11 - Goodbye Saigon and it had been a great experience in Mekong Delta.

I took a last spin in Ho Chi Minh City in the early morning before I bagged my Brompton.

 I bought a few bao from this roadside stall and to my surprise the lady spoke in Cantonese to me after finding out that I am a Malaysian. 

The Hotel 237 arranged the necessary transport for us to the airport, all safely reached and ready to be sent back home.

For the record the weight of my bagged Brompton and the second Dimpa bag were 15.9kg and 8.9kg respectively. Hence a total of 24.8kg of my luggage versus the allowable 25kg by Malindo. 

Goodbye Saigon till we meet again in the near future.