Zoujournal: Day 1 HCMC 1

From the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, there's a few way to get to your hotel.

You can buy a SASCO taxi service at the luggage collecting lounge which cost you
US$8. Or take a taxi at the taxi stand outside the airport. Take only the Vinasun Taxi
(08-38272727) or Mai Lin Taxi (08-38383838). These are the 2 reliable taxi company
in Vietnam, they run by meter.Be cautious of taxis which resemble the above mentioned reputable companies, yet are actually scam artists.

Vinasun Taxi (08-38272727)

Mahlin Taxi (08-38383838)

HS and me decided to take the Saigon airport bus No.152 which cost 8000vnd/pax.

It operate from 7am to 7pm. The bus will terminate at a bus station near Ben Thanh
Market. The backpacker area Pham Ngu Lao street is nearby too.If you've big luggage,
pay an additional fee for the luggage. Just turn right when you come out of the airport,
locate the No.13 pillar, the bus No.152 is near by.

No .13 pillar

Saigon airport bus No.152

Bus ticket

We saw this statue when we reach the bus terminal.

23 September Park

We cross over to 23 September Park, (Across from Ben Thanh Market and running
the length of Pham Ngu Lao Street) and walk straight down. 23 September Park is
The local called it "The Black Hole" of Saigon due to its scale and decade of inactivity.

The Park was formerly Saigon railway station and was destroyed after 1975, Part of

the station was turned into a park. In 2002, the boundary of the park was dismantled

and renovated into open space, and integrated the park on September 23. Combined

with the De Tham, and Pham Ngu Lao-, it become famous tourist spot due to the many

inns and mini cheap hotels, together with other tourism services. Now the park is the

most common relaxing center in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

We saw this restaurant on our left.

Keep looking at the left hand side and walk down the park, when you see
this bank, walk into the lane to locate Beautiful Saigon 3 hotel, it's on the right
hand side of the lane.

Beautiful Saigon 3 Hotel #1

Beautiful Saigon 3 Hotel #2

Miss Y, the reception

Miss Y is a nice lady that offer us mooncake and tea while we wait for the room to
be ready. She is very helpful and the rest of the staffs are nice too. We had a pleasant
stay at Beautiful Saigon 3 hotel, it provide bed and breakfast. We also get a copy of
the city map from the hotel.There are many budget hotel at Pham Ngu Lau area.
This is 1 of them.

Our room #1

Our room #2

Our room #3

At a budget hotel, we get a flat screen TV and a computer with free internet
service! Where to find? Only in Hochiminh Beautiful Saigon 3 hotel (maybe
other hotel have, but i don't know).

After we put down our luggage, we went for lunch at this Pho Quynh at
323 Pham Ngu Lao street, District 1. It's walking distant from our hotel just
round the corner of Pham Ngu Lao street, the bright yellow building make it
easy to spot. The locals frequent this stall.

There's table upstair. HS and me went up stair, there's air-con up there. Ha..Ha..

We order the beef stew and beef ball noodle. Come to vietnam must eat
beef noodle. They are very nice, yummy... 吃饱喝足之后，开始游走胡志民市.
Basically, you can walk around HCMC yourself. All the attraction are nearby
to each other. If you get lost, just hop onto a MahLin or VInasun cab.

Poster that really speak of the city. So communist.

HCMC street #1

As we walk about in the HCMC city, we saw many street stall on the road.
We bought this barbercue popiah, it has some sauce top with shrimp,spring
onion, some nuts...Taste quiet nice.