Vietnam The Hidden Charm 2, Hanoi

I personally like Hanoi more that HCMC since it is cold there. You'll need jacket and gloves. I was not sure what was the temperature on Jan 2011, but it made me buying new shawl for sure.

Hanoi looked older than HCMC. Many temples were shown here. As for food, you can find a lot of noodle soup called pho. It tastes sooo good. Cold weather and hot soup is a good combination.

Fun fact about Hanoi:

1. Traffic is similar to HCMC, some were crazier. We saw a truck, ran with only right side wheels when we were on the public bus, not far away from Hanoi bus terminal

2. Hostel is also cheap, but no breakfast, no heater...yes..you'll need room heater when you are in Hanoi. We stayed in Hoan Kiem Lake area, Especen hostel for USD 19 per night, double room, private bathroom. Don't worry with the breakfast. Just few meters walk from Especen hostel, there is a good noodle soup shop. 30K Vietnam Dong for a bowl of beef noodle soup.

3. Mineral water is more expensive compare to HCMC. It costed us 8K-10K Vietnam Dong for 1.5 Litre mineral water while in HCMC you can find for only 5K Vietnam Dong for the same brand and size


Here are some pictures we took in Hanoi



The garden





The traffic




The food seller




Hoan Kiem Lake at night with the glowing temple. I can't remember what's he temple's name.


The public toilet




Another temples






Another fun fact, a lot of couples did their wedding photo shoots around Hoan Kiem Lake, we met 5 couples. I could imagine how the torture, the brides kept smiling with the gown while the weather were sooo cold.



To the happy couples, congratulation!!!

Vietnam The Hidden Charm 1, Ho Chi Minh City

I had been dreaming to visit Vietnam for long and Air Asia made my dream came true. We got sale ticket, Jakarta-Ho Chi Minh City for only USD 156 return for 2 persons. Let's pack and go. We had one week in Vietnam, would be too long if only spent it in HCMC, that's why we bought HCMC-Hanoi ticket too. We took Jetstar since it was the cheapest one, compared to Vietnam Airlines. Took us USD 200 return for 2 persons.

HCMC is more less similar to Jakarta. The temperature, traffic, erghhh....OK, Jakarta has more skyscrapers but as for the residents area, traditional trading area aka wet markets, all is almost the same.

Some facts that I found in HCMC:
1. Just ignore the traffic if you want to cross the street successfully. Go straight and don't stop, the bikers and riders will adjust their direction when you cross the street. If you look at the right and left side, you won't be able to cross the street. I've tried it LOL

2. Do bargaining even though they put some fix price labels. Indonesian is good in bargaining. I even bargained when I would like buy the fake Lonely Planet books although at last, I didn't buy it. Not because it was expensive, but deep in my heart, it told me that piracy was a criminal thing hahahahaha.....

3. I like Vietnamese food, you name it, I like it. Ok, out of the pork and lard and other extreme food.

4. Hostels are cheap and clean. We stayed in Pham Ngu Lao district, the backpacker's area. Ngoc Minh hostel. Took us USD 20 per night for double room, private bath room, including breakfast

5. Get your money exchanged in downtown or hostel. The rate is higher than at the airport

I'm not good in writing, so just check out some pics I took in HCMC






The breakfast we got from the hostel




The night traffic



We tried Indian food in Pham Ngu Lao. Why Indian, because it was the only open restaurant. The rest were bars and bars. Good food anyway




This one is Vietnamese, yummo




The Cathedral



Creatively customized motor bike




I can't remember what this building's called


Hanoi will be written in next page, so enjoy HCMC....