Palace Hotel Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Royal Palace hotel, Hotel Address: 56-66 NGUYEN HUE BLVD, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM. We fly tonight at 18:50. Last night we went out for a few drinks and bumped into the Brummie, Tony (whose local is the Wagan and Horses in Halesowen for those of you that know it) and the Londoner Gary. We meet them back in Silnockvile on Christmas day and didn't expect to see them again! It really is a small world. So then we took in the night life of Phonom Penh, which was a bit of an eye ...

Yesterday morning we went back to the Ben Thanh Market where I tried some durian fruit. Yes, it is pretty bad... I don't know how people eat that stuff. It smells rancid and the texture is like a rotten banana. The taste? I can't even really describe it. Later we took a cab to the Jade Emperor Pagoda. It was very colorful inside and out with many statues and wooden carvings along the wall. It was interesting to see another way that people worship. We were pretty tired from walking around all ...

This morning we started our journey to the Mekong Delta. The scenery was beautiful and very green! We made our way to the little town of My Tho where we then got on a small wooden boat and road along the river. First we were taken to a little village that grew all kinds of fruit. They had a table set up for us with fresh mango, longan, papaya, dragonfruit, and jackfruit. While we were enjoying the fruit and tea, the local family came out and did a musical performance that they had prepared. N...

Well, I made it! and after only 2 tries! I'm in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon.) I arrived this afternoon and it seems the minute you step off the plane the hairs on the back of your neck pick up and you think, "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto." The airport officials are so serious. Visions of Vietnam prisons run through your head from all those scary movies you've seen. I got to my hotel fine, but by driving through streets that would have been bad areas in Bangkok. And everywhere there is the V...

Sun 23rd Arrive Saigon 5.30 am. Taxi to town and check in to the pretty decent Palace Hotel. Kip. In the afternoon we visit Cholon - the Chinatown of Saigon. It's pretty distintly chinese but not as radically different as say Chinatown NY, as here I suppose the contrast isn't as great. Nevertheless, Chinese writing, shops and temples are everywhere - and No tourists. We explored the area for a while and had a beer in a wee Chinese street joint before returning to the City centre. Monday 24th ...