Vietnam: Where We Went In Ho Chi Minh City,

Hello!

This is a long overdue post because I've been busy with work and some personal stuff! #whatsnew #whatsnot

Anyway, I am gonna update about the places we've been to during my trip to HCMC with Mr. Z.

Cu Chi Tunnel 

It was a Saturday and we decided to go for Cu Chi Tunnel tour. You may enquire for more information from your hotel. We booked for this tour on the day when we checked in to our hotel. It's more legit this way lah. I cannot remember how much this tour costs per pax. It wasn't as cheap as we thought. The journey to the destination was about an hour long...

According to Wikipedia, Cu Chi Tunnels are the hiding locations for the Viet Cong soldiers back during the Vietnam War.

The famous hidden hole

Look what's in the trap hole!! 

So apparently, the soldiers in the past dug their own trap holes for the enemies and placed sharp stuff inside. It's an instant yet slow torture. Just imagine if the victim didn't die immediately, but slowly...

Sweet potatoes

People in the past mostly survived on sweet potatoes. Not sure if it's bcos of the nutrients or that it can easily fill one's stomach... We tried the tea and sweet potatoes. Verdict: not to my liking. I wouldn't survive if I was one of them during those times!

Central Post Office 

We didn't stay here for long because tbh, there was nothing much to see? Just a very pretty post office that's all.

But ok lah, it was an eye opening experience lah.

Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica

War Remnants Museum

This place consists of historical facts (I hope it is) and images of how the people in the past were being tortured. It was really unbearable.

Mr. Z and I were filming and taking photos respectively but we stopped doing so after entering the station below. We thought it'd be good to stop doing that because the atmosphere was quite bad and the methods of being tortured was even worse!

We took a break because I was too drowsy from my medications the previous night. Some chocolate ice blend as my tea snack!

I forgot who told me but someone actually said "this could be a good place if you want your kids to behave!" LOL!

Independence Palace

Thanh Dinh Catholic Church 

We dropped by this church as it looks pretty on the Internet and it was also one of the must-visit places in HCMC.

Basically, these summed up our 4D3N in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! :)

Goodbye! 

TRAVELWITHLEEN: Xi'an on Day 7 & 8,

 Hello!

Back to this page to update about the Remaining days of my Beijing trip in last April! Hahahah, 3 more months till it's 1 year from the trip.

Day Seven: 西安

Xi'an was in our itinerary when we planned for our trip but didn't book any transport. It was only 2 days before this day that Mr. Z said "either by plane or train". Train will take about 5hrs to reach which will be a waste of time. Another travel expenses because the return flt was about SGD300 per pax. Train tickets cost only $20 cheaper per ticket.

Woke up really early on this day and we reached the airport at about 5.30am. Yawns! Settled for brkfast because I was both tired and hungry.

Because it was a domestic trip, we had to go through the domestic system which is to hop on a shuttle bus and walk to the place like what it is shown in the below image.

Domestic yet fun!

Made a room reservation at 西安七现 which is a student hostel. It is also suitable for backpackers; clean and comfortable according to TripAdvisor. Oh, the most important thing is, it is AFFORDABLE! It was only SGD49 per night after tax!!

Very European feel!! 

Started our day in Xi'an at 天下第一面 for lunch for their biangbiang noodle! This place was recommended by one of Mr. Z's lecturers in his univ.

I could only eat the noodle shown below. Basically, a tomato egg noodle lah.

拔刀西红柿鸡蛋面

Biangbiang noodle (which is really spicy!)

Stir-fried broccoli 

This broccoli is really good! I love it when the brocs are soft!!

Egg tofu, 好吃！

Walnut pastry

Done with our lunch and we started our adventure in Xi'an. Visited Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Tbh, just skip it. Lol. I mean, you can visit it if you don't mind all the histories of 西游记 and silk road etc. as well as climbing 8 levels (?) of stairs just to see the scenery.

Took 滴滴 to 书院门 and it is a place full of brushes. Nothing interesting in particular unless you're into paintings and calligraphy.

Next venue: Muslim Street where is another level of what we called Pasar Malam in Singapore.

We tried only a few street stalls and that's it. Dinner was next at 德发长 restaurant which was recommended by one of Mr. Z's friends. It's a restaurant with dumplings as their signature dish as dumplings are on almost all of the menu pages.

IT. WAS. LITERALLY. FULL. OF. DUMPLINGS!!

Mr. Z ordered 3 sets of dumplings, one set each. Who'd knew one set actually contains more than 20 dumplings each. Not forgetting the dessert at the end. We didn't finish everything because we were feeling bloated af when they served the 3rd or 4th basket of dumplings. OMG! We were wondering why didn't the waitress inform us about the amount and that 2 sets would be enough instead of 3. Walked back to our hostel instead of 滴滴 because we were really too full.

Day Eight: The Terracotta Army x last day in X'an

We booked for the tour to The Terracotta Army on the day of our arrival for RMB100++ per pax to 3 places. It was a small bus with other tourists from other hotels.

Xi'an Art Ceramics & Lacquer Factory

Moving on to the other side of the museum were all the displays of the guards. Different positions for different ranks. Some were standing, some half kneeling and etc. 

Cavalryman

Kneeling Archer

Standing Archer

Ended the tour and we requested the driver to drop us s'where near the bell tower. Proceed to have our dinner soon at a shopping mall nearby.

Headed back to our hostel to retrieve our luggage and headed to the airport for Beijing again. Last two days in China!! Xi'an has been a good one!

I shall update about it again soon.

Goodbye! :)