First Day in Ho Chi Minh City

Hello Everyone!

I am currently on GIP - Vietnam , staying at Ho Chi Minh City.I landed on the 10th of Feb 08 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport without much fanfare. Brian,Raja and me were the first to be picked up from the airport as the rest of the 7 comrades would be arriving at abt 2pm saigon time. Mr Doi, a teacher from Vietnam National University picked us up from the airport and sent us to our accommodation at No.30/1c Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street,District 3,HCMC. Upon arrival at our accommodation, which is a 3 storey house, it was dusty and dirty and hmmm...no any electrical appliances. And it costs us USD110 each for the rental !

Our House

Well it was a tiring 1st day as Mr Doi took us around the nearby shops to show us where we can get basic necessities. After which we came back to our house and Mr Doi left to pick the rest of them from the airport. By then we were starving. We set out to get some drinks and got mineral water. Soon we realised we needed to get a proper meal...so we walked around like headless chickens looking for something to eat. As it was still the TET Hols, most of the shops and eateries were closed. So we chanced upon a roadside stall outside our house and ordered whatever that they were selling. I believe it was some vege and beef...Survival instincts....! i ate everything except the beef... ;)

When the rest arrived it was evening already....so we then accommodated ourselves to the rooms by drawing lots. Me,Raja and Brian got 1 room on the 2nd storey.

My room

Mr Doi came to our house at about 6pm to bring us for dinner..and by the way the sun sets here quite early at about 6 plus in the evening... so by 7pm its already dark. He brought us to a kopitiam where he ordered Lau- which is hotpot in Vietnamese. it came with a dose of leaves and grass which we had to soak in the hotpot. we also had fried fish which was pierced through a satay stick. After which we headed back home and started our spring cleaning. We swept and wiped and mopped down our room. by the time we finished it was around 12am. We called it a nite at about 1 am.Pheeew what a day in HCMC !