Ho Chi Minh trip - journal in photos

Before we set off for the trip, I was skeptical of what Ho Chi Minh could bring. I heard only that the air was polluted, the weather hot and humid and the place a little backward. But being there personally proved that it wasn't that bad. The Vietnamese were sincere and genuine people, their lives were simple and it seemed generally safe in the streets.

Some of my colleagues complaint about the hot weather; few steps out in the streets brought sweat to our faces. A few said they wouldn't want to go back there again, perhaps deterred by the hot weather. To me, one who could withstand hot weather, it was a place worth a second visit, a second time to check out and understand the people and their lifestyle there better.

The night view from our hotel room - the 5-star Sheraton Saigon Hotel
Comfy couch
Y and I shared the room. Yes, the entire big room!
Classy toilet

The day view from our hotel window. Some of those few tall buildings in front. This was District 1 of Ho Chi Minh, which we thought for more urbanised.



The roads below. You have to learn how to cross their roads as they came with few traffic lights but were littered with millions of motorcycles.
Restaurants of all cuisines were around in District 1.

The roadside stall selling drinks
Park Hyatt Hotel where another group of our colleagues stayed

The Parliament House
An art gallery/shop we walked past. Their paintings were aplenty and good. You could see the painters doing their work with photos or pictures in their hands.
The motor-rade gang!
A souvenir shop. There wasn't much for shopping though. Along the same street you could find all the same kinds of mechandise.
That's J and KH finding the directions
Many cable wires dangling abovehead
Motorcycles.. and more!
Doggie
Another doggie in one of the shops - a chihuahua
Cutie little thing
Road signs. We went quite a long way down Le Loi, shopping at the stalls along the street
A water fountain at a shopfront
The Opera House
Park
Those Vietnamese woman would wear their pointed hats
Church
Retro beetle car

J, Y, SS, YN and me




J, GM and Y
The Post Office
Wonder why their trees were "truncated" like that
Inside the church
Joyce leaning against the lamppost for support. Weather's too hot!
Inside the Post Office
YN
Post Office counter
Telefonzelle
Highland Cafe, where we stopped for a break (esp for our legs). They sold good coffee.
Agnes, GM and J
Idyllic
Hee, that's MF CITA. And in the foreground were our drinks.
Y at the entrance of our hotel - Sheraton Saigon
A Westie in another shop.
Precious-moments eyes!
Me at the park in front of Independence Palace

More photos to come (from my friends' albums). There's still the D&D (the main company event of the whole trip.. and a few hilarious moments to capture) and the lunches at the local restaurants. Till then!