A Saigon Story: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Day 4 and *regrets*)

Read about my Introduction about Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and about Days 1 and 2 HERE. 
Read about my 3rd day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam HERE. 

DAY 4: This day started with another walk to boutique shops in Le Thanh Ton to Le Loi street.

The green sling bag I got from Labella.

Le Hang in 101 Le Thanh Ton street. Their accessories are made with swarovski elements. Ma went gaga over them. ;p

Visited a number of stores in Le Tanh Ton street.

On our way to Saigon Center, we stopped by this ice cream parlor since it was tooooo hot!

At Saigon Center located at 65 Le Loi street.

We usually go to malls, boutiques, and markets in search of decorative pieces for the house. 

We were able to score a heavy wall clock which is now mounted in our den and another wall clock for Ben's room, Christmas balls, throw pillows (among others) in Saigon Center.

Most of the items here are good selection of Western products and not local, though. :)

Then, we ate at Pho 2000 which is located just beside Saigon Centre. 

This is one restaurant where I enjoyed Vietnamese restaurant food! Just to refresh, I said that street food taste better than restaurant food, yea? ;p

Pho 2000 boasts of former US president, Bill Clinton, having a bowl of pho here.
Since Bill Clinton's visit in 2000, their tagline has been "Pho for the President".
I usually order dry Vietnamese noodles while dad orders pho. And of course we always have fresh and/or fried spring rolls on the side. You can never have enough Vietnamese spring rolls. heeee. :')
Pho 2000 also has a branch beside Ben Thanh Market where Bill Clinton and her daughter actually ate.

While wandering around the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, we saw these irresistible, well-crafted 3D greeting cards.

We bought 4 cards and I kept one as my souvenir and pinned it on my corkboard wall. :')

Next, we had a quick snack at Tous les Jours.

Before our late flight, we went back to Saigon Square, had dinner at Ben Thanh Night Market again, and the parents finally found a Vietnamese painting that they liked (photo below)!
They say, though, that you get good dibs and wide array of Vietnamese painting choices in Hanoi, Vietnam since most ~artists~ are from Hanoi. #theysay

This is by Cuong Van. We purchased it at Kim Do Art Gallery at 112 Le Loi street. O diba? Hours before our flight they found the painting that finally tickled their fancy. #Godisontime

My regrets
/
What I still want to visit in Vietnam:

I regret not going to Mekong Delta. photo source 
**A friend said, though, that Mekong Delta Cruise is unremarkable so it's ok to miss it.

I don't think it's the same with the one below. 

I regret not going and availing the Halong Bay Cruise or have an Halong Bay Tour at least. 

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage. 
I want to go inside its majestic caves! Google search the caves in Halong Bay and it will surely entice you too! I also want to kayak in Halong Bay! Ahhhhh!!! I'm dying to set my feet in Halong Bay!! I am very ready to marvel on its impressive limestone islands!!! Take me to Halong Bay please! ;-p 
Photo1 source
Photo2 source

This was our second trip 2 years after dad's bypass operation. As much as we wanted to go, he cannot take long travel hours just yet. 

It is 2.5 hours travel time by land to go to Mekong Delta. 

And it is *many* hours travel time by land from Ho Chi Minh City when going to Halong Bay or its port pa lang. Anyone knows how many hours exactly? Is it 7 hours away? #iforgot

Maybe when we go to Hanoi. Most people go to Halong Bay from Hanoi. From *many* hours down to 3 hours if you're in Hanoi already.

Finishing this last Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam post (finally!!! Sorry it took a while) makes me want to go to Hanoi... and yes, Halong Bay! *insert many hearts and excited face emoticon*

WHEN: November 4-9, 2012

Related Posts:

A Saigon Story: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (An Introduction and Days 1 and 2)

- about Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Postal Office, Vincom Center, Wrap and Roll, street food at Nguyen Trung Truc, shopping at Saigon Square, haggling in Vietnam, Luu Van Lang, Ben Thanh Market, Water Puppet Show, cyclo city ride, and Dinner Cruise on Saigon River.

A Saigon Story: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Day 3)

- about a walk in the streets of Le Loi, Le Thanh Ton, and Dhong Koi, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Saigon Opera House, Ipa-Nima, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum, Pho No, and Ben Thanh Night Market.

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