Vietnam Itinerary Day 3 [Mui Ne-Da Lat]

Mui Ne: a town that located east of Ho Chi Minh; a fishing village which currently becomes tourists attraction with a lovely stretch of beaches.

Exploration started as early as 0500 whereby our driver already standby before the promised meet up hour. We were traveling for about 30 minutes in dark from our hotel to catch a glimpse of sunrise at the well known white sand dunes. It was pretty dark where we could only rely on the light from the jeeps, cars and vans. Jeep ride is required to located yourself to the highest peak ("best spot") which costed around VND600,000 (to and fro service). Bike or self on foot are up for options.

We were given about 30 minutes to chill at the first spot. The first spot mainly mesmerizing the sunrise view which particularly looks like Sahara (solely surrounded by sand).

Jeep ride towards the second spot was damn trilling as it involved speed battle where getting stuck in the sand seems a norm for jeep driver. We got to see a lovely huge lake at the second spot. Another 20 minutes spent here just to enjoy the lovely view and whatnot a group photo yet again.

The fishing village. It's kind of typical morning market by the beach that selling wide range fresh seafood. The selling prices for fresh clams, scallops, prawns and LOBSTERS is considered affordable and cheap. You gonna fall in love seeing hundreds of colorful fishing boats mooring on the water while enjoying the sea breeze. Thousands of empty shells are scattered on the beach-side so be careful if you are wearing slippers during your visit.

After our breakfast, Mr. Tom fetched us to the red sand dunes. The sand looks like more orange-brown compared to the claimed 'red'. If you want to experience the fun of sand sliding, there are a lot of children and ladies that are trying their best to convince you to rent the ride-on plastic sledge. Personally, I feel that the sand here is finer than the one in white sand dunes as walking up the slope is harder.

Fairy Stream (Suoi Tien): so called a mini version of Grand Canyon. Walking on barefoot is recommended as you can enjoy the 1-2km warm water spa flowing along the mixing of white and white hill at the side. Entrance fee is VND5,000.

Pho Shanu Cham Towers which located at the top of a small hill that is close to Phan Thiet are said to be collections of the ruins of Cham Kingdom. The ruins consist of 2 tall towers and a slightly smaller tower behind which are said built to worship Hindu God Shiva. Another thing that caught our attention on top of the hill was the aerial view of the city.

After lunch, we headed to Da Lat which took around 3 hours from Mui Ne. Checked in @ Best Western Dalat Plaza Hotel. It was absolutely the BEST accommodation among 3 we had during our trip. 2 people sharing a superior family room with free buffet breakfast was definitely the best deal that we ever had.

Da Lat Night Market is located about 5 minutes walk from our hotel. We tried beef and pork noodle that we spotted from the road side. Soy milk are said to be Da Lat specialty so we tried it to warm up as the weather in Da Lat is pretty chilling.

Da Lat night market is surrounded by hotels, shops and restaurants which packed with stalls in the middle. There are a wide range of local goods that are up for bargain including souvenirs, cloths, foods (eg dried fruits, tea leaves) and not forgetting the food stalls. We spotted a stairs alley which offers a lot of awesome local foods. Beware of the crowd as it was pretty to find a seat. We had a seafood dinner which costed us VND300,000.

Spotted a secret pathway which led to a cafe after strolling around the night market. We got to enjoy the aerial view of the night market on top of the cafe.

** Assuming RM1 = VND5,000.
Watch our trip video HERE!!! Thanks for your support.

Vietnam Itinerary Day 2 [Ho Chi Minh-Mui Ne]

It was our self-exploration day in Ho Chi Minh until 1700 (local time).

Had our breakfast at 0800 right in front of the reception counter (hotel's lobby). There are limited breakfast choices from the hotel breakfast menu. The receptionist is well talented as he is the one who in charged to take order, prepare and serve our breakfast. 

Began our free time with buying a conventional MAP and look for the places that we planned to go. As usual, the navigators will start doing their job and hunting for the famous Bahn Mi. We ordered roasted pork banh mi (VND17,000) and chicken & sauce bahn mi (VND15,000).

Visited Starbucks in Ho Chi Minh. There are a lot of passerby cobblers. (Tips: Ignore those passerby cobblers or else you will be ripped. They tend to persuade you and insist to repair your shoe by stopping you).

We passed by the reunification palace and decided to take a group photo. We didn't enter the palace as it is included in our tour package on Day 6. Found a beautiful garden near the Notre Dame Cathedral and we took another group photo again.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was constructed in between 1863 and 1880 by the French colonists (following their conquest of the city). The building reaches a height up to 60m. Initially the church was named Saigon Church but soon change to Notre-Dame Cathedral in 1959 (by Bishop Pham Van Thien) after the ceremony to install the statue of peaceful Notre Dame (made with granite from Rome).  

Right across the Notre Dame Cathedral is the General Post Office. It is a French post office built in between 1886 and 1891. There are 2 painted maps inside the post office. The first located on the left side of the building is a map of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia whereas a mosaic of Ho Chi Minh can be seen at the end of the hall. Remember to spot the magnificient tiled floor of the interior. There are shops available inside the post office where you can grab a few souvenirs for your friends or perhaps sending a letter/ postcards to them. Postcard costed around VND5,000 per piece (depends on design) with stamp costed VND10,500 if you wish to send to Malaysia/ Singapore/ Australia.

After sending postcards to my friends (where the other 6 were waiting for me), we walked passed the book gallery alley near the Notre Dame Cathedral. At the end of the alley, we spotted a small stall that was pretty crowded and decided to take our lunch there. We ordered 3 different kinds of noodle soup, rice with deep fried 3 layer meat and rice with braised fish which costed us VND160,000. The rice came with soup and as usual the tea was complimentary. We gulped few jugs as it was HOT in HCM.

Went to Hard Rock Cafe and looking for directions in the air-cond building. A kind man helped us by giving direction with their limited English vocab. The guys were so eager to visit the river but somehow I forgot the name and we walked so far under the hot sun. Thank goodness I brought a cap for the trip.

Visited a market and spotted a lady selling Banh Xeo (pancake). We takeaway the Banh Xeo (VND30,000) and enjoyed it in our hotel. Decided to use taxi on our way back hotel which costed us VND62,000 per trip. (Tips: Remember to use "Vinasun Taxi" OR "Mai Linh Taxi" ONLY while traveling in HCM. Taking taxi in Vietnam is recommended if you are travelling in a group as it is CHEAP)

We decided to chill in a cafe before leaving HCM at 1700. We found a cafe named Chong Coffee Cafe that is located at the same street as our hotel (about 2 minutes on foot).

The driver picked us at 1700 and headed to Mui Ne. We ate the takeaway meat spring roll with rice noodle (VND28,000) in the van and it tasted so damn good with the sweet and sour sauce. It took about 5 hours from Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne where we stopped at the Dai Phu Rest Stop for dinner. We ordered all kinds of Pho which costed VND50,000 per bowl.

Reached hotel about 2230, we checked in, took bath and had an early rest as the driver will pick us up at 0500 for the sunrise. We stayed in Ocean Valley Hotel in Mui Ne. As usual, toiletries and towels were provided. (Tips: There is NO lift in this hotel)

** Assuming RM1 = VND5,000.

Watch out our trip video HERE!!!! Thanks for your support.

Vietnam Itinerary Day 1 [KL-Ho Chi Minh]

A group of SEVEN, working at DIFFERENT states and cities but heading to a SAME destination.

All of us attempted to meet up in KLIA2 which I'm the LAST one to arrive. The group messages kept on buzzing once I switched on upon my arrival: asking on my whereabouts and spamming me with pictures (showing that the gang were enjoying their lunch without me *sob*). Upon meet up with the gang, we headed to check in counter to drop our luggage. Initially, I planned to take a quick takeaway lunch in the departure hall (in case my flight delay) but lucky me (us), the gang decided to accompany me back to Subway so that I can enjoy my lunch slowly.

After lunch, we walked pass the immigration counter and ready for boarding. Took a few pictures in the departure hall and the guys managed to get a quick massage before departure.

The flight took about 2 hours [Info: Vietnam is 1 hour behind Malaysia]. Due to half an hour flight delay, we landed in Tan Son Nhat International Terminal around 1610 (local time). Pretty lucky cause I got the window seat and I got to see the city sky view. My first impression was the city is CROWDED and yeah..... the airport seems located in the middle of the thousands of buildings.

Passed the immigration counter and claimed our luggage. Spotted our driver that was holding an A4 paper with our leader name on it among the Vietnamese.

He fetched us and guess what..... ***TRAFFIC JAM*** Dang....Skill needed to drive on Ho Chi Minh (or i should say VIETNAM) road.

Checked in @ Seventy Hotel, Ho Chi Minh. Toiletries and towel provided. Breakfast included for this hotel.

After checked in, the driver fetched us to watch the water puppet show at 1830 (local time). Details on the program can be found HERE. There are 2 shows per day: 1700 and 1830. The Golden Dragon Water Puppet show costed VND150,000.

Had our FIRST Vietnam style dinner after the show. I forgot the exact location but it is situated opposite of the main road once you out from the theater (there is a bus stop).

We tried the grilled pork rice (VND24,000/plate) and noodle with pork knuckle slice soup (VND25,000/bowl). Noticed that eating in Vietnam will never lack of FRESH greens where you can add into a bowl of hot noodle soup up to your liking. The noodle soup wasn't oily at all as what I expected. The grilled pork rice is savoury with the bbq smell. The rice came with a soup (which initially I thought it was watercress soup but it turned out to be water spinach) and it tasted a little sour. The tea is complimentary and refillable.

After dinner, we headed to Ben Thanh Night Market on foot. It is just a typical "pasar malam" in Malaysia with more local souvenirs and all sorts of original imitated (fake) "branded" luggage, shoes, clothes and pants to choose from. There are a few stalls that you can enjoy local foods and seafood. Regarding the Vietnamese coffee (3-in-1 or 2-in-1 type), I suggested that you survey the price as I found that the coffee that sell in supermarket is cheaper than the one sold in night market.

There is a saying "spot the place that is crowded and you will find a good stuffs". Well, we spotted one and we found the 'Halal Kopi Vietnam'. It was DAMN GOOD and I had it each time I visited Ben Thanh Night Market. There are 3 types of drinks that they offered: iced coffee-o, iced coffee-milk and iced milo-milk. It costed RM3/ VND15,000 per cup (yeap... they accept Malaysia Ringgit).

That was our FIRST DAY hunting. My travel kakis: Jody, Summer, Miko, IZ, Kiki and Mike.

** Assuming RM1 = VND5,000.

Watch out our trip video HERE!!!! Thanks for your support.

7D6N Itinerary in Vietnam [Ho Chi Minh, Da Lat & Mui Ne]

For this trip, my friends and I opted for a ground tour where my friend, Kiki emailed one of the Vietnam travel agency and asked them to prepare the travel itineraries for us. Mr. Law (the travel agent) replied my friend's email and was very helpful (from answering our questions, changing the itineraries and gave us suggestions based on his experiences). We were very thankful that his side was very cooperative with our last minute changes and gave us a new itineraries- in which we were supposed to stay one night in Da Lat instead of two nights but just because we love the weather in Da Lat so much and we all agreed to stay and cancelled our trip to Vung Tau beach. Here are the details regarding the travel agent, the services provided as well as our trip itineraries.

Viet Vacation Travel Co. Ltd

Website: http://www.vietvacationtravel.com
Email: superlawer@yahoo.com/ lien.vietnhat@gmail.com
Skype: tranlaw82
Contact: 
1. Mr. Law (+84) 946 757 392; (+84) 915 636 661
2. Miss Lien (+84) 903 182 148

Services

1. Provided trip itineraries (places that we will visit), accommodations (hotel/ guesthouse) and breakfast (hotel/ guesthouse) and entrance fees for certain places

2. Provided a private driver. Mr. Tom (our companion throughout our trip) fetched us in the airport upon our arrival and departure. He was also in charged to fetch us to all the sightseeing locations and drove hours on the road (5 hours for HCM-Mui Ne, 3 hours Mui Ne-Da Lat, 7 hours Da Lat-HCM). He is very friendly and his self introduction was "do you know Tom and Jerry?? I am Tom."

US with Mr. Tom (wearing white shirt)

3. Miss Lien: She met us on the first day we reached HCM at the hotel (to collect the deposit money for our tour) and the very last night during our stay (to collect the remaining tour money) as well as keep updated with our trip and frequently ask about our comments regarding our trip/ stay that the company provided.

4. Provided a private tour guide. We have a tour guide during our stay in Da Lat and our visit in Ho Chi Minh (Day 6).

Our tour guide: Left (during our trip in Da Lat) and Right (during our Day 6 tour)

5. The common thing that every hotel/ guesthouse that we stayed will choose to keep our passport at the counter. They will give excuses that: (1) they need time to key in our information- which you can tell them to key in on the spot or give the some time to key in all the information; and (2) there is no personal safe box in the room-which you can tell them you want to carry it along.

6. Total charges: USD260/ pax + VND1,019,250 (for 7 pax as we last minute cancelled the hotel in Ho Chi Minh)

Accommodation

Ho Chi Minh: Seventy Hotel (www.seventyhotel.com)
Mui Ne: Ocean Valley Hotel (www.oceanvalleyhotel.com)
Da Lat: Best Western Dalat Plaza Hotel (www.dalatplazahotel.com.vn)

Itineraries

Day 1: KL-Ho Chi Minh

• Flying off and check in
• Water Puppet Show
• Ben Thanh Night Market

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh & Mui Ne

• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Post Office
• Cafe Hopping
• Check out and road trip to Mui Ne

Day 3: Mui Ne-Da Lat

• White Sand Dunes
• Red Sand Dunes
• Fishing Village
• Fairy Stream
• Pho Shanu Cham Tower
• Check out and road trip to Da Lat
• Check in and stroll around Da Lat Night Market

Day 4: Da Lat

• Cable Car- Robin Hill
• Truc Lam Zen Meditation Monastery
• Tuyen Lam Lake
• Datanla Falls
• Domain de Marie Church
• Bao Dai's Summer Place
• Crazy House
• Valley of Love
• Drip coffee testing
• Da Lat Train Station

Day 5: Da Lat-Ho Chi Minh

• Da Lat Garden (near our hotel)
• Golden Valley
• Traditional embroidery village
• Check out and road trip to Ho Chi Minh
• Check in and stroll around Ben Thanh Night Market 

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh

• Chu Chi Tunnels
• The War Remnant Museum
• Reunification Palace
• Cafe hunting and shopping
• Ben Thanh Night Market

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh-KL

• Check out and flying off

Travel Tips when you travel as A GROUP

Often, we hear that the more the merrier BUT this will create a higher chances of disagreement and lead to argument. As the idiom "one rotten apple spoils the barrel', whenever one travel mate feeling unhappy, the whole group will be influenced (you know la.... everyone has their own mood swing). Here are some tips for a stress-free trip with a bunch of humans.

1. Choose your travel mates. 

Yeap.... No typo or whatsoever. Travel with the humans that know your needs well because they are understanding-type of humans. Those who are "whatever" type especially guys, yeap.... I greatly recommend to travel with this kind of humans. Often we need to change our travel plan due to unbearable circumstances and so do not ever try to invite those human that is die-die/ blindly must stick to the plan. It's totally hell.

2. Create a communication media. 

Facebook group, whatsapp group chat or emails..... you name it. Not everyone stay in the same town/ city/ states/ country when we choose to travel as a group. We cant even meet up to have a simple discussion on the exciting future trip. The only time that we meet up as group is merely the time before we fly off in the same plane. 

3. Choose a leader. 

He/ She have to conclude everyone's intentions and preferences. He/ She is the one who contact the travel agent (if you choose for tour). He/ She is the one who initiates to connect everyone and keeps everyone updated with current discussion. He/ She is the one who finalize the whole trip SO RESPECT YOUR LEADER.

4. Travel itineraries.

There are several ways to plan for your awesome trip. You can either opt for own planning OR ground tour (the travel agent of the country that you wish to travel) OR your own country travel agent. 

5. Don't be MUTE. 

Your hear me guys. Do not be ignorance during group discussion. Do voice out your preferences especially when a decision is needed. Do not act like "I'm busy" OR "cin-cai-larrrr" OR "I don't know". Do not give a hard time to your team leader. He/ She is desperate too in making the final decision. You know you can't get the money back if you really really really super duper don't like the accommodation (if self planning) OR the makan place OR regarding the pricing that quote by your travel agent. If you feel NO-NO for everything, dude/ ladies: you go backpacking lar you.....

6. Traveler's responsibility.

Play your role in a group well. Either you are a loan shark, navigator, food hunter, campers, memories capture or sheep, do remember your own role to reduce misunderstanding.
Loan shark: a person that is in charge to calculate the expenses and collect the money from everyone
Navigator: a person that is good in Geography and navigate the route without relying on the GPS apps  
Food Hunter: a person that LOVE food so much that he/she will not skip a single meal and will search the BEST food in town
Camper: a person that decide your sleeping place; either on the concrete floor or the 5-star hotel bad. Not mentioning choosing the facilities that provided at the place that you are going to stay
Memories capture: a person that in charge to take videos/ pictures during the trip. Everyone can take turns to play this role so that everyone will be in the picture.
Sheep: a merely a follower that agree and cool on everything that go on during the trip. 

7. Time concern.  

Time wait for no men. Do not try to be a superstar when everyone is waiting for you on the agreed meet up time (unless you want to walk on your own or dating with your new scandal bf/gf in town). Do remember to give everyone some space (especially women that like to shop). Set a time and do let others know if you wish to spend your personal time longer.

8. GROUP, not individual.

You never live twice and you know that. Challenge yourself or your friends. Do crazy things with your friends. Do not leave them alone.

and last but not least,

SMILE, BE CRAZY and ENJOY

Thank You 2015.

Hi Readers!!!

I am here once again. There are lots of draft blog posts that are yet to be published. Perhaps, this is one of the draft post that has been hanging unpublished for months until i finally publish it today. I know I am pretty outdated. Please forgive me. There are lots of courage, time and efforts needed in producing a short notes in this space.

Trying my very best to find back my passion and the things that i used to love a lot. Trying my best to revamp my blog once again. Been trying to find a simple blog template but somehow the HTML coding is pissing me off. Conventional VS Responsive blog template. I used to like Conventional blog template a lot due to simple changes that can be done without much hassle. However, fixing the damn background and header with unattractive layout made me to change my preference to Responsive blog template. I like the Responsive template concept with all those shortcuts at the header and pretty shortcut slideshows BUT that damn "Read More" shortcut pissed me off once again. All thanks to Mr. Google- I found a way to remove it. Dang. It looks like a normal conventional blog template once again.

TWO-O-ONE-FIVE [2015].

A year that makes me grow.
A year that let me to understand people more.
A year that makes me realize reality.
A year that makes me to experience all kinds of feelings.
A year that I want to fast forward most.
A year that I got to know INEQUALITY.

 

[DOT]

The kind of expression and thinking that forbid me to write more.
The reason I don't express as much as I use to be.
The human that has become unknown.
The reason of being depressed.
|It's normal|
The word that seems so vague.
Human language is difficult.
Indeed.

|JOB|

Started with having a dream job. I get to know the meaning of OT: having a sleepless night with 100% of working commitment. The meaning of working with people that comes with different backgrounds. Realizing the importance of socializing and interacting with other people. Working VS studying life. Studying has a basic path that is well-planned and human can choose to blindly follow it. Working is something that you need to be prone with problem solving: regardless intelligence or soft skills. I am grateful. SINCERELY. Mingling around with colleagues are fun. From having some laughter at the workplace, spending our little time together apart from our working hour, joining company activities such as Badminton, Bowling & Futsal tournaments and jungle trekking, getting involved with department's Family Day and the cucur gang, everything is a bliss.

|TRAVEL|

Bintulu and Labuan for work. Genting for SHE concert. Seoul for my long awaited trip. Penang for friend's wedding and makan trip. Damn. Lots of draft posts here. More in 2016. Perhaps. Please patiently wait for the travel post.

|WALK, JOG, RUN|

One of my favorite entertainment back in my study life. Colour Rush Run. Miri Sunset Run. Neon Sunset Run. More to go in 2016.

|CELEBRATION|

Family members' birthday celebration. Father's and Mother's Day celebration. My birthday. Auspicious day celebration. Friend's wedding day. Friend's gathering. Colleagues' birthday. Those are the days that I gained weight.

...and that sum up my 2015.

행복.평화.사랑

Vlog| Vietnam Trip 2016

Hi everyone. MY FIRST VLOG!!! This gonna be a little sneak peak on my recent Vietnam trip where I visited Ho Chi Minh, Mui Ne and Dalat. I will write up more soon. Till then, hope you enjoy the video and remember to give a thumb up. 谢谢!!!