Scenes from Saigon

I have been to Vietnam six times, including the four times that I have visited Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). I never get tired of going to this city as I can never have enough of it, even if it means voluntarily going there three times in one year.

Recently, my mom and sister tagged along with me for some rest and recreation in Ho Chi Minh. My mom is a lover of Vietnamese food and my sister loves shopping there. I obviously like both.

We arrived at New World Hotel Saigon (see related story below), our home for three nights. Having seen in our previous visits the Reunification Palace, the Opera House, Notre Dame, Cu Chi Tunnels, the War Remembrance Museum among other places that a tourist should see in Ho Chi Minh, the three of us really concentrated on eating and shopping.

We planned to revisit several excellent restaurants we went to in the past (Temple Club, Camargue, Au Manoir de Khai, Lemongrass and Ngon) but somehow we never got to visit them again.

Saigon has changed a lot in the two years I have not been there and so many new restaurants have sprung up. We made it a point to eat at any Vietnamese restaurant we saw. I personally believe that any local restaurant one goes to only in Vietnam and Thailand will always be good. True enough, all Vietnamese restaurants we went to were good, with some better than others. I had my fill of cha gio (fried Vietnamese spring rolls with pork, crab, shrimps and cloud ear mushrooms) every time I ate.

We also tried a lot of those healthier non-fried spring rolls with shrimps and vegetables and Vietnamese pho (noodles). For crab and seafood lovers, Saigon is one place to go to and eat.

I walked by a hole-in-the-wall with peeled crab claws on display by the window so I went in to try two delectable crab dishes. Imagine 10 to 12 peeled crab claws stir-fried in garlic or sautéed in tamarind sauce. Eating the succulent and fresh crabmeat without having to peel them was heaven! A dish of steamed shrimps cooked in coconut juice and dipped in white pepper and lime was another staple available almost everywhere.

Shopping was equally exciting for us. My sister went for locally-made bags and slippers. She also bought those beautiful and intricately carved stone boxes seen in shops and the market. My mom was busy buying dried mushrooms, cashew and pistachio nuts and fruits. I bought shaped leather key chains and lacquer ware excellently produced in Vietnam.

Every time I am in Vietnam, I check out the art galleries as Vietnamese art is something I truly admire and there is a budget for everyone. One can buy a simple watercolor for a dollar (US dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam) to as much as $25,000 for a painting. An interesting tip for those traveling there soon, any gallery that reproduces paintings of masters like Botero, Van Gogh, Picasso or Monet can produce a portrait of you. Just give them your photo and instruct them how you want the portrait done and agree on the size and price. Most people have their portrait done in an au dai, the Vietnamese national dress. Just allow three to five days as they need the paint to dry.

Of course our main destination was Ben Thanh market where almost anything could be bought. I never thought I could spend more than two hours in the place but it is a shopper’s paradise. Don’t stay only in the market but go to the side streets and you may find these little quaint shops that sell paintings, lacquer and brand overruns.

Eating and shopping for three days have never been this fun. We left with a combined weight of 20 kilos and arrived in Manila with a combined weight of around 70 kilos. So much to buy and so little baggage allowance! And the thrilling thought is that Saigon is still very reasonable, especially when it comes to local products and food. I can’t wait for the next time I head back... hopefully in the near future.

Where to stay?

The New World Hotel Saigon, only 20 minutes away from the airport, stands as the largest and one of the most impressive five-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Located in the center of the city, it is well within walking distance to Ben Thanh Market and many other places of interest. Ben Thanh is a mere five-minute walk from the hotel, so is the backpacker’s district that is alive at night with small cafés, bars and restaurants. The night market is very close as well, prompting us to shop from morning till midnight!

New World Saigon director of sales and marketing Nelson Balilo (who was introduced to me by Renaissance Hotel public relations manager Monique Trinidad Toda) and public relations manager Do Phan Tieu Khue (or TK as she is called) welcomed me to my new favorite hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. TK gave me insider tips in eating and shopping in Ho Chi Minh.

The concierge also gave me a detailed book on the ins and outs of the city, complete with a discount card. My mom and sister had a field day in the Ipa-Nima shop in the hotel’s lobby. Guests of the hotel even have an additional 10 percent off the store and can take advantage of the high currency exchange rates especially priced for hotel guests.

The 538 guest rooms are all spacious. All are equipped with five-star hotel amenities like a safe, climate-controlled bathroom, mini bar, coffee and tea service, ironing board and a plush bedding with duvets. For a group of three like ours, an executive suite would be ideal. The suite’s huge anteroom would be an ideal space for dumping all that you’ve shopped before heading for food and cocktails in the executive lounge. The executive lounge, with free wireless Internet access, offers breakfast, all day refreshments and evening cocktails daily. The hotel has its own bakeshop, the Saigon Baking Company, which creates exquisite baked products daily and is available in the lobby.

For relaxation after a long day of shopping and sightseeing, the hotel has a fully equipped gym, a swimming pool (with Splash Bar right beside), an outdoor tennis court and steam and sauna rooms. The Saigon Fitness Company Spa offers Vietnamese, Thai and Swedish massages as well as other unique treatments like green tea and salt exfoliation or dragon fruit, aloe vera, papaya and pineapple wraps.

Among the hotel’s most distinctive restaurants is Dynasty, which serves exquisitely prepared Chinese cuisine that is regarded as the finest in Ho Chi Minh City. The dim sum in this restaurant is superb! Parkview offers a delicious dining experience of international and Asian favorites. The breakfast buffet in Parkview is truly impressive and Monday nights have an equally impressive seafood buffet. The Lobby Lounge is another place to relax and drink while listening to a Filipino (obviously Filipino because they can really sing!) band.

New World Hotel Saigon was a perfect choice for our trip because of its location, superb food and excellent service. This would definitely be my choice again when I head back to this beautiful and vibrant city.

(New World Hotel Saigon is located at 76 Le Lai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Visit www.newworldsaigon.com for details or e-mail [email protected])