Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
Are we talking about the same war? You don't know the history of the Vietnam War until you've learned about the "struggle against American aggression" from the tour guides at Ho Chi Minh City's Reunification Palace.
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by ced138
Can't afford a European vacation this summer? Do what our contributor Claire Duffett did: Explore Southeast Asia instead.
The nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City is, well, tame. So spend the evening taking in the view of the city on the outdoor patio of the Saigon Saigon Bar on the ninth floor of the Caravelle Hotel. After a day in the hot, dusty, moped-filled city, the evening breeze feels great and the reggae-rap-fusion band is out of place but entertaining.
One bit of advice: Whatever you do, don't order The Hemingway. Ernest never visited Vietnam, and he certainly never would've stood for this tall, sweet and undrinkable cocktail.
That said, the view is excellent, with the city's stock market in one direction and Uncle Ho himself seated at the other end of the panorama. Down the elevator and across the street is Q Bar, which stays open late for a change of pace.
Related Stories:
· Ho Chi Minh City Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Southeast Asia Field Trip [Jaunted]
0 Comments - Add Yours by ced138
Back at the start of this year we mentioned that Pacific Airlines was about to start running as a budget airline in Vietnam. They did, and they're still running, but it looks like they're about to get a name change anyhow.
As they stand at the moment, Pacific Airlines is a low cost carrier based in Ho Chi Minh City, flying to other parts of Vietnam as well as to Thailand and Singapore, with plans to add Cambodia and Malaysia soon.
Costs are typical for budget carriers; flights to Singapore for $39, for example. The flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi being advertised for one million Vietnamese Dong might sound pricey, but that works out at around $63.
Recently Qantas acquired a 30% stake in Pacific Airlines, and it's in the cards that it will be rebranded as Jetstar in 2008. We'll be watching the skies to see what happens.
Related Stories:
· Pacific Airlines [Official Site]
· Airline Report: News Round-Up [Jaunted]
· Low Cost Carriers coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: IPJ Mike]
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by amandak
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by djk
This month, pretty online mag Pology features a story on the ol' dead guy, Ho Chi Minh. Writer Jennifer Anthony isn't quite sure about going to see dead people, likening it to a greedy relative peeking in the coffin before the will is read.
An interesting discussion on the Vietnamese attitude to Americans follows, and as one of her guides told her:
"The war is over." He, like the cyclo driver and everyone else I've met, don't harbor ill will or malice towards Americans, or the French, or the Chinese, all who have a history here. They have moved on.
Good to know. Jennifer ended up skipping the mausoleum and there's a good tip in it for you--avoid heading to see the bearded guy on weekends, when long, long queues of Vietnamese wait to pay their respects. Or perhaps if you want to meet some locals, it's a good place to hang around.
[Photo: wufgaeng]
Related Stories:
· A Wake [Pology]
· Ho Chi Minh Escapes from Madame Tussaud's [Jaunted]
0 Comments - Add Yours by amandak
We're still pretty sure that the Japanese win the prize for recreating the largest number of world tourist attractions at home, but a current festival in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City is giving the Japanese a good run for their money. The Wonders of the World exhibition being held until February 25 at HCMC's Zoo and Botanical Garden features miniature versions of half the world.
Some 30 tonnes of steel and thousands of lanterns and lights have been used to recreate sights like the Great Wall of China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and (of course) the Eiffel Tower, along with some local Vietnamese sights like the One-Pillar Pagoda and the beautiful Halong Bay. Scales for the models vary from 1:10 to 1:30, so you should still get a good image of what you're not seeing. Or, of course, you could go to Vietnam and see the country itself.
[Photo: jenijen]
Related Stories:
· Miniatures Festival Opens in HCMC [VietnamBridge]
· Catch the Northern Lights (Without Going North) [Jaunted]
0 Comments - Add Yours by amandak
Reports say that Angie arrived solo on Friday morning in Ho Chi Minh City, sparking rumors that she and Brad Pitt plan on adopting from Vietnam. The two visited Vietnam together back in November, when they were snapped riding a motorcycle through the city together (not usually so easy for the first-time tourist) and reportedly stayed at the Park Hyatt Hotel.
According to People, Angelina was there to make an appearance on behalf of the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Project, the charity she founded to aid son Maddox's birthplace, Cambodia. HCM City seems to be turning into one of her favorite destinations in the region--but does Jolie read Noodlepie?
Related Stories:
· Angelina Jolie Travels to Vietnam [People]
· Brangelina return to Vietnam [Thanh Nien Daily]
· Party Favors: Jolie Visits Vietnam [TMZ]
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by sedona
