Christmas In Saigon

I wasn't particularly in the Christmas mood before leaving KL earlier in the week but am definitely in the spirit here in Saigon. The streets have been dressed up, the restaurants have been fully booked and the people have been coming out to celebrate.

I would say that witnessing the Saigonese come out onto the streets and celebrate with such gusto has been a highlight of my visit. Horns blaring, the chaos of people on motorcycles jostling with people on foot, the way they party with reckless abandon, is an experience not easily forgotten.

We had a seafood Christmas lunch at Ngoc Suong, recommended by Leticia and Tjun Hong, and then a Christmas dinner of Hue cuisine at Mitau, the professed choice of Eileen's and Richard's when in Saigon. I ended the evening with a hot cocoa at the rooftop bar of the Rex Hotel, enjoying the retro songs crooned by the resident band, backed by the sounds of horns as well as the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets below. As I took a slow walk back to my hotel, I marveled at the colonial architecture of City Hall, beautifully lit up, a perfect backdrop for photos of both the locals and tourists alike. And I said a little thanks for the opportunity to be here at this time of year. Merry Christmas Ho Chi Minh City!

Photo shot at the lobby of the Rex Hotel in Saigon, Vietnam.

Saigon On Christmas Eve

To say that it was an experience is an under-statement. I was told beforehand that Christmas Eve in Saigon could get pretty crazy. Well, I suppose the photo says it all!

It was truly a bit overwhelming being crushed in a crowd of Vietnamese and tourists alike. The photo was shot slightly after 9.00pm in the vicinity of Lam Son Park, somewhere between the Caravelle and Rex hotels as we made our way back to our hotel on foot. I had had dinner at Vietnam House on Dong Khoi before heading to the rooftop bar of the Caravelle Hotel and decided to head back as the crowd swelled.

On hindsight, it is ironic that I would get packed like sardines as I don't even bother heading into town for such celebrations when in KL. I suppose this is what holidays are all about - new experiences. Merry Christmas everyone!

Photo of a sea of people at Lam Son Park in Saigon, Vietnam.

Great View In Saigon On Christmas Eve

I was enjoying a hot chocolate on the balcony of the rooftop bar of Caravelle Hotel this Christmas Eve and was mesmerised by the views below.

There were throngs of people converging near the Opera House to celebrate Christmas but I particularly liked this scene of the Hotel Continental Saigon. This photo was taken slightly before 8.30pm and by the time we hit the streets at 9.00pm, we were packed like sardines. That experience I will leave to another post.

Having enjoyed chilling at the Saigon Bar balcony at the Caravelle, I am making it a point to visit the rooftop bars of the Rex Hotel and the Majestic Hotel respectively in the days to come.

Photo of Hotel Continental Saigon, shot from the Saigon Bar balcony, on the rooftop of the Caravelle Hotel in Saigon, Vietnam.

Saigon

I am spending this Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City, or as the locals still affec-tionately call it, Saigon. It is indeed a bustling city, in fact, bustling does not even begin to describe this metropolis in the south of Vietnam.

The first thing one has to learn when in Saigon is how to cross the street. The sheer number of motorcycles as well as a myriad of other vehicles make it a challenge and it is definitely not for the faint hearted. Once such a skill is mastered however, Saigon is pretty easy to navigate, in particular District 1, where most of the pertinent historical and architectural monuments are located as well as shopping, cafes and restaurants. Even a casino, not that I gamble.

Having been in the city only a day and a half, there is lots more to explore and experience, and even much more to sample with regards to food. There is certainly a buzz here in Saigon, and I hear that Christmas Eve will see jam-packed streets in District 1. That's something to look forward to this evening.

Photo of Rex Hotel and the traffic at the intersection in front of the property, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.