Day 7 - Ho Chi Minh City

Met up with Anh at 0730 hours only to realise that the other guide is sick and wouldn’t be coming. Took 2 buses to Cu Chi tunnels and the whole journey took nearly 2 hours. Not only was the bus ride long, the journey was equally unpleasant as well. Bumpy roads accompanied with a brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate driver only made matters worse.




Kai in the bomb crater

Cu Chi Tunnels is a linking system of underground tunnels dug by the Vietnamese during their war with the Americans. It is located in the middle of the iron triangle of 3 US Army camps and their sophisticated tunnels were nicely planned and thought out as it consists of underground kitchen, hospital, rooms etc.


Weiyang trying out the Vietnam's cramp tunnels

Openings to the tunnels are small and tight to prevent bigger sized Americans to get in (see video above). Imagine living under such cramp environment for about 20 years!


After completing a section of the tunnel


Different types of booby traps were also set, each of it having its unique way of killing the enemies.

The speciality food at that time was tapioca with peanuts and sugar. It is a good combination of ingredients and tasted good for a meal outfield.


We conquered the TANK!


Waiting at the “bus-stop”


Caught in the act 1

It was one of the best lunch we’ve had as it was spent at a cheap, well-designed Vietnamese restaurant. With 2 main courses plus dessert at less than SGD5, what else can one ask for?


The unique way of eating Pho

The different dishes we ordered for lunch include:

Broken rice with pork - fragrant and the texture of the meat was superb

Pho (pronounced as furrr~), traditional Vietnamese beef noodle - noodles are equivalent to Singapore’s Kuay Teow, soft and smooth

Local desserts - tasted like Chendol, Burbur Hitam and Bobo Cha Cha. (Singapore delights)


Uncle Ho Chi Minh


Reunification Palace






What are they doing?

After a satisfying lunch, we proceeded on to the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum where we were fed with information regarding Vietnam’s war and their independence.


Anh and us outside Ben Thanh market



Ended the day tour with a trip to Ben Thanh market where we snapped up a few cheap deals with the help of Anh! (foreigners are always quoted a higher price). It was also nice of her to give us the 4 Vietnamese figurines and in return we gave her a bottle of perfume. Thank you for the tour!


The regular Madam Cuc dinner which we’ve had for 3 days in a row


At Window cafe

Our last day at Saigon ended off with a chilling session at Window, a classy and stylish café with comfort and music as its main selling point. An ideal place to hangout and we hope that one will be built in Singapore soon…

Day 8 - Nha Trang