ben.hoffman

Relief Luxury Vietnamese Toliet

2007-03-12T11:33:00Z

A relief for those hot tropical days in Vietnam, especially after Tet celebrations, its interesting to note apart from some public toliets, most Saigon toliets are Western style like the one pictured below, this is due to the French influence, then in the country side you will maily find squat toliets, but you will be suprised to see a welcome relief.

My future Morgtage Broker Wendy Hoang from totally mortaged sent this photo in, she and her Husband Tuan just recently returned from a trip to Vietnam in December 2007. I am not sure yet if she took to photo, I will find out and let you know where it was taken.

Saigon - The Café Capital of the World?

2007-03-03T08:42:00Z

Like most visitors to Vietnam I find the coffee to be some of the in the world, which might explain why the quality and number of cafés in Saigon has increased dramatically over the last two years. If you spend any time going around the districts of Saigon you will see them everywhere, but looks are deceiving, as many are hidden down side streets, and behind buildings where you would never expect to find anything, especially a busy café.

Most cafés in Saigon have a garden theme with trees and waterfalls, additionally many offer free Wi-Fi Internet access, which is great for the travelling blogger.

The two most popular styles of coffee in Vietnam is Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with condensed milk), and Cafe Da (Black Iced Coffee). As you have properly worked out Sua means milk and Da means Ice. Most tourists stick to Cafe Sua Da and leave Cafe Da for the locals. I drink whatever my friends or in-laws are drinking, but do prefer to drink coffee with milk.

Vietnamese Coffee is serious stuff, last year I brought back some Trung Nguyen coffee and a stainless steel coffee filter for my boss and workmates, but my boss found it so strong that it gave him heart palpitations (Sorry Mike next time I will, make it a little weaker)

The two pictures below were taken in one of the Cafés my wife and I visited in January 2006 and again just recently in February 2007.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới - Happy New Year - 17/02/2007

2007-02-17T05:31:00Z

Today is Vietnamese New Year and I would like to say "Chúc Mừng Năm Mới" (Happy New Year) to all my friends and family both her in Vietnam and in Australia. This year unlike most years, Vietnamese New Year (Tet) is celebrated a day before Chinese New Year, from what I have read this happens every 22 years or so and is because of the time difference between Beijing and Hanoi.

This year 2007 is the year of the Golden Pig, and apparently any children born during a Golden Pig Year will experience extremely good fortune thru their life, well that what my wife and her family tell me.

The Year of the Golen Pig may cause a baby boom?http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/11718784554610.xml&coll=2

http://www.beforebaby.com/waya/2007/02/18/happy-golden-pig-year/

Anyway Chúc Mừng Năm Mới - Làm Ăn Phát Tài

Happy New Year – Have a prosperous year

Valentines Day in Saigon

2007-02-15T02:44:00Z

Valentines Day is celebrated in Vietnam just like most countrys thru out the world, but in Saigon it seems so much more special, this is because Valentines day normally falls around the same date as Vietnamese new year (Tet) and during this period District 1 puts on a spetacular flower market and show for Tet. This year the park area in the middle of the road along Nguyen Hue street from Tan Binh market down to the the Opera house has been transformed into a flower spetacular, that you would not believe. Alot of thought and planning has been put into the entire creation, if you are currently in Vietnam or planning a trip to Vietnam during Tet in the future I highly recommend you take a look.

Another interesting thing you will notice is young lovers crowding the parks thru out Saigon to get some special time togeather with that someone special. Its amazing to see a large park with every park (and there are alot of benches) taken up with young lovers making out.

Vietnam 12 months on, it does not take long for the memories to return

2007-02-13T14:52:00Z

After our long flight from Sydney, clearing immigration and customs then exiting Tan Son Nhat airport, we are greeted by what feels like a stadium full of people, looking thru the crowd I slowly pick them out one by one, my wife's family, her mother & father, uncles, aunts, cousins nephews and nieces, they greet us like we had not seen each other in decades, its great to be back to a place that I consider to be my second home.

It has only been twelve months since our last trip to Saigon and the memories come rushing like we had never left. Immediately I notice the traffic it's what makes Saigon Saigon, it gives the city a special vibe and energy and carries the population along for the ride.

The next thing I notice is the smell it's a wonderful smell of Vietnamese food cooking over an open grill, this smell will greet you where ever you travel in Vietnam, and won't leave you until you leave.

Even though these things remain the same, I have found a lot that has changed, Vietnam recently joined the WTO and Saigon is booming, the rate of investment and development is staggering. Just from the ride back to our aunt's house I see so many new restaurants, cafes, shops and businesses. It's good to see the Vietnamese people improving their standard of living.

Our holiday has just started I know it will be another wonderful three weeks, yet I know this time will go in the blink of and eye and I am already dreading that we leave.

Packing for travel everything bar the kitchen sink?

2007-02-08T12:31:00Z

So what are the essentials you should take when going on that special international holiday?

It obviously depends on how long you are going on holidays and the type of holiday you are going on, my wife and I are about to go on a holiday back to my wife's country, Vietnam, so to kick this blog off I decided to post a list my travel essentials, you might have a slightly different list to me.

Passport (with Visa) and airline tickets in a travel wallet
A medical kit that includes, pain killers, Diarrhoea tablets, iodine, tweezers, motion sickness tablets, band aids and anti-malaria tablets if travelling to a malaria area
Guidebooks, maps, Phrase book, writing pad, pens
Very Important - A photocopy of all travel documents (Tickets, passport, visas, travel insurance, Hotel Vouchers, Credit Cards, Every ID Card in your wallet) I also recommend leaving an additional copy with friends or relatives
Cash (US Dollars and Local currency), Credit/ATM Cards (Cirrus or Maestro), Money Belt,
TSA Approved travel/padlock
Additional Passport photos (for that unexpected side trip or local document)
If doing allot of travel I highly recommend signing up for an Airline Lounge (either OneWorld or StarAlliance), Some airlines allow you to buy a day pass to their lounge, if you're not sure can't hurt to ask at the lounge.
Good walking shoes, thongs, long sleeve shirt, Jeans, Jumper/Jacket, Evening wear (going out clothes, formal and casual)
Waterproof bags, rain coat, Hat, sunburn cream, mosquito repellent

Technology based essentials

Digital Camera, and Digital Video Camera
Personally I cannot travel without a Laptop, it great to upload photos and video camera media, also to do internet banking and check/send email when you can find a Wi-Fi hotspot.
IPod with noise cancelling headphones (these are great for long haul flights, I can now sleep)
Mobile Phone just buy a phone card in the country you are travelling to (Great as an alarm clock too)
Rechargeable batteries, Battery charger, Flashlight, spare memory cards, and memory card reader.
Universal power adaptors (You can normally get these cheaper overseas from previous trips I know they are less than $1 in Vietnam)

Above is a fairly brief list, I will add more to it as I am packing for my trip

Please reply with anything you think I have missed or what you consider to be your travel essentials, I would love to know your thoughts.