Sa i g o nV i et n a mex p r ess

Benh Thanh

Mulai dari bangunan-bangunan

peninggalan kolonial Spanyol,

eksotisnya teras-teras padi yang

menjadi World Heritage, hingga

pantai dengan pasir putih sehalus

bedak. Entah karena Filipina kurang

berpromosi atau memang aksesnya

yang kurang diketahui, yang

pasti negara ini kurang bersinar

dibanding Malaysia, Thailand,

ataupun Singapura di mata turis

Indonesia. Kalah pamornya

membuat negara ini terasa lebih

ramah untuk dikunjungi dibanding

ke Thailand yang sudah tumplek

dengan turis-turis. Ternyata, akses

menuju Filipina tidak sesusah dan

semahal yang dipikirkan, kebetulan

saya sedang mujur sehingga

bisa mendapatkan tiket Jakarta-

Manila seharga 60 USD pulang

pergi. Perjalanan yang singkat

ini, yaitu dari 2-5 February 2012,

bisa disebut sebagai Philippine

Express. Perjalanan singkat ini

mengantarkan saya ke Manila,

Cebu, dan Pulau Bohol.

Sa i g o nV i et n a mex p r ess

S tarted from my wish-list by had a lunch in “lunch lady” that got famous by Antony Bourdain in Travel Channel. Then I landed in uncle Ho city. The former

Saigon now turn into Ho Chi Minh City. I think there’s nothing significantly change about the city. Currently, you can see the city clearly from the skyscraper. Somebody said, It was just like Jakarta in 1960s. Well, I guess not! It’s more than like a city without huge and tall building surround, it’s rather like an authentic city of Saigon.

I heard many bad rumors about this city. It’s all about the scam, stealing, and bad motorcycles behavior. It’s all gone by the wind as I came first time in the city. I felt good atmosphere among vibrant and laid back people surround.

With no place to stay, I came to the backpacker area of Pham Ngu Lao. The place is full with travel agent in every corner and there are also many coffee cafes. Food stall stand in line of sidewalk and always crowded by the local that seek for the breakfast.

Many people that travel to Saigon just made it to transit city. They took a day trip to Mekong delta river, a famous Cu Chi Tunnel or maybe had the surfboard in Muine. But I get more curious about this city.

After unpacked all the things in Nga Hoa Hostel, I took a walk along the city center. It started on Pham Ngu Lao street and walk to the north to Benh Tanh Market. This market is one of the city highlight. Not only for the shopping things,

Ho Chi Minh City or formerly named Saigon is the biggest city in Vietnam, yet it’s not the capital of the country that still believe in communist. This city blend between its bustling and vibrant with calm and laid back local people. They serve you an authentic of Indo-China culture and their food paradise. Don’t believe with its rumour before you taste its good and bad.

Saigon City Center

Benh Thanh Market

but also as the meeting point and main hub of the city center. There is also a city bus terminal near the traffic roundabout.

If you walk straight ahead along the side walk, you’ll see the old building that now use as shop. You can witness the local keeps their daily routine along the way. Their flag with the communist sign hang on the roadside. It’s something that I rarely see on my country. It feels like they are all proud to be the nation of communist.

The sidewalk is wide enough to enjoy walking, with many trees line along the road, they helps you to be spared from the sunburn. Don’t get

bored while have a walk, there are many food stall and hawker along the sidewalk. The scent of the famous Vietnam coffee also would like to tempt you while crossing some cafes.

First stop would be the icon building of Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of the most magnificent building in the city. Now it is used for People’s Committee Hall. This building was built in 1902-1908 in a French colonial style. Formerly known as

the Hotel de Ville de Saigon. There is a park in front of the building and the statue of uncle Ho is standing marvelously. This country’s legendary revolutionary leader is reading a book with a little girl, he looks so gentle there. This place is also one of the popular spot to take a photos by the tourist.

Place that also has fascination to grab a photos is Saigon Notre Dame. It was established by French colonists in about 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers with a red bricks cover this stunning buildings. All of this unique Basilica was build by the material which were imported from France. There’s a fun fact about the statue of Virgin Mary that stand in front of this church. During October 2005, this

Saigon

Evening in Saigon

City corner

statue was reported to have shed tears. This phenomenal report was attracted thousands of people that crowd and make a traffic jam around the Cathedral. Yet, the top priest of the Catholic Church in Vietnam tried to clarified this phenomenal incident, but failed to disperse the crowd of the people.

Besides the Notre Dame, there’s also an old building that now use as Saigon Post Office. This place also attract some tourist to visit. As the current use of the building, you can also get involve to the locals activity by sending a postcard from here. The postcard that sold here is relatively cheap. For one pack of postcard (about 8 cards per pack), it cost only 8.000 dong (as cheap as 50 cent). Then you can send it directly to your home or family by the Vietnam Post, it could cost about 10.000 - 20.000 dong depend on country of destination. This Gothic architectural style building is not only sell and serve the post thing, but you can also find many handy craft and local things to buy.

Big challenge while you visited this city on September are how to guess today’s weather and how to find a good place to hide out of the rain. After had a cityscape tour around Saigon, I chose to had a culinary things. Instead of miss-clue about the Lunch Lady, so I hop on to the random food stall on the district 1.

It was Than Mai that sell a Bún moc. A bowl of Bún moc Thanh Mai is cost about 30.000 to 35.000 dong. I also chose a cup of cold chocolate to accompany this lunch time. Thanh Mai is some place that

Saigon Post OfficeNotre Dame Basilica

Uncle Ho & People’s Committee Hall

always full of customer, but then after try some, I consider why this stall could be this crowd. It’s also very easy to find this place. It’s just one block walk from Ben Thanh Market.

That day was felt so complete. After getting sightseeing on the cityscape and hop on the Than Mai Bún moc which was so delicious, then it’s time to relax and have a siesta back in hostel. Sometimes, you don’t need to push it hard while traveling, and just sometime you need to find it relaxed and laid back to face the bustling and vibrant city night life.

Febry Fawzi

Inside Saigon Post Office

City Bustling on Evening

Bún moc