Tag: <span>tan dinh</span>

Date: 30 October 2019

Upon returning to Ho Chi Minh City and checking in to Kim Dung hotel, I stepped out for lunch. I was in the mood for some Pho again. Pho is (currently) the most hyped Vietnamese dish (by foreigners). It’s basically a noodle soup, mostly served with cuts of beef.

Pho Vietnam Tan Dinh Saigon restaurant — I checked Google Maps for Pho shops around me and decided to dine at this place

Vietnamese beef pho quay leaves — The bill came to 63,000 VND (₹207/$2.7/€2.4) but the pho actually costs 55k VND. They charged extra for the quay — which are fried breadsticks you see on the plate above the pho.

The waiter kept a plate of quay on my table and I figured it was part of the sides, like the veggies, and was included in the price of the pho. Well, the waiter didn’t tell me that the quay is ‘optional’. If you eat it, you pay for it. Maybe locals knew that but I didn’t. Oh well.

Tan Dinh chicken on street Vietnam — I walked past a local school and for some reason, there were hens in cages outside

Tan Dinh market Ho Chi Minh City — I made a quick visit to Tan Dinh market

Tan Dinh market drinks Saigon Vietnam — Tan Dinh is less touristy compared to the more popular Ben Thanh Market

Tan Dinh market clothes shops Ho Chi Minh city — But many of the shops here at Tan Dinh market also sell a lot of the same merchandise

Tan Dinh market footwear shops Ho Chi Minh city — Just with fewer shops

Cashewnuts Tan Dinh market Ho Chi Minh city — I was only interested in buying cashewnuts and some Macadamia nuts

Prices were slightly lower than Ben Thanh market but with some shops, you would have to negotiate harder. I decided to buy on the day I would be leaving Vietnam.

Continue reading “Vietnam: Tan Dinh Market and Pink Church; night ride to District 7, Ho Chi Minh City” »

Date: 29 October 2019

After waking up very early for the sunrise tour of Mui Ne’s sand dunes, and then visiting a fishing harbour and the Fairy Stream, I was dropped back at my hotel by noon.

After unloading my camera gear and washing up, I stepped out to have an early lunch as I barely had much for breakfast.

Seaside restaurants Mui Ne Vietnam — I sat down at a seafood restaurant just across from my hotel

It was one of those places where fresh seafood was on display, customers pick what they want, and ask the restaurant to cook it the way you want.

Grilled prawns french fries Mui Ne Vietnam — I had a slow, heavy meal of grilled prawns, fries, a small plate of cheese oysters and a beer

For 500gms of prawns, 1 x cheese oyster, 1 Saigon beer, and plate of french fries, I paid 230,000 VND (₹750/$10/€9).

I ate a hearty meal to the soothing sound of waves crashing. It was a relaxing lunch and I began to feel sleepy. I went back to my room, slept well, and only got up in the evening. There wasn’t much to do as this would be my last night in Mui Ne. So I stepped out to get a massage. I wanted to try a Vietnamese massage.

I got one at a spa nearby and it was great! The masseuse massaged me from head to toe and cost just 100,000 VND (₹320/$4.4/€3.9) for an hour.

I had a light dinner and tried a fish-shaped ice cream for dessert.

Celano taiyaki icecream Vietnam — Taiyaki is a traditional Japanese fish-shaped cake. But this is an ice cream version of it; with red-bean paste filling. It was… okay.

After doing some work, I went to sleep.

Date: 30 October 2019

I woke up early (again) and checked out of my room. It was time to leave Mui Ne and head back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Continue reading “Vietnam: Leaving Mui Ne, returning to Ho Chi Minh City” »