I got my tickets last year (April 2010) for this February 2011 travel to
Vietnam via
Cebu Pacific for about 3500php. Since both countries were members of
ASEAN, us Filipinos don’t need visa anymore. I don’t know anything as to what happened to Vietnam wars, on how recent it is or on the effects on simple families living there – until I had a quick chat with my friend. I would consider this as one of my hard core Asian trips, still willing to go to Cambodia given a chance. But will not try the farther routes of Laos, Burma or India.
Travel Date: February 13, 2011
Destination: HCMC Airport and Hanoi Old Quarter
My flight from Manila left at 23pm, and arrived at HCMC Airport at 1am. There is a time difference on Manila and Vietnam, it is one hour earlier in Vietnam (GMT+7). I’m already expecting to be sleeping at the airport since my next flight going to Hanoi is at 6am. But I never thought that the airports in HCMC shuts down.
From
International Terminal, you have to out of the gates, turn left and follow the signs going to Domestic Terminal. All the entrance gates going to the Terminal are closed. No lights, few people outside – so where am I going to sleep here? On the not so clean chairs outside an open area lobby with the mosquitoes biting me? No way! I went back to the International Terminal, hoping that this is open, I thought that the escalator is also not working, but you just have to step on it for it to work. No lights anymore as well, nor air-conditioners, but there are one or two helpers in some of the restaurants at the Business Lobby. Not until I reached the area, were I suppose to be an expensive restaurant, I saw one sleeping on the floor with pillows from the dining chairs, also a family starting to nap as well. Then I decided, that this is the best place to stay for at least 3 hours of light sleep. At 4am, after some refreshments, I headed to the
Domestic Terminal again, still closed but more people are waiting outside. For 6am flight, they opened the check-in at 5am, people were like rushing on the lines – luckily I’m the 3rd one who was able to check-in. This is the first time I has experience that upon setting my feet at Tarmac, we have to take short bus trips going to the Airport building. Why? It was freezing cold – 10 degrees! Another thing I noticed, there is no Arrival Card to be filled-up for the Immigration.
At
Hanoi Airport, there are lots of people – International and Domestic Terminals are on same building on a smaller area.
There are also more than 3 Foreign Exchange counters to choose from.
After doing my errands, I tried to find my Hotel pick-up driver. It was a long 45 minute drive from the airport to the
Old Quarter. “What took you so long?”, the concierge asked me, haha! I’m staying at
Thaison Hotel II. The manager is kind to offer me free breakfast even if I just arrived at their hotel. The hotel is clean, offers free internet, also has guided tours desk, with service elevator and with rooms until 7th floor. The room is well lighted, cabinet is with 5 hangers, tea cups, water thermos, toiletries (tooth brush, soap, shampoo, sewing kit) are available, soft double bed with 4 pillows, and a massage shower – a very nice place to stay. What I don’t like are the towels, the ants on the floor and having no English news channel.
As I finally settled and had some rest, I’m now ready to roam around the Old Quarter. I started at
Hoan Kiem Lake, paying 10,000vnd you’ll find their temple and different kinds of Buddha statue they worship. Nothing is special I found on this place, but paying 40php for the ticket is not a loss. I continue to walk further until I reached
St. Joseph’s Church. It was an old church and also picturesque.
If I’ll do it again, I would now choose
Ho Chi Minh Temple over Tolia. I was looking forward on seeing cheaper North Face jackets in Tolia – and all was just a disappointment. The sizes they have were too big, some were obviously fake (especially those that are in the streets). Walking at the Old Quarter, is so a good experience, you see: most of the people seated on the street side simply just watching people as they pass by, a lot of local products (bags, woven wall decorations, etc.), restaurants offering small stools and pho and of course a lot of motorcycles coming from all directions.
I was also able to watched the
Water Puppet Show in Hanoi for 60000vnd.
After passing the park and Pasteur Road, I reached the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica. Take note that the church closes at 11am and opens again at 3pm. 
Just across it is the Saigon Central Post Office. Here you could buy the post cards and other local products. 
There are many restaurants near the area as well. I walked further to see Rex Hotel, then visited again Saigon Center and had a quick stop at Ben Than Market. I stayed at the hotel until 6pm, and went straight to the airport. I’m now at the boarding gate, waiting for my flight. Food at the airport is expensive, the bun or sandwich costs 3usd-8usd, water inside the boarding gate costs 2usd. I decided to buy the water on my flight back to Manila for only 50php. 
I don’t want to say it, but would consider Piolo as the highlight of my trip, hehe!. Thank you to my family who again allowed me to do this adventure alone. Thank you to my tour guides Dinh (Halong) and Minh (Cu Chi). To the hotel employees and cab drivers thank you for keeping me safe and for being very accommodating.
