Dito lang sa Pilipinas NAGTA-TRAFFIC

ng WALANG DAHILAN! At kung mayroon man, WALANG KA-KWENTA-KWENTA!

Mga Bangungot ng Biyahero (Part 2): Yung Pasaherong Naka-Slant o Nakabukaka Kahit Siksikan Na

Alam mo yung sardinas na nga kayo sa jeep dahil sa mga sugapang operators, drivers, at barkers; tapos yung isa sa mga pasahero sa upuan ninyo e naka-slant pa o di kaya e nakabukaka? 

Mano bang maging considerate man lang yung mga pasaherong ganun at isipin na ang binayad nila (kahit na doon pa sila sa terminal bababa) e yung pang-isang tao lang—unless siyempre binayaran rin nila yung pwestong yun. Pansinin mo na kapag sumakay ka ng jeep, marami sa mga pasahero ang hindi nakadiretso ang mga tuhod. Although karamihan ay umiiwas lang na matamaan ng dadaan sa gitna, may mga ilan pa rin na hindi mo mawari kung bakit kailangang ang buong binti ay nakadantay sa upuan. Ang masaklap pa kung minsan, sila pa ang galit kung mauupo ka sa tabi nila. At may ilan ding, nagsisiksik ng mga dalahin nila sa gitna ng kanilang binti. Mano bang ipatong nila sa mga binti at tuhod ang kanilang kagamitan. Hindi ba nila naiisip na malaki ang inookupang espasyo kapag hindi tuwid ang binti?

Ipaglaban mo ang iyong karapatan, after all nagbayad ka at karapat dapat ka rin na makaupo ng imprente. 

Mga Katulad na Artikulo

Mga Bangungot ng Biyahero (Part 1): Yung Gawing Pang-12 Yung Upuang Pang-10 Lang

Mga Bangungot ng Biyahero (Part 1): Yung Gawing Pang-12 Yung Upuang Pang-10 Lang

Alam mo yung sampuan lang yung magkabilang upuan ng jeep pero for some reason nagiging pang-labingdalawang katao bawat isa?

Nakakainis dahil sarado ang utak ng mga operators, drivers at barkers na ganito o ganyan lang ang bilang dapat ng mga pasahero. Hindi na importante kung komportable ka o hindi. Ang mahalaga sa kanila, makaabot sa kota. Hindi naman pare-pareho ang laki ng tao. Pero sa tuwing sasakay ka ng pampublikong sasakyan, isaksak mo na sa utak mo na ang may baywang na 38 inches ay pareho lang sa 28 inches. At kung magrereklamo ka naman, agad sasabihin ng mga operators, drivers o barkers, “e di magtaxi ka!” Pero dahil mas magastos ang magtaxi, titiisin mo na lang. Anupa’t kung ikaw ang panghuling sumakay, halos kalahati lang ng kaliwang pisngi ng pwet mo ang nakaupo ngunit sa parehong presyo na binayad ng iba pang pasahero. 

Mga Katulad na Artikulo

Mga Bangungot ng Biyahero (Part 2): Yung Pasaherong Naka-Slant o Nakabukaka Kahit Siksikan Na

A Taste of Vietnamese-Cambodian Slapstick

By: EK Encarnacion

The conductor inserted the DVD and the television showed images. I was waiting for a Warner Brothers or Paramount or 21^st Century Fox or Dreamworks or any other international movie production logo to appear but to no avail. Instead, there was just a park.

And then out came actors and actresses dancing and pushing each other, frolicking the park square like a bunch of kindergartens in a carnival to the tune of some festive music. It was just weird, not to mention, very Asian. And then they stopped and started conversing in a language which at first I had trouble deciphering. And then I realized that I couldn’t really figure it out anyways so I gave up listening. I look closely at the screen and saw subtitles. I squinted to read the words as my mom and I were sitting somewhere at the back portion of the bus. I narrowed my eyes until I saw the characters clearly. It was Chinese and Arabic.

I was hopeless.

The actors were conversing in such a way that they seemed to be giving jokes. After every set of punch lines delivered, all actors and actresses burst into laughter in such an overacting manner that it was not just painful to the ears but also to the eyes as well. I look outside and saw the road which sidewalks are covered in what appears to be Iron-rich soil. I was still in the provincial area of Cambodia. There were trees and shrubs and grasses. There were houses made of wood and concrete. There were people and their animals—some, ploughing the field; some, hanging clothes to dry; and others, just running across the dirt. The images kept repeating until I realized that I have exhausted all the imagination I have and turned back to the television.

There I saw the Vietnamese or Cambodian actors and actresses performing skits. In one scene, two actors were knocking at some old lady’s gate. Afterwards, they went running away when she was about to open the gate. They continued to do the prank for six consecutive times. I could no longer imagine how dragging that joke was. But by the end of the skit, the old lady grabbed a pail full of water and threw the liquid upon opening the gate. Pity she drenched a police officer instead and got arrested.  In another scene, a teacher was getting bribes from the parents of his students. The students were all grown-ups dressed in elementary uniforms. He did not enjoy the florist’s son’s flowers or the librarian’s daughter’s books. He, however, was delighted with the box given by the winemaker’s son’s box. He saw that there was something leaking. He touched the hole and wet his finger with the liquid. He placed it in his mouth and was astounded with the taste of what seemed to be the best wine he had ever tasted. When he asked the son what wine was inside, the student opened and revealed a puppy. In another, the actors and actresses were running from what seemed to be a pack of zombies. They ran and panted in between until they reached a junction where they had to choose between a road that leads to a jungle and a road that leads to a cemetery. They kept on fighting and arguing until they saw the wave of zombies approaching. The actors and actresses scrambled in fear. Some of them went to the jungle while the others to the cemetery. Those that went to the jungle were bitten by snakes while those that went to the cemetery bumped into another set of zombies leading to everyone’s demise.

After the credits rolled, revealing the names of the actors and actresses and the production staff; I was just stupefied on my seat with my jaw dropped and mind floating. I just really wanted to get off the bus as I could no longer endure another series of unfunny comedy.

But then after I have lain in bed that night, I realized how significant that DVD was. Even though I do not want to watch it, I was forced to look at it for lack of entertainment. I realized that the DVD was already a form of advertisement, a medium which the natives use to present their culture to tourists like me. I may not understand everything in the show but perhaps some other passenger may have gathered words or phrases which he or she could use for conversations. I may have disliked the skits but the other foreigners may have seen the creativity embedded in the mainland Asian performing arts.

And everything boils down to one idea—a matter of perspective. 

Flying to another country from the Philippines? Learn how to make your way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by clicking on the following link:

Making Your Way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EK Encarnacion wished he understood everything in that DVD. To learn more of his epic failures, visit his other blogs: Every-Comedy-Thing (life blog), Culinary Coliseum (food blog), and By God’s Grace (gratitutde blog). You may also throw your support by liking his Facebook Fan Page and his Triond Page. 

Ho Chi Minh-Phnom Penh Bus Ride

By: EK Encarnacion

As I munched on some chocolate cupcakes, the bus driver took his seat, steered the wheel and began what seemed to be a good journey across Vietnam and Cambodia. Well, at least that’s what I thought it would be via the Sapaco Bus.

Sapaco Tourist Bus (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

TRAVELOCITIES REMINDER #1

Sapaco is a popular bus company in Vietnam. Its main terminal in Saigon is located at District 1 at the intersection of Pham Ngu Lao Road and Do Quang Dao Street. The said terminal opens for business at around 5:30 in the morning. The schedule of departure of buses are 6:00 am, 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. Sapaco is said to be one of those that offers the cheapest modes of transportation from Saigon to Phnom Penh, Cambodia (approximately 6 hours travel) and from Saigon to Siem Reap, Cambodia (approximately 12 hours travel). The Saigon to Phnom Penh fare ranges from 11-15 US$ while the Saigon to Siem Reap fare falls within 18-22 US$.  Bus fares are dependent both on the route to be taken and the services included. The usual amenities claimed by the bus company are air-conditioning, checking of passports, usage of toilet, a wet towel, a bottle of water, immigration processing, and a rest stop. For non-ASEAN passport holders, a visa entry for Cambodia is required. The bus company also claims to handle visa processing for about 24-26 US$. Sapaco also promises tagging of checked-in luggage for security, a hand towel, and a snack. But my mom and I were certain that during our travel the company missed out on these three. Despite its appeal to budget backpackers, the bus company has also earned negative comments from a lot (and I really mean it) of dissatisfied (and some, abused) customers. A popular and oftentimes considered to be the most patronized and most suitable substitute for Sapaco Bus is the Mekong Express. Its fare falls on the same range as Sapaco but the services are said to be more complete thus allowing the company to receive a downpour of good reviews.

While the vehicle was making its way through narrow streets towards the expressway going to Cambodia, the bus conductor was verifying and collecting passports (and visa for non-ASEAN passengers) for easy processing at the Vietnam-Cambodia border. My mom took the liberty of communicating with the grumpy conductor (he was really being unfriendly—a said characteristic of Sapaco Bus staff according to another blog entry) while I was taking some shots of the bus interior and the busy city outside. 

Checking of Passports (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Motorcycle-Crowded Intersection (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

A Glimpse of Jollibee (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

There wasn’t really much to see—roadways, houses, apartments, inns, motels, hotels, cafes, bars, restaurants, malls, public terminals, ports, wet markets, and a lot of other typical urban establishments. Ho Chi Minh resembles other metropolises in Southeast Asia. Thank goodness I brought my iPod shuffle to provide me some audio entertainment as I stare with ennui at the monotonous city scenery. (I just notice how I tend to become redundant—“boredom overload” perhaps). But really, it was impossible not to fall into a deep slumber.

Z-z-Z-z-Z *snore*

TRAVELOCITIES TIP #1

If you’re not the type of person who is fond of sleeping during trips (such as I am), then I suggest you bring 2-3 books to read, a fully-charged gadget that can provide you audio entertainment, and/or a few snacks that can satisfy your palate. If you wish, you may also bring your portable DVD player or laptop. But these are items that I am not endorsing as you may be catching the attention of nearby criminals. 

I felt the bus coming into a halt. My mom was waking me up and telling me that we were already nearing the Vietnam-Cambodia border. We were asked to get down from the bus and present ourselves to the immigration. We needed to get our passports marked with the “departure” stamp so as to prove ourselves cleared of all other possible duties and responsibilities in Vietnam.

Immigration Office at the Vietnam Portion of the Border (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

The process at the immigration office (Vietnam portion of the border) was slow and, in my opinion, discriminative. All passengers were asked to wait as names were called out. I remembered how the conductor piled our passports and I knew that my mom and I should have been called within the first ten. But we were not. Apparently, the immigration officers were calling out names of those they can easily pronounced first—mostly Vietnamese, Cambodian and other mainland nationalities. In the end, I learned that most of those who were left behind were mostly Filipinos and Westerners. But I would have understood if it was the only problem.

A second bus has just arrived with a new set of passengers bound for Phnom Penh. And with the most unfortunate and cruel of all circumstances, the immigration officers called out names of locals from the said group first, instead of us who were left behind from the first bus. We were quite disappointed with the unfair process. But not one of us complained because we all know how immigration officers can cause greater trouble if we raise our concerns—for all we know, we may end up being stuck in Vietnam for some made up violation. But again, as what I have mentioned in Part 5 of my Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) travel journal, I am writing such bad experiences so as not to ruin the image of the Vietnamese or any other people for that matter but rather to warn other tourists about such delinquents lurking and giving dishonour to good societies.

After the immigration officer called out my name (I believe I was sixth from last) and my mom’s (she was third from last), we went out of the office and hurried inside the bus to take our seats. I would have wanted to take photographs near the premises of the Vietnam portion of the border but considering the facts that we were last and everyone inside the bus were already waiting for us including the grumpy conductor whose face looked so annoyed (as if it was our fault we got stuck inside!), and that my mom and I did not feel happy taking pictures after standing inside the office for a long time, no one can actually blame us for our choice to head back inside the vehicle.

Monument behind the Immigration Office at the Vietnam Portion of the Border (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

A less-than-a-minute ride (literally!) followed and we were once again asked to get off the bus and enter the immigration office (Cambodia portion of the border).

Cambodian Marker (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Unlike at the Vietnam portion of the border, my mom and I were blessed to be assigned to one of those officers who were able to process documents and stamp passports quickly but efficiently. It was not long after when we found ourselves heading to the exit after a few minutes. We were just about to step outside when we were greeted by a man. “Kumusta kayo?” (Filipino translation of “How are you?”), he said. I replied with, “Mabuti naman po” (Filipino translation of “I’m fine”) and immediately asked, “Gaano na po kayo katagal nagtatrabaho dito?” (Filipino translation of “How long have you been working here?”). He first answered with a smile then continued with, “Sorry, I’m not Filipino. With many Filipinos visiting Cambodia, I was able to learn a few phrases myself.” Hearing his reply made me realize that we, Pinoys, being well-travelled and scattered all over the world, should be having this impact on other nationalities. We should actually be promoting our culture, tradition and language. The Chinese have done an amazing job influencing the world such that it is impossible not to see a Chinatown in a certain country. In addition, Mandarin has become a part of the curricula in many schools and universities worldwide. Would it be nice to have our own Pinoy Villages around the world? And would it be kind-of cool to have other nationalities speaking in our native language? What an ease in communication! I bid the man farewell and joined my mom outside for some photo-ops.

Immigration Office at the Cambodia Portion of the Border (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

The immigration office (Cambodia portion of the border) was just stunning to look at. With intricate roof engravings and other embellishments, the infrastructure may actually be mistaken to be a temple. My mom and I did not hesitate to take some pictures of the building and, of course, of ourselves.

Behind the Immigration Office at the Cambodia Portion of the Border (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Me at the Border (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

My Mom and I (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

We then headed inside the bus to rest as we wait for other passengers. When the conductor finished his head count and realized that all were accounted, the driver made its way to new territory—Cambodia. Several majestic casinos welcomed us as we travel through the highway. It was just surprising for my part since I never envisioned Cambodia to be fond of such entertainment especially that it is considered to be a developing country such as the Philippines.

Titan Casino (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Hours have gone by like minutes and the bus made a stop to allow passengers to have a late lunch. I wasn’t really hungry so it was only my mom who went down and got herself a bowl of steaming noodle soup. It was not long after when the passengers started entering the bus. The conductor did his usual head count when the vehicle seemed full inside and gave the driver a go signal to start the final leg of our journey.

The sceneries to Phnom Penh were rural as oppose to the urban setting just outside Ho Chi Minh. Several little houses lined the roadsides while a few large houses stand somewhere in the middle of the plains. The main highway was somewhat asphalted but the reddish-brown soil have caused it to appear dirty.

It was not long after when we reached a river that cuts across a portion of Cambodia. My mom told me that a small boat able to contain a number of land vehicles will be used to reach the other bank. She said that if the bus driver decided to cross via the bridge located several kilometres away from where we were at the moment, it would take us ages to reach Phnom Penh. And so I was quite amazed that a mode of transportation similar to our very own Ro-Ro (i.e. Roll-on, Roll-off boat) was also being effectively utilized in Cambodia.

Boat Ride (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

The crossing of the bank was relatively faster than what I expected. In a matter of minutes, I found the bus once again making its way through the highway. At this point, the conductor decided to turn on the television and insert a DVD inside the player. I was quite excited to know what the crew decided to feature. And after a few adjustments to the volume and contrast, (Alas!) it was a show that brought me a terrible headache that lasted for an entire night! But the details of that, my friends, will be available in my next blog entry. 

It was a rainy afternoon when the bus reached the heart of Phnom Penh. Different establishments and monuments lined both sides of the road—all drenched by the pouring rain.

Raindrops (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

The bus finally swerved to the terminal where my godmother, uncle and cousins were waiting for our arrival. My mom and I got our baggage and headed towards our relatives. And after a few hugs and kisses, my cousin exclaimed, “Welcome to Cambodia, Kuya!”

Flying to another country from the Philippines? Learn how to make your way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by clicking on the following link:

Making Your Way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It was EK Encarnacion’s first time to travel from one country to another via land transportation. Although quite relatively uneasy during the entire trip, he believes that it was essential that he was able to experience such in life. To learn more of his viewpoints, visit his other blogs: Every-Comedy-Thing (life blog), Culinary Coliseum (food blog), and By God’s Grace (gratitutde blog). His works are also indexed at one of the best Pinoy blogs, The Filipino Diaspora.  

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (Part 5): On Being Left Hanging

By: EK Encarnacion

After a kilometer of clothing boutiques and restaurants, my mom and I reached the end of Dong Khoi Street where we were greeted by the flowing Saigon River.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – SAIGON RIVER

Like most rivers in Asia (and perhaps in the world as a whole), the beauty of the Saigon River has faded thanks to the mismanaged progression of urbanization which is fuelled by the overgrowing human population. Mainly used as water supply and for transport of cargoes in and out of the country, the Saigon River is starting to become polluted (which later may result to its eventual non-usefulness) by residential and commercial wastes, loose sediments from the river banks, branches and twigs from nearby trees, and oil spills from crossing boats.

By the Saigon River (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

My mom and I took a few photographs near the port and went back to our tintins to finally end the tour. We silently made our way through Ham Nghi Street—no picture-taking: just me, my mom, our tintin drivers and the rest of Ho Chi Minh.

Inh and his friend dropped my mom and I back to our starting point, 23/9 Park. I got two 5 US$ to pay Inh and his friend for their services. My mom and I were about to turn away when Inh pulled my lower arm and said, “Not 5 US$, 10 US$.” I said, “Yeah, 10 US$ for the both of you. That was our deal a while ago—5 US$ each,” while removing his grip from my wrist. Inh started raising his voice, “But I worked hard! I sweated. I pedalled the tintin. Give us 10 US$ each!” I told him calmly, “I’m sorry but that wasn’t the deal we had.” My mom and I managed to gain a step away but Inh and his friend hastily slid in front of us. “Not 5 US$, 10 US$” he repeated. I was infuriated. I angrily retold him how we ended our deal earlier this morning. But it seemed that all the words coming from my mouth were falling into deaf ears. He kept making reasons—even changing statements every so often. The four of us verbally quarrelled for some time until my mom and I noticed that we were inviting the attention of nearby locals. And then I thought hard. There was no written proof of our deal. It would be difficult to convince other people to side with us—we’re foreigners in the country. My mom and I were standing on another territory. And our bus for Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be leaving in an hour. I furiously pulled two more 5 US$ from my wallet. Honestly, I would have punched the two of them right in their faces for being painfully annoying and for not keeping their promise. But I wasn’t raise to knock people’s jaws. As my mom and I walked away from Inh and his friend, and their tintins; I told myself that I would be including this story of untrustworthiness—not to ruin the image of the Vietnamese people but rather to warn other tourists about such delinquents lurking and giving dishonour to good societies.

Inh (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

My mom and I headed to Ben Thanh Market located across the roundabout to purchase a few pasalubongs to bring with us back home in the Philippines.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – BEN THANH MARKET

Ben Thanh Market is perhaps the most popular marketplace in downtown Ho Chi Minh. It is a structure that has withstood the test of time and continues to symbolize the humble economy of Vietnam. It is a must-visit site for tourists who would like to bring home a piece of Vietnamese culture including: local handicrafts, beautifully-woven textiles, and souvenirs of varying sizes. It is also home to a few food stalls that offers a bite of real Vietnamese cuisine.

Ben Thanh Market (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Although my mom and I would like to explore the entirety of Ben Than Market, it was time to head back to our guest house, pick up or bags and pay our bill just so we can catch the schedule of our bus’ departure. Whilst carrying the items we bought, we traced back the route we walked during the earlier part of the day. Indeed our [first] Ho Chi Minh encounter was drawing to a close.

When we reached our guest house (with the pungent smell of burning incense-like odor still diffusing throughout the lobby and now reaching the hallways), we finished what needed to be done and left without delay. My mom and I entered the Sapaco Bus Terminal and coordinated with the staff, who in turn directed us towards our assigned bus. As I sat down inside the bus and looked through the window, I recalled from how Minh, our airport taxi driver, warmly welcomed us until how Inh, our tintin driver, coldly treated us. I was having a mixture of emotions coming up with a final impression of Ho Chi Minh and its people. But in the end, I realized that a short stay was not enough to judge the city and the society or, furthermore, if rating a city and its society was even rightful and plausible.

As fellow passengers entered through the bus door, I wished to go back to Ho Chi Minh sometime in the future and indulge myself with more of the beautiful things that the city and the people can offer. I know that down the depths of my mind there is more to Ho Chi Minh than what I had experienced.

And that is one of the things I hate the most: the feeling of being left hanging—the thought of something missing.

Click on the following link to read Part 4:

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (Part 4): At the Heart of Ho Chi Minh

Click on the following link to read about EK Encarnacion’s Ho Chi Minh-Phnom Penh Bus Ride:

Ho Chi Minh-Phnom Penh Bus Ride

Flying to another country from the Philippines? Learn how to make your way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by clicking on the following link:

Making Your Way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EK Encarnacion isn’t really fond of being placed in an open-ended situation. To learn more of his dislikes, visit his other blogs: Every-Comedy-Thing (life blog), Culinary Coliseum (food blog) and By God’s Grace (gratitude blog). His works are also indexed at The Filipino Diaspora, an online pool of Pinoy writers.

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (Part 4): At the Heart of Ho Chi Minh

By: EK Encarnacion

Inh and his friend continued to tour my mom and I around the city. We fearlessly crossed several major road intersections—squishing our way between colonies of motorcycles (Yes. What else is a better way but to compare them to ants), a few cars and a bunch of humongous tourist buses. And after a blood-rushing ride, we made it (alive and whole—thank you God!) at Saigon Center. Our first stop was the majestic Notre Dame Basilica.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – SAIGON NOTRE DAME BASILICA

Also referred to as the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica (Vietnamese names: Vuong Cung Thanh Duong Duc Ba Sai Gon / Na Tho Duc Ba Sai Gon) is located within the Cong Xa Paris hexagonal roundabout—overlooking Dong Khoi Street. Constructed, beautified and completed in the late 19^th century (1850’s–1900’s); the cathedral was an answer to the call of having a sacred place for French colonists and Catholic-converted locals to conduct religious services. Built with materials imported from France (including oven-baked brownish-red bricks from Marseilles), the basilica stands secured on each side by two bell towers with height reaching to about 60.5 meters (including the tallness of the more recently installed crosses). A flower garden was strategically constructed in front of the cathedral with a Roman-made granite statue of the Virgin Mary humbly welcoming everyone at the path to the church’s front door. The Saigon Notre Dame Basilica is not only a place for performing religious rites but also a refuge where people can temporarily stay after a busy day at the city, spend time with loved ones and, last but certainly not the least, take beautiful photographs. And it is because of the last reason why many Vietnamese soon-to-be married couples, models, actors and actresses, and music artists visit the cathedral to do pictorials and video presentations.

Front View of the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Virgin Mary (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Back View of the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Side View of the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

I was actually blessed to chance upon a groom and his bride, and their photographer conducting pictorials at the side of the cathedral for the couple’s wedding album. I was so in-loved with the concept of a European-inspired background that I cannot help but capture that heart-warming split-second through the lenses of my camera. In fact, for some reason I felt envious. And not because I’m single but because I wanted a DSLR camera so badly just so I could have high-resolution pictures of unforgettable moments and settings such as what I have witnessed. But I know that eventually I will be able to afford one at the right time.

Wedding Shoot (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Another famous Vietnamese landmark, the Central Post Office, can be found a few meters from the basilica.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – SAIGON CENTRAL POST OFFICE

The Saigon Central Post Office (Vietnamese name: Buu Dien Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh) was built in the early 20^th century (1900’s-1950’s) to serve as a center for sending, receiving and distributing mails—letters and packages. Along with the Saigon Notre Dame Basilica, it is said to be another one of the remaining French contributions in the history of Vietnam. It was conceptualized and designed by acclaimed architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel; who, as the surname suggests, is the pioneer behind the construction of the famous French national landmark, the Eiffel Tower. The prevailing architectural style used throughout the Saigon Central Post Office was European Gothic.

Partial View of the Saigon Central Post Office (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

TRAVELOCITIES INFORMATION – THE LAST LETTER WRITER

Letter writers are those who offer writing services to customers who cannot compose letters on their own. The last official member of this working group was Duong Van Ngo. He has worked at the Saigon Central Post Office until February 2010.

After roaming around and taking photographs, my mom and I headed back to our tintins and traversed the length of Dong Khoi Street, an avenue that is not at all Greek to any certified shopaholic. Standing fierce and proud, the Vincom Center welcomes locals and tourists to Ho Chi Minh’s shopping district.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – VINCOM CENTER

The Vincom Center is a towering mall overflowing with hundreds, if not thousands, of fashion stores that prove that the Vietnamese are updated to the trendiest clothes, accessories, and items circulating in the Western hemisphere. It also serves as a home to numerous food chains and restaurants that offer some of the most popular foods and beverages in the city. A portion of the building is also dedicated to operate as offices and apartments. The regular operating hours of the establishment is from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Click on the following link to read more about Vincom Center.

TRAVELOCITIES LINK #1

Vincom Center Website

Vincom Center (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

A short distance from Vincom Center is the Opera House.

TRAVELOCITIES DESTINATION – SAIGON OPERA HOUSE

Also called as the Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre, the Saigon Opera House (Vietnamese name: Nha Hat Lon Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh) is the third of the three European-inspired architectural inputs placed at the center of downtown Ho Chi Minh during the French colonial period. It is located near the intersection of Dong Khoi Street and Le Loi Street. Mainly designed by architect Felix Olivier and supervised by fellowmen via profession, Ernest Guichard and Eugene Ferret in the early 20^th century (1900’s-1950’s); the theatre resembles the renowned Opera Garnier in Paris, France. Although the three-storey building can seat approximately 1800 individuals, in-house musical performances are rarely organized, held in its premises, and patronized by the public unlike in its European counterpart.

Saigon Opera House (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

The remaining stretch of Dong Khoi Street is lined with boutiques, dining areas and deluxe hotels. Some of which that my camera did not fail to capture includes:

Louis Vitton (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Gucci (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Milano (Photograph by EK Encarnaacion)

Levi’s (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Gloria Jeans’ Coffee (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Times Square 5-Star Hotel (Photograph by EK Encarnacion)

Marriage, Music and Malling. Saigon Center truly does its best to live as a metropolitan paradise for urban dwellers and visitors—a sanctuary for romance, entertainment, fashion and relaxation at the heart of Ho Chi Minh.

Click on the following link to read Part 3:

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (Part 3): Of Wars and Woes

Click on the following link to read Part 5:

Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (Part 5): On Being Left Hanging

Flying to another country from the Philippines? Learn how to make your way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by clicking on the following link:

Making Your Way through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EK Encarnacion dreams of living in a temperate region so that he can wear layers. He loves prep style but is contented with presentable semi-formal and casual attires. To learn more of his other tastes, visit his other blogs: Every-Comedy-Thing (life blog), Culinary Coliseum (food blog) and By God’s Grace (gratitude blog). His works are also indexed at the Filipino Diaspora, an online site filled with Pinoy bloggers.