A GROUP of us had an opportunity to savour the sights, sounds and quirkiness of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, recently.
All seven of us were flown in as part of a tour organised by AirAsia Berhad.
The crew from TV3's Majalah 3, including host Nurul Syuhada Nurul Ain Mohd Zin was with us.
This was our first visit to Vietnam's largest city and boy, was it an adventure!
From the vivacious city dwellers, snarling traffic to the rustic French architecture, Ho Chi Minh City is a potpourri of many things rolled into one.
Nurul Syuhada, 23, and her two Majalah 3 crewmen were in the thick of it all. She sweated it out with the others while descending into the Chu Chi underground tunnels.
Located 70km north west of the city, the expansive tunnels were used as a hideout by the Vietcong, or Vietnamese communists during the Vietnam war.
Various parts of the 200km multi-levelled tunnels was also the soldiers living quarters.
It has bedrooms, meeting rooms and even a small hospital and smokeless kitchen, all of which has been replicated above ground for the benefit of tourists.
Visitors are given a tour of the tunnel which included demonstrations on using covered hideouts, a video presentation, booby trap display and savouring typical Vietcong food - tapioca with sugar.
Those who do not mind narrow and dark spaces could try stepping into parts of the tunnels which stretches 10 metres underneath the surface.
The Chu Chi tunnels are a testament of how ingenious the Vietnamese were in terms of gueirilla warfare.
The Vietnamese, particularly city dwellers in Ho Chi Minh City are friendly but have an "in your face" personality.
This zest for life is on full display at the Ben Thanh market and bazaar. The market's exterior looks almost like Kuala Lumpur's Central Market, but the inside is a dizzying maze of fabrics, food, souvenirs and knick knacks.
Bargain hunters will salivate at the variety of textiles, silk, T-shirts, accessories and quality imitation goods.
Bargaining is a must in the bazaar so be prepared to haggle.
The Ben Thanh market and bazaar.
We also visited the Reunification Palace which symbolises the end of the Vietnam War. On April 30, 1975, a north Vietnamese army tank crashed into the palace's main gate, signalling the end of the Vietnam war.
The five-storey palace's 1960s facade with its retro architecture is still intact.
The General Post Office is another must-visit because of its quaint ambience and French architecture. Entering the century-old building is like being in a different era.
Besides being a good place to shop for souvenirs, the post office has a large lobby area which is filled with antique wooden seats. You will feel like you are in a large, old train station.
Our tour guide, Nguyen Hoa Long, at one of the hideouts leading into the Chu Chi underground tunnel.
Hop on to the Saigon Restaurant Cruise Ship which takes diners for a cruise along the Saigon river at night. (Saigon is the old name of Ho Chi Minh City).
Other highlights include the Indian Mosque (Masjid India) in downtown Ho Chi Minh City and the Notre Dame cathedral.
Air Asia flies daily to Ho Chi Minh City from the Kuala Lumpur's Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). The air fare is about RM120 (one way) depending how early you book your tickets. The flight is about 1.5 hours.
Thai Air Asia also has four weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh City.
Catch Majalah 3's segment on Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday at 9pm.
