Time to Share Some Secrets

Time seems to be running away faster than a freight train for me at the moment and I know before I realise it, June will be upon me.  With that in mind I think the time has come to share some of my "secrets" with you all.  OK, they are not really secrets as such, just the result of 3 years of living and bargaining here.  I definitely have firm favourites when it comes to where I choose to buy things.  Some of it is loyalty but mostly it's just that these people have shown good service, with good products at a good price over the years.  I am sure for anyone reading that lives here, you too have your own favourites.  Over the next few months I will be sharing a few of mine.  Anyone visiting may also hopefully find the info helpful as seriously, in  this town, sometimes its hard to know where to start.  I know...lets start with jewellery!

Teresa at 147 Dong Khoi has been consistently great.  One of the main complaints from people who have been taken for a ride when it comes to jewellery is that that have been told something that is just not true.  Yes, it's an emerald, yes it's 18 karat gold etc.  You get the idea.  I have found Teresa to be consistently honest as the day is long.

It's only a small shop and her range is not large but she will happily copy whatever design that you bring in.  She also has a heap of Tiffany brochures etc for you to browse through.  She has a beautiful selection of semi precious stones which she can set in yellow or white gold.  She also has pearls that, whilst not my thing, are stunning.

I had her make up these basic large silver hoops that set me back a mere $25USD. Over the years she has done a lot of stuff for myself and my family as well as many friends.  Everyone has been very happy so with that in mind I can without hesitation recommend her services.

Bazaar Coffee Lounge - Hookah's in Saigon

I LOVE ducking down the many small hems that line the bigger roads of Saigon.  You just never know what you are going to find.  I feel like a little kid exploring the local neighbourhood.  Today as I was walking down Dong Du St in D1 I spied a hem I had not been down yet.  So off I went....

I was in hot pursuit of this little old lady, who may have looked old but moved like a ninja!

Came to what looked like a dead end then noticed the sign at the top.

One set of doors

 and one set of curtains later I found the funkiest little Shisha Bar! (Those of you who thought this post was about ladies of the night...shame on you!)

Along with this stunning range of Shisha pipes there were coffee shop styled items to eat on the menu.

Can't wait to come back and try it one night.  Not sure how smoky it would get in there though.  There did not appear to be any windows.  They tell me they are open until 0200.  

Then it was back out into the hustle and bustle of Dong Du.

Bazaar Coffee and Lounge
23B Dong Du St
Ben Nghe Ward
District 1   HCMC
08 3822 0034

Souvenirs from Saigon

As I have mentioned previously, the time has come for me to start to pick up all of those things that I have always said I would get "before we leave".  After three years the list is bigger than I anticipated!  I have posted some photos of some water puppets that I bought that shall take pride of place back in Melbourne.  So what else, when I look at it, will immediately transport me to the streets of Vietnam?

As strange as a souvenir as this may seem, for me, it will always and forever remind me of Vietnam.  These scales are EVERYWHERE!  And I mean EVERYWHERE! Every time you make a purchase from anything other than a shop, out they come.  They come in various sizes and they are in amazing states of disrepair around town.  I swear some of them look like they have been around forever.  I have no real intention of using them as scales back home, more like a fruit bowl in the kitchen.  These cost me 200,000VND (about $10) and I love them.  Keep your conical hat....for me, THIS is Vietnam!

Topshop in Vietnam

Yet another new international chain opening in Saigon.  Topshop has arrived.  Well, nearly.  According to this sign in the Bitexco Tower it is on the way.  I don't know too much about Topshop other than that I believe it is a British chain and Kate Middleton once bought something there!  Lets just hope that they have a little more sense a la Debenhams and they stock "real" sizes and not Oompa Loompa sizes a la every other international clothing store in town.

Cho Vuon Chuoi - The Best Market in Saigon!

Well, I happen to think it is anyway.  I guess it depends on what you like.  If you want to feel like you have stepped out of a time machine then this is the place for you!  Located in District 3 it does not look like too much from the outside but step inside and also wander around the surrounding streets and I promise you will get a taste of the elusive "real" Saigon that everyone is searching for.  The locals are incredibly friendly, particularly when practising my atrocious Vietnamese. (Once they stop laughing).  You could easily spend a few hours just wandering and people watching.  Unless you are doing your weekly food shop there is not too much to buy.  No tacky souvenirs and not a lacquer bowl in sight.  Just good old fashioned "stuff" and some of the most bizarre food I've come across.  It's busy, it's bustling, it's smelly and I LOVE it!  Enjoy!

On My Walk Today I Saw....

The barber

The extremely suspicious parking lot.  I'd be checking the K's on the clock after parking here!

The Mango Lady

...and Tran Hung Dao.

It is currently raining cats and dogs.  Presumably someone forgot to tell the weather Gods IT'S JANUARY! Thank goodness I got my walk in early!

The Toilet, The Dunny, The Can, The Crapper or the ..........

Defecation room....no hiding what you are doing in there!  If you don't like who you are sitting next to, perhaps next time try the ........

...where presumably you can have a choice by the hour.  Oh Vietnam, how I love you so.  Thanks to Another Side of Vietnam for these gems.  Too funny not to share!

On My Walk Today I Saw....

As they say, one mans trash is another mans treasure.  I'm sure that anyone that stumbles upon this blog gets something different out of it from the next person.  I have not idea what someone may like or dislike so I just put all sorts of stuff on.  Some may find it interesting and some may not.  I have decided to get my phone (very carefully!) out a bit more on my walks around town and take some snaps of stuff.  Just stuff.  I don't purport to be a photographer or an expert on Saigon.  I just some chick that the locals stare at wondering what the hell I am doing in their part of town and if I am lost.  So, on my walk today I saw.....

Christmas Spelling Fail

Hope you all had a Merry "Chritsmas" and a Happy New Year.  Looking forward to an exciting six months, my last living here in Saigon.

PS.  They have fixed it now which is kind of a shame.  I kinda liked it.