Xin Chao! Welcome back to Hey! Asean.

I was invited by my Vietnamese friend to stay in the brand-new stylish hotel in the centre of Saigon. Let's follow me in this episode and hope that those who miss Hey! Asean will be happy like I am.

DAY 1

We flew with Vietjet from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Vietjet has great connection flights to several destinations in Thailand and, of course, Vietnam. From Bangkok to Vietnam, we had a smooth flight with flight attendants dressed in uniquely designed outfits and the service above the sky was fantastic. In just 1 hour and a half, we arrived at the largest city of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City as known as Saigon.

We were picked up by a nice limousine from the airport and it took only 30 mins to our hotel, Fusion Original Saigon Centre.

This hotel is a part of Saigon Centre which is a mix-used building. Yes, it is the same building where Takashimaya is located. Once we walked through the entrance corridor, we felt that something special was waiting for us inside. Yes, the overall architecture design is unique. The lobby is lit up with warm-toned lights. I love the interior so much.

My room is on the 21 st floor and we would be able to see Saigon river from here! That's awesome. The room is equipped with all the items you need - electrical appliances, wifi with no password needed. I personally love the Marshall speaker as it can be connected to my iPhone bluetooth. Of course, I play my own songs! Plus, I love wooden furniture with bronze beautifully decorated in my room.

On the 24th floor is Miss Thu, a fine-dining restaurant in Vietnamese theme. I love how they came up with the story of Miss Thu and her travels to many places around the world. The recipe was created by her travels too.

DAY 2

Today, we will talk to many places in Saigon from the hotel. Let's follow us.

1. Ben Thanh Market
This market of more than a century old is where local products around Vietnam are sold - from local clothes to food. Many selections of coffee beans can be found here. Please note that Vietnam is the 2nd largest Coffee Exporter in the world.

2. Saigon City Hall
French Colonial Style architecture. I love how Saigon has preserved many historical buildings and also renovated these buildings. I've been to this place before I joined the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth program and coming back here reminded me of that amazing journey.

3. Ho Chi Minh Statue
It is great to pay respect to Uncle Ho. He is truly a national hero. I was fortunate to have visited his house in Nakhon Phanom many years ago and had a chance to talk to his nephews and nieces.

4. Saigon Opera House
This reminded me of "The Phantom of the Opera" - yes it is Parisien style architecture and it is a landmark of Saigon.

5. Bitexco Financial Tower
This skyscraper seen from my hotel room is Vietnam's 2nd tallest building. It is on the way to the riverfront.

6. Riverfront Area is where you can experience the liveliness of local community. I saw Uncle Ho's house by the river too. Ah, let's snap some great shots of ASEAN flags!

7. We stopped at The Running Bean, a local modern restaurant, for lunch and coffee. I've tried local Vietnamese dishes (a little fusion) with local coffee with a mixture of milk of different styles.

8. Your Saigon trip could not be complete without a visit to the Independence Palace. I came here before, so today I was not going to go inside. I memorized the Helicopter scene from Miss Saigon and that was the historic day or the Independence Day of Vietnam - 30 April 1975.

9. Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon
We passed through several green spaces and this is one thing I love about Saigon. Local people help preserve trees. This time, Notre Dame Cathedral was under reconstruction. I was here before, so let's hope to come back here again.

10. Saigon Central Post Office
Just across the street from the Cathedral, Central Post Office is always a must-visit of Saigon. Postal services are available inside as well as some local souvenirs for sale.

11. Vincom Center
This is a huge shopping mall, surrounded by big name shops. It is a short walk from our hotel.

DAY3

We spend our time shopping at Takashimaya which is in the same building as Fusion Original Saigon Centre. I especially love B2 floor where there are food products from local sources and from Japan. In Takashimaya, there are many famous brand shops as well as restaurants and cafes offering both local and international cuisine. Your stomach will be fully fed staying in this building.

Now, it's time to day Goodbye to Saigon. This is a quick but happy trip. Hope to visit Saigon and other parts of Vietnam again for more travel content. Stay tuned and please subscribe!

Book for Fusion Original Saigon Centre: https://saigoncentre.fusionoriginals.com

Book for Vietjet: https://th.vietjetair.com

#Saigon #HoChiMinhCity #Vietnam