FuFu World Tour - Sai Gon, Viet Nam
25th May - 11th June 2007 - Part Four


Standing in front the entrance of Quan An Ngon.

Yeah finally my Xangan sister, Lucy came back from Hong Kong. She gave me a buzz and we met up for a gorgeous breakfast at Quan An Ngon. According to her the restaurant is a very well known local restaurant. The concept of the restaurant is to resemble the best of street food in a setting more conducive to enjoying authentic breakfasts, lunches and sultry evening meals.



Guest dine in the lush courtyard among potted trees under a large canvas marquis or you can sit in one of the large dining rooms. The atmosphere is nice, quite with wicker furniture, exposed brick walls and overhead fans turning slowly. Talking of the restaurant, my mouth is watering now. I am not exaggerating. Check out the pictures below.


Spring rolls and salad.


Fresh scallops with special sauce.


Boiled clams with Vietnamese chili sauce.


Hue curry noodles.


Vietnamese sticky rice with fried onion and pickled vegetable.


Rice paper with mint leaves.


Meat with bamboo stick and rice roll.


Black snails.


The restaurant`s special drinks.

We required some exercises to digest what we had in the morning. So we explored the city centre as normal tourists, taking pictures and buying souvenirs.


I had forgotten name of the building.


Perhaps office tower i guess.


The General Post Office.


Inside the post office.






The Notre Dame Cathedral.







Cho Ben Thanh (Binh Tay Market).

Next we headed to Binh Tay market, a big market place in the downtown area of Saigon in District 1. The market is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon and today is considered one of the city`s symbols, popular with tourist seeking local handicrafts, textiles, Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese costumes worn by women), souvenirs as well as local cuisine and specialty. This place has all, you can buy everything from Saigon tee shirts to cosmetics, diapers, pickled plums to live ducks. Anyway, get ready to haggle.


Binh Tay Market.


FuFu and Lucy.

Met up Lucy`s cousin. We had cup of blended tropical fruits juice each at the place i went with Andy, Sao Cafe. Had a great time there hanging out with Lucy and her cousin.


Hi-tea at Sao Cafe.


We started to take pictures.


Suddenly i got a call from my online buddy.


Lucy`s cousin took this.

The sun had finally set and it was time to fill up the stomach. Met up Lucy`s friends and we took taxi to Nam Bo and joined her cousin and aunt for a great authentic Vietnamese food. Seriously, the dinner was a feast to us. Shit, my mouth is watering again.



Dinner with Lucy, her friends and relatives at Nam Bo Restaurant.


Vietnamese salad.


Rice papers (wrapped with vegetable, mee hoon, fish and meat).


Fresh vegetable (for the rice paper).


Mee Hoon (for the rice paper).


Fried fish with the nuts for the filling.


Roasted chicken.


Winter melon steamed with fish.


Vietnamese fried rice.


Roasted baby pig.


Tiger beer.

Phew, after tooth picking and small rest, we went to a club. No camera allowed. Luckily i still managed to take one. I cant understand why they dont allow the people taking pictures inside there.


The night club we went to.


Secretly and quickly snap one.

I walked back to my hotel at around 1am since it is near from Lucy`s hotel. Saigon is a never sleep city too. I saw many couples riding motorcycles on the road. Wait, i was wrong. They were not couples! When i was about to cross the main road, a guy talked to me in Vietnamese. I said `No, no, no`. The girl sitting behind him got off and hugged me. Oh my goodness. I was very scared as i dint know what they would do on me. I took her hands off and the nightmares started. Other girls started to run towards me.


Saigon is a never sleep city. [1.05am]

One, two, three, four girls pulling my hands and said their motorcycle driver would bring me to the hotel. I refused. But anyhow they followed me and kept yelling cheap, happy and funny. After few minutes of struggling, i shouted out loudly. Then only they let me go. Oh my Jesus. They were so good in figure but their appearances were too lame. Anyway please never ever walk alone in Saigon after midnight. My friend told me next time when i encounter this again, 'tell the girls that you are gay'. Good idea.


Rush hour in the morning at the residential area.

That was the last night hanging out with Lucy in Vietnam. She headed back to the states on the following day and i happily welcoming my online buddy, Annabel from New York City, flying from Hongkong. While waiting Annabel to arrive Saigon in the evening, i casually explored the city and snapped some nice street photos. Okay, i am going to skip or minimize the talking and let the pictures paint a million of word.


Anyone wanna buy dragon fruits?


Pick the juicy mangoesteens and sweet rambutans back home.


Counting how much she had earned in the morning.


Saigon Fast and Furious? See the lady sitting there selling balloon.


Street tailor - get your pants altered at any time.


Very surprisingly to see such Benz in Vietnam.


It`s easy to get newspaper or magazine beside the street/road.


Wanna have your hair cut at the corner of a sidewalk?


Two guys were enjoying their meal at a dirty sidewalk full with rubbish.


Street Cafe - have a rest if you are tired driving motorcycle.


'Hey young man, wanna have a trishaw ride around the city?'


Rush hour in the evening.


It`s time to go back home, cook for the family.


Please come early tomorrow.


Life is hard. The kids are hoping for a better life.

Of course, i will never miss out seeing cool buildings and architecture of the city.


The apartment.


The three star hotel.


The shopping mall.


The branch of Maybank in Saigon.


Every city has its own hero.


The Central Plaza.


The condominium.


The Prudential building.


The broadcasting building.


The Saigon Center.

Okay after this, i met up my friend, Annabel. I threw her a small welcoming to Saigon party at Quan An Ngon. I will update part five once i am back from HK and China. My friends, stay tuned ya.


Day Five.


Day Six.


Day Seven.

p/s : I am back from HK yesterday. Gonna rest a while. Brb.

Vietnam Part One
Vietnam Part Two
Vietnam Part Tree