Places to Dine Near Holland Village

 Another area with rows and streets filled with restaurants and cafes is Holland Village, I knew of this place when I was in poly as it was nearer to my school. It has been such a long time since I last ventured here, hence I decided to revisit the area. I have compiled a list of dining places that I have tried near Holland Village for your reference.

1. Tai Cheong Bakery Cafe

Visit Tai Cheong Bakery at Holland Village for their only Cha Chaan Teng (Cafe) outlet. They offer dishes have been inspired by old Hong Kong classics and a fresh, modern twist. It was full house when we arrived, so we were settled at the outside.

Started off with their Coconut Tart ($2.80) and Pandan Tart. Their tart was one of the most delicious tarts in my opinion as I love their firm buttery crust. I had the coconut tart which gave a strong coconut taste in it.

The Hong Kong Ice Milk Tea was the best drink to have on a hot afternoon. It was flavourful with sweet flavour incorporated and no hint of dilution.

I had Scrambled Egg with Toast and Chicken Chop ($11.90) which comes with mushroom sauce as base, followed by crispy chicken cutlet topped with a slice of light crisp toast and finished off with a creamy scrambled egg on the top.

31 Lor Liput, Singapore 277742

Operating hours: 10am to 8pm daily

Aura Blender Review: Aura Portable Blender and Aura Insulated Sleeve

 We all know that having a blender at home is a great help, simplifying the process of preparing delicious smoothies, juices, sauces, and more. But having a portable blender offers an added dimension of convenience, allowing us to blend our favourite ingredients on the go, whether at the office, the gym, or while traveling. It is definitely a preferred option in our fast-paced lifestyles, ensuring a nutritious boost whenever we need it.

I recently had the opportunity to review the Aura Portable Blender, paired with the Aura Insulated Sleeve.

Aura Portable Blender

Regular price: $150.00 

The Aura Portable Blender boasts a sleek and compact design with AuraXtreme Borosilicate glass, the travel-sized wonder packs a punch for power, style, and convenience all in one.

The power button has a built-in light indicator that displays the current battery level. Press the power button to check the battery level. When the Aura Blender is running low on battery during use, the red light indicator will start blinking, serving us a reminder that it's time to recharge.

Red Light: 0-20%
Blue Light: 21-80% 

White Light: 80-100%

Cleaning the Aura Blender is an easy chore, simply add water and a drop of dish soap, then click on start button to blend and clean the blender.

I was amazed by the magic of a simple blend comprising only water and a single drop of dishwashing soap. The mixture transformed into a milky solution, and within seconds, my blender was completely  clean.

 I rinsed the blender with plain water to kickstart my blended creation.

I am going to try making dragon fruit drink where I will be blending together some fresh dragon fruit cubes with water for the antioxidant intake. I'm quite lazy in consuming the fruits so blending it into a drink in a perfect solution for me.

The cutting-edge blending technology allows the dragon fruit slices to be blend into smooth and velvety texture. The Aura Nutri Extractor blades extract & preserve up to 99% of vitamins and minerals, ensuring each sip of our blends are packed nutritional goodness.

The blender is equipped with AuraVortex blend technology, capable of pulverizing ingredients at an astonished rate of 25,000 RPM, equivalent to a dizzying 417 times per second! It can even crush ice in under 10 seconds.

I loaded the blender with dried shrimps, all set to create a batch of Hae Bee Hiam. This was the end result of the blended dried shrimps, which shows in a finely shredded form. The powerful blending capabilities surprised me, effortlessly breakdown the solid ingredients into smooth texture. 

I also had mango juices where I blend mango slices with milk to create a refreshing treat.

The Aura Blender has a built-in safety feature which ensure the blades do not function unless the jar is firmly secured to the motor base. This feature not only prevents accidental mishaps but also provides a sense of security during use.

Aura portable blender also features a convenient bottle cap, which offers the flexibility of transforming the blender into a portable bottle by swapping the base for the cap. This allows us to take our blended creations with us on the go without the need to transfer them to a separate bottle. 

Aura Insulated Sleeve

Regular price: $30.00

The addition of the Aura Insulated Sleeve was a thoughtful touch, ensuring that my freshly blended beverages stayed at the perfect temperature on the go. It can fit any standard 500ml bottles.

Crafted in premium neoprene, the Aura Insulated Sleeve provides waterproof and padded protection for the Aura Portable Blender. With the AuraGrid insulating technology, it works like a personal climate control system within the sleeve, ensuring our drinks maintain their intended temperature, whether refreshing cold or soothingly warm.

Check out Aura Blender Website to find out more about Aura Portable Blender and Aura Insulated Sleeve. Delivery is free for those residing in Singapore. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity if you have intention of getting a blender.

This post is a collaboration with Aura Blender and expressed in my own opinion.

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Day 4: Checking Out Of The Hammock Hotel + Airport

It was yet another sleepless night. Despite the weariness, I still can't sleep. Not sure if it was due to change in hotel, the sound of the window blinds tapping against the wall, or other factors. It resulted in me waking up early.

It was 8am and after refreshing ourselves, we made our way to the level 9 to indulge in our complimentary breakfast. We were still in our sleepwear.

We took a Grab ride back to Tan Son Nhat International Airport which cost 195,000VND (or S$11.14) for 35 minutes drive. The security guard stationed at the roadside outside our hotel added a warm touch to our stay. He will wave at us when we came back and helped us open the door when we boarded the car.

On our way to the airport, I noticed that as we moved further down, the area seemed to be more well developed than District 1. The presence of more office buildings, lesser roadside stalls and more upscale housing gave a contrast to the scene in District 1.

We reached Tan Son Nhat International Airport at about 12.30pm for our flight at 2.55pm. After checking in, we walked around the airport browsing through last minute buy. I bought two small pack of snacks for my grandmother at 148,000VND (or S$8.46). The things at airport were very expensive.

I got a bottle of mineral water from one of the shops at the waiting area at 40,000VND (or S$2.29).

Our plane got delayed by 50 minutes, so we decided to open up our snack to munch on. I had Nabati Raspberry Waffle that I gotten from 7-Eleven the other day at only 9,000VND (or S$0.51).

Excitement coursed through me when the airplane ascended at about 3.45pm, revealing the cityscape through the window seat. The pilot informed us that the flying time back would take about 1 hour 40 minutes. Goodbye, Ho Chi Minh City.

When there was no entertainment on plane, the thing I like to do was gazing out of the airplane window, looking at the passing clouds gliding below us. Flying in late afternoon also means there were ample amount of sunlight filtering in.

The familiar view of Singapore came into sight, we touched down at 6.25pm local time, one hour ahead of Vietnam.

Travel memories are more memorable than other memories. When I did not travel for a long time, I lost the desire to travel. However, once the momentum started, my travel buds are being reignited. You will see me starting to travel more for now onwards.

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Day 3: Café Amazon + Nam Giao Restaurant

 After a short rest in our hotel, we set off to Ben Thanh Market which was about 10 minutes walk away from our hotel. We had to use our umbrella as it was still drizzling. 

I bought myself a t-shirt and a couple more t-shirts for my family at 850,000VND (or S$48.57). While the items were not exactly cheap or legit, I wanted to get something back as souvenir. With age, my taste has changed, I felt myself less fancy towards items from the market.

The rain became heavy by the time we finished shopping, we hurried our way to search for the pastry shop that we used to get our traditional snacks from during our last trip which was 5 minutes walk away from the market. 

We were so happy that the shop was still around and I gotten 256,000VND (or S$14.63) worth of cookies, crackers and sweets from here to distribute back.

The best part of shopping overseas lies in the satisfaction we got from buying something cheap and burning off calories through the constant walking.

Bảo Hiên Rồng Vàng 

167, Ly Tu Trong, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh Operating hours: 7am to 12pm daily, 1.30pm to 8pm from Mon to Sat and 1.30pm to 5pm on Sun

It was already 4.15pm by the time we finished shopping, we decided to find a cafe to seek shelter from the persistent rain. Wet weather made us want to get indoor, so spending time sipping a drink and enjoying some dessert seemed to be a good idea. We chanced upon Café Amazon which was 8 minutes walk from the pastry shop.

It was only 5.15pm and we set off for an early dinner. Linda craved for the lotus fried rice from the restaurant we had from our previous trip, so we made a revisit back. After 10 minutes of walking, we found Nam Giao Restaurant tucked in a back alley, you will be surprised to see a stretch of restaurants lining up.

The restaurant remained unchanged from our visit 5 years ago, the familiar charm from the minimal interior, decked with wooden furnishing and tall ceiling.

We ordered Banh Beo at 52,000VND (or S$2.97) for sharing. It was a traditional Vietnamese appetizer, steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimps, crispy pork skin, scallion oil, and came with dipping sauce. The harmonious blend of textures and tastes made this a delight flavour.

We overestimated our appetites by each ordering a serving of lotus fried rice (no photo since the fried rice was a repeated dish). Both of us found ourselves unable to finish half of the portion. We should have ordered one plate to share, we were not hungry since we came straight from Cafe Amazon. The total bill was 202,000VND (or S$11.54).

Nam Giao Restaurant

136/15 Đ. Lê Thánh Tôn, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Operating hours:8am to 9pm daily

The sky was slowly turned dark when it was just 6.10pm. The journey back from Ben Thanh Market to our hotel posed a challenge when we were at the complex crossroads with multiple roads involved. We went back to hotel early as I was deprived of rest and needed some Panadol to relieve my cough and slight fever.

Returning to the hotel after a day filled with sightseeing and shopping felt so welcoming. 

 While we were in the room, we took a moment to look at the canvas art on the wall, we cleared almost all the attractions in the bubble speech except for Cu Chi Tunnel and Mekong River which was both two hours away from the city. A return to Ho Chi Minh City might not be on my travel list for the next few years.

Day 3 had came to an end and I am ready to go back home tomorrow.

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

 Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts is just 2 minutes walk away from our hotel, making it our first stop after we left our hotel since it is just a stone throw away. Many attractions in District 1 are conveniently situated within walking distance of each other, making the district easy to explore by foot.

We reached the museum at about 1.25pm and I was instantly captivated by the charm of the colonial building. The architecture has a harmonious blend of Asian and European styles, with vintage structure, transporting me to an era of cultural influences.

The museum covers three buildings, each with three-floors, which house a collection showcasing an array of Vietnamese art works in sculpture, oil, silk and lacquer painting. Through these artworks, we caught a glimpse into the rich history of Vietnam.

Gazing at the artwork is not just about seeing pretty pictures, each piece of art has a message behind it, unfold through the artists' expression in their creation.

Each room housed a collection of art as we moved through the museum, wandering through the visual tour. The masterpieces came in all form, ranging from portraits hanging on the wall to sculptures. 

The artwork was illuminated by the bright light used. The atmosphere was warm and humid due to the absence of aircon (only selection room has aircon), I started to feel my energy being drained as I  browsed through the room. I was feeling unwell during the trip, so it also contributed to the low energy level.

Breathing in the fresh air at the open area to ease away the lethargic and checking out the interconnect buildings.

I loved the stained glass window in colonial building, the patterns created a picturesque backdrop for photo taking.

It was raining by the time we finished exploring the museum in 45 minutes, we sat down at the bench while waiting for the rain to subside as we left our umbrella in hotel. After 15 minutes, the rain become smaller and we returned to hotel at 2.40pm for a rest in aircon room.

Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

97A P. Đức Chính, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam 

Operating hours: 8am to 5pm daily 

Entrance fee: 30,000VND (or S$1.71)

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Day 3: Café 30/4 + The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum

 I managed to catch at least three hours of sleep last night despite waking up twice to check the time, I really dragged sleepless night because the time was so hard to pass. 

By 8.10am, I was fully prepared to start the day, though the lingering traces of tiredness still visible on my face.

The reason for waking up early was to enjoy the breakfast set available from 7am to 9am at Café 30/4. We arrived at the cafe around 8.30am, it was just 5 minutes walk away from our serviced apartment, besides Independence Palace. While we had visited this spot five years ago when it was under Highlands Coffee, it had now been taken off by Café 30/4.

It was a two storey cafe and we had the whole of level 2 all to ourselves. Stepping into this cafe brought a wave of nostalgia, reminding us of past memories. The wooden charm of the new interior design gave a different style to the familiar cafe.

After gotten our food, we moved in to get a seat besides the floor-to-ceiling glass window with ample of sunlight filtering in. The tranquil and relaxing ambience, coupled with greenery surrounding, make having breakfast here enjoyable, and with privacy too as we were the only customers on level 2.

Both of us got the combo set which consist of Ice Coffee and Pork Banh Mi Que. we added milk to the coffee for an additional of 10,000VND per pax, making the set cost 65,000VND (or S$3.71) per pax. While it may not be considered very cheap, the price remained reasonable for a café. The coffee was not bitter with substantial ratio of sweetness in it.

We sat here for about 1 hour 15 minutes to immerse ourself in the pleasure of coffee, bread, scenery and conversation. I really enjoyed moments like these, where we simply live in the present. 

I noticed a routine of the locals where they like to gather at the opposite park. Some sat along the pathway or on the grass, enjoying breakfast or engaging in conversations to kickstart their day.

Café 30/4

1 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Operating hours: 6am to 9pm daily

 We took a Grab ride back to our next hotel at The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum, which cost 32,000VND (or S$1.83) for 10 minutes drive. We waited 13 minutes for the Grab car as it missed our location and had to go one big round. One thing about Grab in Vietnam is that the driver don't anyhow cancel rides. Despite going one big round, the driver messaged me and asked me to wait for him.

Upon receiving a message that the driver had arrived, we were surprised to find no sign of his car. It turned out he was at the furthest lane and he rolled down the window, waving to get our attention. We have to dash across the moving traffic of motorcycles and cars with our baggage to the car. It was really dangerous.

We reached The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum (the slim black building) around 12.10pm. The 3-star hotel is situated in District 1 with walking distance to local attractions and sights, the 10 storey high hotel has 45 rooms.

The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum

59-61 Đ. Nguyễn Thái Bình, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

The hotel may looked ordinary from the outside, but once we stepped in, the lobby revealed an artistic charm that captivated me instantly.

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Day 2: City Hall + Victory Restaurant & Coffee

 After leaving the Saigon Skydeck, we leisurely stroll towards the direction of City Hall. Along the way, we chanced upon a cute souvenir haven called Moji Shop at 92 Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu.

We ventured inside to explore and they have products ranging from stationery and keychains to plushies, accessories, bags, socks, and more. I ended up purchasing seven items for myself and as souvenirs for others.

We sat in the cafe for nearly 40 minutes. The sudden rain prompted us to linger a bit longer while we waited for the rain to subside before leaving the cafe.

Coco Fresh Tea & Juice

122-124, Đ. Hồ Tùng Mậu, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam

Operating hours: 9am to 11pm daily

The Lotus Fountain, positioned in front of Ho Chi Minh statue and City Hall, showcased Vietnam's national flower - the lotus. This was why I had spotted a number of lotus during my two days in this city.

The founding father, Ho Chi Minh Statue is positioned in front of Saigon's People's Committee Building along Nguyen Hue walking street, symbolizing the citizens' gratitude towards their president, Ho Chi Minh.

Saigon City Hall is known as the People’s Committee Building since 1975. It is one of the most renowned structures in Ho Chi Minh City, with the presence of old colonial charm and a symbol of the city's rich history. The building is inaccessible to the public as it functions as a government building of Vietnam. 

Before we can cross the road for a closer look at the building, the drizzle turned heavier. With our umbrella left in the hotel, we were stuck at Rex Hotel. We decided to take a Grab ride back to our service apartment which cost 32,000VND (or S$1.83) for 11 minutes drive. Though our serviced apartment was a little out of the way, it was still convenient to travel around with Grab.

We rested for an hour in our room while waiting for the rain to stop. Once the rain subsided, we headed out at 5.30pm for an early dinner at Victory Restaurant & Coffee since we only had brunch earlier today. The restaurant was just two minutes walk from our apartment. 

We ordered a plate of fish, chicken and two portions of rice for dinner. Unfortunately, the chicken turned out to be a disappointment as practically every piece served was bones with little meat.

Lucky, the fish was delightful, with a savory taste by the aromatic broth that enhanced the overall flavor of the meat. The cost of dinner was 390,000VND (or S$22.29). The price was considered reasonable as the restaurant was below a hotel (Victory Hotel). 

Victory Restaurant & Coffee

14 Võ Văn Tần, Phường 6, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

We finished our dinner at 6.30pm, the sky was already dark when we came out. Since the time was still early, we located the nearest convenience for some shopping. We found a 7-Eleven which was about 8 minutes walk away from the restaurant.

When in overseas, convenience stores and supermarkets become my go-to spots, especially for collecting snacks to bring back home. After shopping for 20 minutes, I got 5 packet of snacks for a total of 60,000VND (or S$3.43).

We returned back to our serviced apartment at 7 plus since after our snack shopping. With limited activities we can do nearby, we opt for a leisure evening. We took turn to indulge in a long relaxing bath, a rare luxury in our busy lives. Thanks Linda for the bath bomb and facial mask. 

Some of the stuff I bought from Moji Shop and 7-Eleven today.

We continued with our variety shows on YouTube until we settled for the night. With that, our day 2 came to a close.