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 headed out to the alfresco seating after we placed our order, wanting to soak in the last few moments in the city.

There were two sets available and I opt for Scrambled Egg with Butter Toast and Homemade Yoghurt. I took a strawberry milk from the fridge. The scrambled egg was skillfully prepared, boasted a creamy texture and lightly seasoned with spice. The yoghurt watery and smooth.

After the breakfast, we headed back to our room to prepare ourselves out for last shopping at 9am.

We went back to Ben Thanh Market as I still need to buy some souvenirs back for my friends and colleagues. The market was full of shops from food stall to clothing, bags and tourist souvenirs, I got 3 packets of pouches at 300,000VND (or S$17.14) and a bracelet for my mother at 100,000VND (or S$5.71).

As it was only 9.50am by the time we left Ben Thanh Market, Linda wanted to go back to the Watson store at Bitexco Financial Tower to see if they have replenished the stock for hair serum which turned out to be fruitless. We embarked on a 20 minutes walk to the destination.

I stopped by at this bakery shop to get a bread for my lunch as Linda wanted to have cup noodle in our hotel room for lunch. I preferred to try their local food rather than opt for the familiar convenience of cup noodles. It will be her third cup noodles during this trip while I only had once.

We returned back to hotel at 10.30am. I had a short rest before packing up my bag to leave Ho Chi Minh City. While I love travelling, I already missed home especially my comfortable bed. I need a good sleep for speedy recovery, not a good feeling to feel sick during travel.

I got a coconut slice bread at 15,000VND (or S$0.86), the coconut flakes within the bread gave a delicate sweetness to the overall flavour.

My baggage was a backpack and hand carry cooler bag for a 4d3n trip. Four days are sufficient to experience the city without straining the budget, given most of the things are quite affordable here except for tourist trap. Despite visible poverty, Ho Chi Minh City is still a safe city to visit.

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.

Once we placed the food order at the counter, we were led to our table on level 2 with tatami style seating. We were required to take off our shoes before we sat down. The space was wide, allowing us to place our shopping bags at the side and a floor-to-ceiling window directly next to us.

The floor-to-ceiling window showed the view of the opposite row of shops. The rain made us slow down our pace and enjoyed the sound of the raindrops pattered against the window in a serene ambience.

Here's what we had for our tea break: 2 Pomegranate Mango Tea, Cream Corn Cake and Rainbow Crepe at 188,000VND (or S$10.74). We initially only intend to order one cake for sharing since it was close to dinner time, however, for spending above 180,000VND will entitle a free tumblr. We added one more cake to hit the qualifying amount as Linda wanted the tumbler.

The cake was priced at 39,000VND (or S$2.23) each. While the rainbow crepe was hard in texture and fell short of expectation, its contrast in colours made it nice for photo. On the other hand, the cream corn cake was delectable with velvet cream and sponge layers that alternated, keeping the cake moist.

The Pomegranate Mango Tea was a refreshing choice with a hint of pomegranate fragrance. The addition of mango cubes provided a burst of flavour and fun to bite.

We spent 45 minutes in the cafe enjoying the company and slowly savouring on the delicious treat.

Café Amazon

30 Đ. Phan Bội Châu, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Operating hours: 7am to 10pm daily

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 returned back to our room to rest, we took the time to pack our baggage and get ready to check out, preparing for the next leg of our journey at a different hotel.

 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.

Though the official check in time was 2pm, we were lucky to have our room ready for us when we arrived early for check in.

Here's our Cozy Double Nest room (20sqm) which we paid S$79.88 for a night stay. The room gave a unique vibe, with handcrafted furnishing, artistic decorations, wooden furniture completed with a hammock. It allowed us to immerse in the firsthand experience of fine arts in Vietnam. No wonder it is named The Hammock Hotel Fine Arts Museum. 

The view from our room at level 7, being on a higher floor gave us a better view of the city where we glanced out the window. 

Our room has two windows, each offers different perspective. Here's the view from the second window, I spotted more office buildings from this side and caught a glimpse of Bitexco Financial Tower at the corner.

The bathroom layout featured a separator that separate the bathing area from the toilet bowl, while the basin is positioned outside the bathroom.

The design of the room was creative, revealing hint of arts at every corner. Despite its modest size, the space was just right for us, offering essential amenities and ample space for us to walk comfortably.

There were cup noodle provided in our room which I foresee we might be eating. It was so unique to have a drawing board in our room which added an extra layer of charm, inviting us to showcase our creativity and leave our mark through the artwork.

After 15 minutes of settling down in our room, we headed up to the snack bar at level 9 which offers free flow of snack and drinks for us to grab a bite at any time. This was one of the reasons why Linda picked this hotel, the other reason was the complimentary breakfast. These gestures added extra delight to our stay.

The snacks consisted of a variety of tidbits and cup noodles. Linda wasted no time in opening up one cup noodle, so I guessed this will be where we going to have our lunch at.

Guests can choose to sit comfortably in indoor where one can enjoy the aircon or lounge at outdoor to smoke. The outdoor ambience offered a serene escape to relax and enjoy the amazing view around our accommodation.

The view outside was pretty much similar to our room as it was facing the same direction, except that it was two level higher. So I only shared this photo which captured the place we will be heading next, Fine Arts Museum, conveniently nestled just a street away from our hotel. 

I headed back indoor for the food, I had a packet of chocolate milk, a steaming cup of chicken flavour  noodle and also grab a bag of tidbit. It was a simple and comforting lunch.

We went up to the rooftop at level 10, which was another chilling spot of the hotel with spectacular panorama of the surroundings. I preferred this hotel more than the previous one because of their attentive facilities and sweet gesture that they offer. Being in district 1, we were also nearer to many of the popular sites.

The popular mode of transportation in Vietname, motorcycle, was displayed on the roofttop. I loved the artful touches scattered throughout the hotel, each installation adding a touch of cultural vibrancy to our stay.

We headed back to our room and get ourselves prepared to head out for adventure.