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Vietnam!!!!!
  • Shalee Gherbaz
feb. – mar. 2024

Vietnam!!!!!

Michael and I are off to Vietnam for 3, weeks!!!! Ho Chi Minh City - Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City Læs mere
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  • Start på rejsen
    24. februar 2024
    Shalee GherbazVietnam!!!!!Rejsende

    Away we go!

    25. februar 2024, Australien ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Got to Melb Airport and through check in and customs (took 110 minutes because we couldn't check in online ewwww haha). Now to grab a quick midnight snack (arancini, ciabatta sandwich and a white choc mousse fleur) and then onto the plane we go!Læs mere

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    Vietjet Red Eye: random thoughts

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    - I stand by my hard stance that children under 5 (ESPECIALLY babies) should be BANNED from red eye flights. The first hour of the flight had me wanting to chlorophyll this toddler who viscerally screamed for the first hour straight. No amount of loops noise cancelling earbuds could stop the displeasure. I glared at the child many times, and I felt every last egg in my ovaries die as my pure disdain for children was solidified. Luckily it shut up and went to sleep (so we all got to sleep as well).
    - the seats on VietJet are SNUG. It's like they were custom designed to just fit Michael and I's thick ass thighs in them like a pig in a blanket. You wouldn't want to be overweight on their flight because you ain't fitting. Still, the seats themselves are comfy as, and I was able to sleep quite comfortably (and Michaels snoring indicates he's out like a light too).
    - paying $15 extra to get the emergency exit seats was a godsend and I will do it again on any red eye. All the legroom and floor room to chill out in.
    - you can pay $900k (about $75AUD) to go lie down the back on a full row of seats. This was tempting to me to get away from the enraged baby but I thought I'd at least try sleeping sitting and I nodded off fine so there was no need.
    - the eye masks I bought from Kmart are fantastic. They are the "for fake eyelash girlies" type, which means they have indented eye sockets, so the properly fit and feel great. $4 well spent. Also, shoutout to my gymnastics friend Amelia for lending us these expensive fancy neck pillows from TRTL. I thought I'd hate it, but I have zero neck pain and it's way easier to nod off having your neck not have to push backwards.
    - overall, once the baby shut up, sleep was had, and the flight was cruisy. Pretty great considering I paid $240 each way per ticket.    Læs mere

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    LaCasona Hotel

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We've been able to check in early to our hotel at no extra cost (which means my day plans are void hahaha so we can play the day by ear) which is a pleasant surprise. The Hotel has all the basic amenities you need and a lot of power points. Wifi is good, the bed is not too firm (pillows are great so shouldn't have any issues sleeping), 2 air cons (one in the bedroom, one in living space) and lots of storage space. Also, a random surprise balcony that was not at all mentioned in the booking!Læs mere

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    Breakfast at Skymian

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Our first meal in Vietnam at Skymian Coffee House. Bustling atmosphere with lots of people (basically our gage on how we pick restaurants for this trip hahaha). Food was Yummo and hit the spot. Michael had bánh mì xíu mại (pork meatball deconstructed Bahn mi) and I had bún bò Huế (Royal beef and pork soup from Huế). My smoothie was the Sweet Love smoothie and Michael had the banana. $17AUD all up. Tasty tasty.Læs mere

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    The weirdest massage ever

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    I decided to have an aromatherapy massage at a spa down the road from our hotel whilst Michael slept off some jetlag. I went in thinking I was having an aromatherapy session, you know, where they rub soothing oils and gently massage away your troubles.

    It's a good thing I'm a gymnast and flexible. Because this was not Australian aromatherapy. This woman pretzeled me in ways I did not foresee. Forwards, backwards, she used feet, knees, elbows, her head, her entire body at points. It was like as if an osteo session and a wrestling match were combined. I was twisted and cracked all over from my fingers, my neck, back, to my knees and toes. At one point I was practically in a bridge with her under me stretching me open ( the gymnasts will understand what this would look like). Throw in the fact that I'm also almost entirely naked during this whole session. It was surreal.

    Also, there was the cutest tiniest dog. Super random. Alas, despite the pain and sheer surprise of the whole thing, much of it was incredibly relaxing, and I came out ready for a nice jet lagged nap for a few hours before we head out again for some Korean hot pot (we are staying in district 7 which is basically HCMs Koreatown so figured we should get some Korean food whilst here).    Læs mere

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    Late Lunch at The Train Restaurant!!!

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    This place is adorable (and tasty). The premise is that you order your food and drinks and they come to you by mini train. There are a heap of gorgeous wooden model landmarks from all over the world that the train goes past. It's very quaint, cute and homely. The food was yum. Best spring rolls I have had ever. Turns out the wife who makes them uses rice AND taro in a blend to create a super thin, melt in your mouth pastry. I've had nothing like it. Sublime. Dumplings were good, and Michael had a hot dog that was in a Bahn Mi roll, a German bratwurst, and Italian Bolognese and cheese (what a fusion). He said it was Yummo. Also, the smoothies slap here. My lime one tastes exactly like a Splice from home but fresh and in smoothie form (condensed milk is apparently the secret) and Michaels peach one was fresh as too!

    Had good chats with the owner and his wife and kids. Really love atmosphere and food, would def recommend!!!    Læs mere

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    Hidden Rooftop Bar

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    We noticed some fairy lights from our balcony and went to investigate... Turns out it's a rooftop bar with a beautiful view of the city line of District 7! We had the place to ourselves and it was so cute. Had a celebratory drink (mine non alcoholic of course) to commemorate our successful arrival and acclimation into Vietnam!Læs mere

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    Korean BBQ

    25. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Having a late dinner at a local Korean BBQ place Michael spotted earlier in the day. We ordered some beef, pork and a bimbibap bowl. Little did we know.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣 The whole table was full of food. So many sides. Korean BBQ is on a whole other level!!!!! Many were weird and not to our taste but some were delish!!! The staff cooked the meat in front of us, and it was YUM.Læs mere

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    Reunification Palace

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Today we are on a private tour of a bunch of landmarks and places in HCM City. We have a lovely air-conditioned bus to take us around (it's 37 degrees here today) and our first stop was Reunification Palace (aka the President's House).

    We went through a bunch of rooms and our guide explained all the design choices and symbolism and history of each room. We learnt some very interesting things about Vietnam's history and the various wars. My favourite room was the Ambassador's room, which was a beautiful combination of wood and gold design. It was amazing to see how every room had different context and colour, but still aesthetically fit within the context of a presidential palace.

    Also, apparently Vietnamese thought that Australian soldiers were the best of anywhere in the world because they shoot the best. Oh, and the reason for the random animal tusks and tails is that they are all gifts from other countries to represent a famous Vietnamese saying that essentially means (we hope from top to tail that everything sails smoothly).    Læs mere

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    Burning Monk Monument

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Next stop on our cultural tour is in District 3 to see the monument for the Burning Monk. Basically, there was a time period where the current Vietnamese President was Catholic and wanted to wipe out the Buddhists, which at the time 80% of HCM was Buddhist. So, a Buddhist from Hue came down to HCM and set himself on fire in protest. He notified an American journalist before arriving, so the whole thing was captured on camera and became a defining rally against the president who ended up assassinated that same year. In 2010, the Vietnamese government created this monument to recognise this cultural part of history (despite Vietnam currently being a Communist country).Læs mere

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    Spy House!

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Next up we went to a spy house! During the wars between north Vietnam and south Vietnam, the north sent spies to buy houses in HCM and build bunkers to store weapons. We got to go down into the secret bunker and check it all out for ourselves!Læs mere

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    Oldest Apartment in HCM/Wet Market

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We've gone deep out of the tourist areas (only whities around) to explore the oldest apartment complex in HCM in district 3. It was originally created for American soldiers and weapons, but is now occupied by Vietnamese families (sometimes 6-7 people per apartment). We also got to go to a very local wet market and see all the fresh fruits, veges, meats and seafoods being sold. A very different market experience to Australia!Læs mere

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    Home Saigon for lunch

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Our guide dropped us off at Home Saigon for lunch, which was set up in advance. Our menu was:

    - cheese balls (Vietnamese arancini)
    - rice paper rolls
    - grilled chicken salad
    - deep fried tilapia fish with mango salad and sweet sauce
    - stir fried Bok Choy with garlic
    - beef with onion and bell peppers
    - steamed rice
    - vanilla ice cream

    All of the food was nice. The highlight of the show for Michael was the fish with the special sweet sauce. For me, it was the sauce from the beef which paired beautifully with the rice.

    Also, we had smoothies and juice (Michael banamango and me lemon) and I have to say, as a sober person, there is going to be no shortage of good drinks to have fun with. Vietnam so far is proving to be the king of non alcoholic beverages.

    Oh, and I'm proud that I finally got to ask someone where the toilet was in Vietnamese. Almost as equally proud as I am of my gymnastics thighs which utilised the squat toilet like a champ.    Læs mere

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    ChinaTown Temples

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    We visited 2 temples in Chinatown, which is in district 5. Learnt about the Chinese population and history with Vietnam, as well as the various Gods that are worshipped in the temples. The buildings have so much amazing detailing and woodwork.Læs mere

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    Cyclo!!!!!!

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Took Cyclos from ChinaTown to Binh Tay Markets (a wholesale market) and it was a lot of fun!!!! Really felt in the thick of it all, and there was so much to look at on the ride!

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    Binh Tay Wholesale Market

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Had a wonder around the Binh Tay Market, which is a wholesale market designed for merchants rather than tourists. There were so many different things being sold, from your standard bags, shoes and clothes through to dried fruits, confectionery, kitchen goods, hair accessories, technology, the whole works! It was really cool to wander around, and we ended up getting a new backpack. The backpacks we bought here are super big, so I wanted to get something that was smaller just to fit a few essentials in when we are gallivanting around. We found a gorgeous faux leather bag in my seasonal brown colouring, and nabbed it for $250k ($15 AUD). Bargain!Læs mere

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    Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    The last stop on our private tour today is the Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda. This is the biggest Pagoda in ChinaTown, and had the most beautiful roof!!!! Loved the amazing giant bell and drum as well, which are rung and belted at 5.30pm to tell people the pagoda is closing!

    We had a really great sightseeing day today with our guide Hang. She was very informative and had great English. The tour was a great mix of touristy stuff and off the beaten track, and I've really enjoyed the day!    Læs mere

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    Romance at Mars Venus

    26. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    A night of romantic fine dining out on Saigon River. The restaurant Mars Venus is a couple's specific restaurant that is on a floating island in the middle of the river. You get a cute boat out to the restaurant, and then the romance commences. Fairy lights galore!

    The atmosphere was gorgeous. They play pop music but done in the classical style, which Michael really enjoyed because we have taken up to watching Bridgerton in our downtime here and he is fully invested and that's a staple on the show. Which was funny because we weren't expecting it. They also played Tale As Old As Time, which was very romantic as that's the song I walked down the aisle to. A gorgeous coincidence. They also played some really random songs that sounded super romantic in this style- like Numb by Linkin Park. So random haha!

    The food itself was lovely. Incredible sodas full of flavour. We both had pasta entrees (Michael had lobster bisque gnocchi- absolutely divine bisque omg yummm, and I had creamy crab fettucini that was so tasty), Michael didn't realise his would include muscles so he ordered muscles on their own as an entree whoops haha. Still, very yummy. For mains, Michael had pork ribs with chips and salad, and I had hoisin duck with pureed sweet potato and veges. Delish delish delish.

    2 seafood pastas, 2 main meals, a muscle entree, and 4 drinks cost just under $80, which is crazy to us. Not the cheapest meal we could have in Vietnam, but for the experience of the boat ride out, the design, the service and the quality of the food, it was worth it.

    The staff also came out with a ring light and took photos of us. It was very cute and Michael was such a good sport given that posing is so not his thing. I got some very adorable photos as a result that I get to treasure 💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞    Læs mere

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    Cơm tấn for Brekky!

    27. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Cơm tấn (aka broken rice) is a staple food in HCM. It's basically rice with charcoaled pork and marinated egg. A very very simple dish, but supposedly a tasty one, and given I'm on holiday with a carnivore I thought this was an ideal situation.

    Have a guess to see whether we liked the dish or not based on our plates.... Hahahahahahahahhaa

    This whole meal for 2 drinks and 2 plates was $8 AUD. Perfect start to the day! Restaurant was Tiền Còn 67.    Læs mere

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    The Vietnam War Remnant Museum

    27. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    This is a tough blog post to write. I felt that given the history of Vietnam and the war that Australia participated in, that it was important that Michael and I see the Vietnam War from the perspective of the Vietnamese people.

    I didn't take many photos as much of it was very difficult to observe and learn. Photography is such an important element of life and history to capture these moments and people in order to remember and learn from the atrocities, hope, resistance, and truths of the past.

    They have documented in graphic detail the tortures, prisons, weapons and assaults by the US (and Australians) on the Vietnamese people. The Agent Orange room was the hardest for me to swallow.

    There were children born at the same time I was born, completely deformed and impacted by this chemical, and the consequences of the Agent Orange operation will impact 5 generations of people (3 more generations to come) for 150 years minimum.

     I'm so disgusted by this war crime. I'm even more disgusted that the US (and in Australia) continued for decades to use weakened versions of this chemical or our soils and crops in the form of pesticide and herbicide as Roundup, still spraying this poisonous garbage on everyone's crops, learning nothing from the intense suffering of the Vietnamese. Anyone who knows me well knows of my hatred of Monsanto, and seeing direct consequences in the most brutal of ways from their products just boils my blood.

    We came out of this experience with a deeper understanding of this period of time, the resilience of the Vietnamese people and all the war and suffering they have gone through attempted occupations and civil wars, and are very grateful for the lives we have led so far in Australia.    Læs mere

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    Boost!

    27. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    We ventured into a shopping mall for some air conditioning (another 36 degree day today) and came across a Boost juice!!!!! It even had an Australian sign on it, so we had to get one. Also, boosts here are like $4 instead of $10 LOL. Grabbed some donuts and ice creams whilst we were as I needed sugar as a pick me up from the heaviness of the War Museum.Læs mere

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    Late lunch at Secret Garden

    27. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    This place was recommended by our tour guide, and also gets rave reviews online. It is a restaurant five floors up in a random building that you have to go down an alley to get to. The food looks lovely and does taste quite nice (with the exception of my beef salad which had a salad that tasted super meh), but for $750k ($67 AUD).... Nah mate.

    You expect in District 1 for things to be a bit pricey but this was clearly tourist pricing, and the restaurant was full of foreigners so that explained a lot. Also the service was really average. Most of the workers were on their phones the entire time and not attentive to patrons at all.

    So yeah... Maybe I'm a little jaded because breakfast was like $8 this morning hahahahaha also I hate tourist traps LOL.    Læs mere

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    This afternoon/evenings events

    27. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    It absolutely piss bucketed on our way home from District 1. We just got in the Grab Taxi before it started to pummel. It's a good thing we adjusted our plans because it rained like this for hours. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching Bridgerton (our TV connects to Netflix and Michael has never seen it and has become entranced hahaha) before heading out for dinner around the corner at a very local hole in the wall restaurant called Bun Bo Vy Da Xua.

     It was absolutely packed with locals and literally only had one thing available on its menu. We had no idea what we were getting into, all we knew was that it was some sort of beef soup. It was absolutely delish. Packed with flavour, and cheap! $13 for 2 meals and 2 drinks. That's more like it!!!!

    Did a quick stop at Circle K (the local convenience store over here) and grabbed a few snackies to finish off the night watching the season 1 finale of Bridgerton before having an early night as we fly out to Hoi An tomorrow!    Læs mere

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    Bahn Mi!

    28. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We are checking out of our hotel in HCM this morning to head to Hoi An in central Vietnam. Figured I would nab down before we checked out and grab some local street grub for breakfast. I had seen these carts around our area and knew we had to give it a try. Luckily the lady understood me and allowed me to build a custom Bahn Mi with just herbs, sauces and meat. I had the normal one but forgot to ask with no chilli, so had to scrape some out when I got back to the hotel.

    Gotta say, the bread here hits different. It's so good. Also, $1.50 AUD each. Michael and I loved them (even though mine buuuurned hahahaha) Absolute slay of a meal.    Læs mere

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    Square Villa Resort - Hoi An!

    28. februar 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    We flew from HCM to Da Nang this morning and were collected by our hotel shuttle car to arrive into Hoi An this afternoon.

    Our hotel is nestled right in the thick of Hoi An, and I've kind of splashed out and gotten a deluxe room that's basically a his and hers suite 😍😍😍

    Two bedrooms two bathrooms, two air conditioners, two TVs, a heap of nooks to relax in, heaps of storage, plenty of Powerpoints, a bar fridge, a huge vanity mirror and set up for me to get ready, and the cutest little iron.

    There's no elevator so it's all stairs, but they have a luggage pulley!!!! So no having to cart luggage up and down, but still get a good glute workout every day.

    Only downside is that for Michael, the pillows are a little soft and the toilets are a little close to the wall to comfortably relax on 🤣🤣🤣. The pillows from our last hotel were amazing, too bad we couldn't cart them everywhere. Alas, you cannot have it all!

    We are off to eat, then off the tailors to start the process of getting our custom made clothing 😍😍    Læs mere

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