Trip to Ho Chi Minh @Saigon Nov 2011

It was my first trip to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in Dec 2011 and does not expect much from this trip.

the departure gate...



Air Asia flight Flight, AK0882 from Kuala Lumpur takes about one and half hour to reach Ho Chi Minh.With time different of 1 hour, seems the watch barely moves!.



Browsing through the inflight meal menus.


Immigration clearance at the airport is consider as fast and easy. No landing forms to filled in, no visa is required and not much questions from the Immigration Office, adn it takes only 5 minutes to queue. Am I lucky or others faced differently?





Ho Chi Minh Airport is modern and new. Once you passed the Immigrations, the baggage claim area is just one level down.

Some info on the airport as published at http://www.hochiminhcityairport.com/

Ho Chi Minh City Airport (SGN) Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Airport Terminal

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (IATA: SGN, ICAO: VVTS), is the largest airport in Vietnam. It is located 4 mi (6 km) north of the center (District 1) of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Airport Check-in Desks

Tan Son Nhat International Airport operates from two terminal buildings - Domestic Terminal 1 and International Terminal 2. The new international terminal opened in September 2007 with the capacity of 8 to 10 million passengers per year, giving the airport a total capacity of 15-17 million passengers per annum.

Saigon Airport Terminal

Ho Chi Minh Airport Terminal Interior http://www.hochiminhcityairport.com/images/hcmci60.jpg

Baggage clearance by the Custom officer is fast and easy, Using the green lanes, we just pass by the customs officer.

Next is to go to the hotel and we take taxi.

TIPS:

Find a taxi outside the building and it cost cheaper compared in buying coupons from the counter.








Trip from airport to hotel takes about 30 minutes.



The Tan Lai Hong hotel,is in District 1,i.e. in the middle of town. Nice and clean hotel, although the room that we get is quite small, it is mine that is small, not others!.

This hotel is very near to Ben Than market, a popular shopping area. Anyway, you must bargain for the price.

Time for dinner?,, but where to find Halal Food?... aha someone say it near by a Saigon masjid.



This masjid Saigon’s Mosque (Central Mosque),This mosque was also built in 1935, by Indian Muslim Traders that lived there at the time. However now, Muslims from as far as Pakistan and Indonesia come to pray at the Central Mosque. Built in a traditional fashion, it contains a main minaret, a large courtyard and two verandas. Since the verandas are shaded, the stone floors make it an ideal place to sit and pray or read.
Shoes must be removed before entering.

Location: 66 Dong Du, Quan 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 824 2903 (Tourist information)

Enjoying dinner