Ho Chi Minh, Nov 2011 - Vietnam Handicraft, Inlay Lacquer - the factory

We manage to visit a center to produced this handicraft. Most of the workers here are handicapped people and operated by the government. It has been in operations since 1976. Off course, you can buy the handicraft here.


The production line is clear explain here.




the raw material. Yes it is egg shell, either chicken or duck.





The egg shell is carefully breakup into small pieces




figures to be inlay is traced onto the material.


Than, the eggshell is carefully inlay on to.


or, if need to be modified, they will cut it accordingly,



and the process is repeated , over and over again, until finish!.


Once, finished and the lacquer has been applied and dry, next is washing!

and the final product.



Its up to the designer to be creative.

Ho Chi Minh, Nov 2011 - Vietnam Handicraft, Inlay Lacquer

It is an ancient art of Vietnam and widely sold in Ho Chi Minh. Lacquer paintings with mother of pearl and sea shells inlay are Vietnamese specialties. Various handicraft are crafted using this techniques.

Ever wonder how do they do it?



This painting is inlay with egg shell..


Inlay around a mug,,


or sandals, like this,,

or around a vase,,


or small mug ,,

Ho Chi Minh City, Nov 2011 - chu chi tunnel 4

Creative! when we are being pressured, we tends to be creative!..

See , what they can do with this old tyres? Burn it? dump it? No!.

Carefully they cut the tyres, and convert it to,,,



Slippers!,,, various size,!Not cheap ,, VND70,000

Ho Chi Minh City, Nov 2011 - chu chi tunnel 4

the way to the other area, canopy of trees, the shade is really help us in walking around the area.


this leas us to this area, where an array of DIY traps means to kill the enemy soldier is shown and explained.

some of the sample traps, With various type, targeted to kill the enemy soldiers. Either shallow hole , or middle depth ,,it will some how hurt the person accidentally fall into it.

Ho Chi Minh City, Nov 2011 - chu chi tunnel 3

with various tunnel under ground, they must take fresh air to breath!, see how the used this small hole as the ventilation point!.

But not sure, if this hole is the original holes used for the ventilation!.


The traps!, used to capture the animals,, well traps does not know if its is human or animals drop into it!.. can't imagine with those sharp steel piercing your body!


The trap door is carefully covered and camouflage


This is the way to closed the tunnel door!.

American tanks destroyed by the VC army.

Trip to Ho Chi Minh @Saigon Nov 2011 - Life in Saigon!

earning a living in the city is seen as quite tough!. Some of them resort to selling fruits on some moving stalls selling foods to whoever need it.

The NONA fruit is widely sold here, and the size, compare to normally found in Malaysia , is quite bigger. The taste? never tried .. did not tried ,hehehe, did not buy!







You my find durians here,,, but not sure where they get it!,, may be imported from Thailand or is it from their local orchards?


Mama busy cooking !





Souvenir being sold at road side. Hand crafted using woods, may attract buyers toi but it. The price.. cant remember !

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