The nation celebrates its Independence Day

Vietnam's Independence Day falls on the 2nd of Sep. But I have never seen how the locals celebrate it as I always use the public holiday to travel back to Singapore. However, streets are lined up with the nation's flags weeks before and while looking out of my apartment's windows, I could see beams of lights coming from the prime areas, days before the actual day

Mooncakes in Vietnam

Mid Autumn Festival is in a month's time.

The Chinese in Vietnam celebrates this festival like how Chinese does in Singapore - eating mooncakes and kids carrying lanterns. Boxes of mooncakes are seen in almost all bakeries and Chinese restaurants in hotels. But the mooncakes here are still very much traditional - mainly baked skin, huge with lotus paste, lotus seeds and salted egg yolk while mooncakes in Singapore are moving ahead with a lot more creativity!

Rustic Barbecue Garden ruined in the rain

Barbecue Garden is situated diagonally opposite the Norfolk Hotel with alfresco dining in a rustic setting. But during the raining season, chances are, you will find yourself and your barbecued meat soaked in the rain. Despite the raining season, I've decided to give it a try after reading from its website about its efficient execution of backup plan, should it start to pour.

As expected, it started to rain heavily just 5 minutes after the food arrived! However, the back up plan execution was not efficient as I read. Waiters were running around aimlessly not knowing what to do. Activation of mobile shelters were slow and there was no ushering of affected patrons to the sheltered areas (there was also no space to setup additional tables).

I was lucky to find an available table under the shelter and took new orders of food (no extra charges of course!)

Before the rain. The iced fruity tea is a must try!

See the helpless waiter standing by a table? That's our food soaked in rain!

Rustic BBQ garden getting ruined in the rain. Some of the patrons hoped to brave through it!

Found an available table under the shelter

New orders arrived!

A traffic ticket for everyone?

You would have read my past entries about how crazy traffic here can be. No one here ever follows traffic rules and yet we see traffic police positioning themselves along the road catching traffic offenders. Wonder what would be their daily criteria for their 'catch of the day'?

Hopped onto a taxi only to find out that the driver's getting booked by a traffic police.
Wonder which traffic rule he has violated, parking by the roadside?

FV Hospital D3 vs FV Hospital D7

I've always been skeptical about the medical facilities here and I still am. The FV Hospital seems to be the most recognised medical center among the foreigners and I have visited both its newest & biggest premise in the developed areas of district 7 as well as its smaller premise in a commercial building at distrct 3.

It took me 4 hours to complete 4 check-up items (as part of my yearly medical check-up) in the bigger premise of district 7 while I was whisked through all (also 4 check-up items as part of my work permit application requirement) within 2 hours!

Newest & biggest premise in district 7

While waiting for my turn outside the consultation rooms of FV hospital in district 3

Thai Express comes to HCMC!

I was not surprised to learn that it has come to HCMC and know that it will do well (despite the downfall of New York Diner, the previous tenant). Thai Express does not serve authentic Thai food but its concept attracts many. Its Phad Thai & Glass Noodle with Shrimps (2 of my favourite) are different from and not as good as the ones in Singapore's outlets. Despite all, its business is booming each day!