Festive frenzy

It is not a national holiday here on Christmas day but a lot of effort can be seen year after year to decorate the retail stores, shopping centers and streets with festive ornaments, colorful lighting, all the way till New Year's Day and then the Lunar New Year season. Quite impressed with what has been done, though a little overwhelming and some what gaudy but it certainly did bring out alot of festive mood judging from the humongous increase in traffic flow in the commercial & tourist areas. Last year, there was even a New Year countdown concert outside the Reunification Palace. Check out the videos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3bb3K57PBE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXWXuvIOGYM

View of the concert from my apartment. Traffic was also building up.
Decided to go down to take a look

Hardly any space left on the pavement for walking!

Auc Lac Do Brazil deserves a second chance

If you read my post dated 20 Sep 2008 on Auc Lac Do Brazil, you probably will not want to give it a try. A year later, I was surprised to still find it around, at the same location, doing well, getting booked for company events and even increased their prices, despite the closure of Brazil Churrascaria last year. Was keen to try it again as we had craving for BBQ meat. Our experiences turned out well with its improved menu, better service...will definitely go back again.

Chefs at work in the outdoor kitchen

New craving: Japanese cuisine

There are numerous Japanese restaurants here especially along Le Thanh Ton street. Most of them not only survive but are doing well. Its amazing to see each of these restaurant always filled with Japanese patrons during peak hours.

Totoya Restaurant:

K Cafe Japanese Restaurant:

Beef on hot plate...Korean style

Simply love the way Koreans marinate their meat & cooking them on hotplate. This is another restaurant that serves great beef sirloin on hot plate. So-so Kimchi but great onion soup.

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Life in the back alleys

Decided to take a short cut from the airport back home using smaller roads along narrow alleys one morning which was very eye opening and gave me insight to what its like in a typical day of a native staying outside the commercial & tourist district in this city.

Spirited fans...or simply crazy?

Most Vietnamese men love to watch soccer...especially when the local team is playing. Vietnam's victory over Singapore in the SEA Game '09 football semi finals created a massive jam at the cross road junction just outside my apartment. Numerous motor cyclists with flags in their hands...traffic came to an almost standstill. They were roaring & cheering and there seems to be no traffic police in sight The shouting & yelling and even sounds of firecrackers went on for hours and finally subsided way past midnight. Check out the videos here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCvWSKmWgXg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUIuRvayeGw

Spicy fried chicken wings & beef on hot plate

I actually mistook this restaurant to a similar one in Singapore http://www.bbq-chicken.com.sg/.
But the mistake was a blessing as they serve pretty decent spicy fried chicken wings & beef on hot plate, Korean style!

Starbucks sighting

Just when we were wondering when Starbucks is coming to Vietnam, we stumbled upon this Yogurt shop with the familiar looking Starbucks circular light box and decided to check it out. It turned out that the owner brought in Starbucks coffee beans & the Starbucks coffee maker, not an official franchise but I guess its good enough. Pardon the grainy low quality photos taken with an old mobile phone.