Business Trip to Hanoi/Saigon

posted by slim , on 12:19 AM , No Comments

Hello Hanoi! I have been very busy preparing the Vietnam business trip which had left me so drained and strained in the previous week. Hahaha.. Anyway, it was quite an enjoyable trip with my friendly Vietnamese co colleagues and I learnt a lot from the senior director and legal counsel whom were on the same trip with me.

Day 1 ( 24th July 13, Hanoi)

After a two hours' flight and an one hour car ride, I have finally reached the Melia Hotel. When the front desk told me that I was upgraded to the suite due to rooms were fully booked, It was actually not bad, considering I got a little meeting room, with two bath rooms and a big bedroom!

As it was a free day, I went to explore the nearby area, which I thought it looked like the old Saigon in Ho Chi Min City which I visited 4 years ago.

Along the streets, there are a lot of little shops selling "inspired clothing" from brands like H&M, Chanel .. etc ... you name it, they have it! hahaha.. I literally lost on the way back to hotel where I coincidentally walked past the Women's Museum.

I didn't know what exhibits are shown in the Museum but I did goggle some details. The exhibition feature the culture and challenges the Vietnamese women are currently facing especially ; with the single mothers.

Wah.. have you seen that delicious two scoops of ice creams in the cocktail glass? The taste was heavenly!! I ordered the rum & raisin and lime sorbet. A truly comfort dessert after a long walk under the hot sun. In the shop, there were at least a dozen of different types of ice cream dishes presented in creative forms.All looked good on the menu, which was a pity that I couldn't eat all. =(((

After having the little cooling dessert, I bistro-hopped to the next door for some Vietnam Chinese food which I can never can finish the food! The waiter still told me I could finish them as the potion were small. =~((( I ordered the silk tofu with salted eggs and fried rice.

The tofu was well fried but the skin was too thick which made the tofu a little less appealing. As for the fried rice, there were tiny slices of the roast pork, peas vegetables, some Vietnamese veggies and diced Chinese sausages. I thought the Chinese sausages should be of bigger slices so that the taste will not be so hidden ~

Well, I was supposed to be enjoying the experience(maybe not so much on the food) when I realized that there was a pen cap in my Irish smell alike Vietnamese coffee!!! For your information, I have drunk 3/4 cup of the coffee! I am so being poisoned!!~~~

Anyway, my spoiled mood was slightly lit up the moment I saw a simple yet touching gesture from the hotel where the blanket corner was flipped up, a floor mat with the good night wording and a mineral bottle + glass on the desk in case I were thirsty in the mid of the night.

It was both a tiring day for me and a shocking experience from the coffee. ahahaha.. My adventure in Vietnam shall continue...

Day 2 /3 - Hanoi + Ho Chi Min City

All went well during the presentation although I was quite nervous and I could hear the trembling voice projecting out to the audiences. Well, I will try not to make the same mistake again. ahhh~

The presentation was done at 3pm, which was 4pm (SG time), I took the 7.20pm flight from Vietnam Airlines. My colleague in Vietnam had mentioned to me that the Airline has always been "famous" for earning its title as the " Delay Airlines". I thought it was meant to be a joke I got stranded in the airport for three hours due to some technical issues experienced. To think I have to change my seat on the ticket for 3 times!!!

I finally reached Ho Chi Min City at 1am plus a half an hour's ride to Renaissance Hotel. Once reaching the hotel, I am welcomed by the comfortable and clean, warm lit room...