TravelModus Ideas for Sophisticated Travelers
Saigon or with its new name Ho Chi Minh City -renamed in 1976- is buzzing with energy.. The city is a thrilling melange of old and new: lean, lofty Vietnamese-designed apartments and wet markets, such as Bến Thành, stand by ornate heritage buildings like Central Post Office, the rose-colored Notre-Dame de Saigon cathedral and restored French colonial villas..The city’s creative scene is flourishing. There’s the fashion renaissance who have setup camp around Dong Khoi street with a mix of edgy, luxurious boutiques, artisanal cafes, bohemian bars, and exhibition spaces and young diaspora chefs are returning to Vietnam and exploring their culinary heritage, resulting in French-Vietnamese and other fusion restaurants. A chaotic whirl, the city breathes life and vitality.
An Lam Saigon River Hotel : The hotel was once Mr Lam’s private home: you’ll be wishing you lived here too, thanks to green, leafy gardens, river-watching rooms and zingy Vietnamese food. This quiet Saigon sanctuary has peaceful nooks with rattan chairs and bright cushions to relax in, and the hotel’s speedboat will whoosh you to the city centre in just 15 minutes.The boutique hotel has only 15 rooms furnished with rich wood and Vietnamese silks.
Where to eat?
Cuc Gach Quán: Serving a modern take on traditional Vietnamese fare, it’s the brainchild of architect and designer Tran Binh and his French-Vietnamese wife Thai Tu-Tho who restored a French colonial villa. Built around a small courtyard, the architect paid homage to the original design: tables are nestled in nooks and enclaves, in a large sitting room or what was once the home’s library. Antique furniture, 1960s maps, a cherry blossom tree, and a day bed swathed in billowing, gauzy fabric sets a dreamy atmosphere from another time. The restaurant is dedicated to his grandmother, who ran a street-side restaurant stall. Like his grandmother would do, chopsticks come in a kitsch, old tin milk can, while quirky glasses are mismatched and uneven.
Ly Club Saigon: Ly Club Saigon takes its name from the 11th century Lý Dynasty. Set in a sculpted, neo-modern garden featuring sett paving and an infinity fountain, the classic French colonial-era Ly Club Saigon villa has arches, original French staircase, classic modernist furnishings and refined natural colors imbue an atmosphere of relaxed yet cultured elegance in the lounge and dining areas. The delicate Western-Vietnamese innovative menu is crafted by Executive Chef Dessi De Vries who combines the techniques of classical French cooking with unique local spices and tropical ingredients.
A driveway can really add to the value of your home, not to mention provide you with a place to park your car. There are several different materials that can be used to build a driveway so you are going to need to be able to determine which is best for your needs. One of the factors that you will have to consider is cost. Therefore you are going to want to know how to estimate the cost of an asphalt driveway.
The first thing that you are going to have to do in order to estimate the cost of an asphalt driveway is to determine just how big your driveway is going to be. This is fairly easy to do in most cases since they are usually fairly rectangular. Even if your driveway does have a bit of an odd shape you should not find it to be too difficult to determine the square footage for your driveway. Once you have the square footage you will want to divide that number by nine in order to determine the square yardage which is what is used in the formula for estimating how much asphalt you will use. asphalt surface helps you to new or refurbished driveway or crossover project.
The next thing that you are going to have to do is to determine how thick your driveway will need to be. The standard for an asphalt driveway is three inches. This normally consists of two inches of base pavement with a one inch wearing layer on top of that. If you are replacing an existing driveway you can probably just replace the wearing layer so you would base your estimates on a one inch thickness, for new construction you will need three inches.
Paving is really such an essential activity covered under the construction task which can’t be ignored. It has its own significance in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. In residential infrastructures, the paving services are meant to enhance the safety, security, privacy and beauty of homes. Whereas, in commercial and industrial sectors these services are intended towards the beautification of buildings. In commercial constructions, their prime aim is to enhance the looks of offices or buildings by adding more charm to its beauty. If you are in trouble due to curb distress or damage, then don’t worry as professional driveway pavers Phoenix providers also offer you quality curb construction under which they will provide you with construction, repair and maintenance services.
L’Usine: Part cafe, part boutique, part gallery, L’Usine is a great spot for a coffee or a light lunch or a relaxed dinner – and a chance to mix it with Saigon’s young creative set. This lifestyle emporium is housed in an airy, light-flooded first floor Dong Khoi Parisian-style apartment. Antique swivel chairs, grand sweeping arched windows, and long glossy wood tables evoke the Indochine of Catherine Deneuve’s era but married with a modern, industrial look owing to lots of exposed steel and polished concrete flooring . The front of the space is dedicated to fashion and homewares, racks of silk dresses designed by L’Usine owner Tib Hoang’s sister or frocks featuring traditional Hmong embroidery . In the next door there is a bistro and cafe which serves modern bistro fare.
Temple Club: This classy establishment, housed on the 2nd floor of a beautiful colonial-era villa decorated with spiritual motifs and elegant Chinese characters, offers a huge selection of Vietnamese dishes alongside a spectrum of spirited cocktails. Design firm Noor renovated the building which dates to 1880, styling the restaurant with Vietnamese, Chinese, French and Khmer furnishings.
The Refinery : A go to place for the international Saigon expats, The Refinery is a classic French style bistro and wine bar located in the old Opium Manufacture of Saigon. This court yard setting feels totally continental, and paired with a glass of white wine and tuna tartare, you get a touch of Paris in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City,
The Deck : The Deck is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, a short 15 minute journey from the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. It is the city’s most modern Pan Asian cuisine. They have a global menu incorporating a sharing contemporary Pan-Asian experience by the river on The Deck. It is modern and exciting, with weekly menu changes including desserts like mochi. Its the only restaurant in Saigon where you can arrive by your own private speedboat.
Where to Shop ?
Mai Lam : Australian-Vietnamese Mai Lam’s eponymous store sells her exquisite embroidered shirts and avant-garde military jackets and its the best designed boutique of the city. A continually evolving boutique underneath Saigon’s Hotel Continental, Mai Lam features pieces made with passion and dedicated to her family and the history of Vietnam. The designer is inspired by her culture and background along with the energy of Ho Chi Minh City.
