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06 September 2007
Short Talk:
There is no short talk because I am in a rush.
Shout Out From Vietnam
I'm sitting at the departure hall of the airport once again.

Uncle Ho Chi Minh. He looked like some old dude you'd find on the bottles of some Chinese medicine
In a moment I'll be flying off to Hanoi on a backpacking trip. Hanoi is the last major destination on my 2007 travel itinerary, and the trip gonna be a stark contrast to the 6-star luxury I enjoyed in Macau.
Of the four nights that I'll be spending in Vietnam, two nights I'll be sleeping on a train, one night I'll be sleeping on a wooden boat, and one night sleeping in a cheap guesthouse. On my itinerary is hiking in picturesque Sapa Valley, kayaking at Halong Bay, and dining at the famous Bobby Chinn's Restaurant in Hanoi.
I'm also curious to try cobra meat, a local delicacy there. Hopefully I'll live to tell the tale when I get back.

During my absence I'll be regularly sending travel updates directly to kennysia.com from my phone using PacMee.
PacMee is something similar to Twitter, but cost-wise it works out a lot cheaper because it's Malaysia-specific. It'll be useful for me 'cos I'm gonna be having trouble finding an outlet to charge my laptop on a wooden boat, let alone getting an internet connection to blog.
If you're on Maxis, you could even subscribe to my shoutouts so anything funny that happened in Vietnam will be sent directly to your phone. Yes, this may be a paid ad, but PacMee is still cool that way.
Just text ON KENNYSIA to 22700. It costs just 25c per month unlimited, which makes it cheaper than keropok. Ok, maybe not keropok, but cheaper than a pack of tissues definitely.

The PA is calling. Cobra meat for dinner awaits. :P
Take care!
:: Posted by Kenny at 4:36 PM | Link | Facebook It
:: Categorised as 'Vietnam'
68 Comments:
ewhhh......cobra liqour...!!
Posted by: frixxion at 06 September 2007 4:40 PM | Link to comment
Wah give me ur itenerary ya... wanna copy ur trip :p
Posted by: Chris at 06 September 2007 4:56 PM | Link to comment
must go to perfume pagoda if you have the time. i think it is a so much nicer experience than halong bay.
Posted by: sy at 06 September 2007 5:07 PM | Link to comment
Crazy.. I tried fried spiders in Cambodia and now there's snakes in Vietnam! Pray hard for a strong stomach cos your gonna need it!
Posted by: Jason Lee at 06 September 2007 5:07 PM | Link to comment
Good luck in eating the cobra :) lol! Hope it taste nice.
Posted by: didi at 06 September 2007 5:10 PM | Link to comment
Kenny's Itenerary as requested :)
Thursday, 6th September 2007
3:35pm - Kenny arrives KL from Kuching. Flight AK5207.
4pm - Meet at LCCT Airport.
5pm - Flight AK672 KL to Hanoi (3.5 hours)
7:30pm - Arrive Hanoi Noi Bai Airport. Check out and book 'Airport Taxi' to travel agency in Hanoi town (45mins, USD$10). Travel Agency address: Vietnam Impressive Travel ltd. 19 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh, Ha Noi. Tel: (84-4) 747 8271
If time permits, also book one-night boat tour to Halong Bay.
8:45pm - Pick up train tickets from Travel Agency (USD$44 per person, booked). Depart for Hanoi Train station a short distance away.
9:15pm - Take train from Hanoi Train Station to Lao Cai Train Station (9 hours). Overnight in train.
Friday, 7th September 2007
6am - Arrive Lao Cai Train Station. Change into hiking outfit and store luggage at train station. (If no luggage storage facilities available, we will book a cheap hotel in Sapa). Take shuttle bus to Sapa town (25,000 dong per person, 1 hour)
8am - Arrive Sapa town. Go to Sapa Tourism Information Centre.
Pre-book bus back to Sapa at 6:30pm.
Visit Sapa Market.
Either arrange for guides or self-hike to Cat Cat Village (3km south, 1.5 hour) and surrounding areas (5,000 dong admission fee)
Walk to Cat Cat Waterfall, then to Sin Chai Village. Take motorcycle back to Sapa (USD$1 per person)
If return to Sapa before 2pm, hire a 4WD to Tram Ton Pass for breathtaking mountain views and waterfall. Otherwise, hike up to Radio Tower lookout within Sapa town.
6:30pm - Return to bus terminal, Sapa town for bus to Lao Cai.
8:15pm - Take train from Lao Cai Train Station to Hanoi Train Station (9 hours). Overnight in train.
Saturday, 8th September 2007
5:30am - Arrive Hanoi Train Station. Free time until 8:30am. (If haven't yet done so, book Halong Bay tour from nearby travel agency or hostel, expect to pay USD$40 - USD$55 per person)
8:30am - Wait for bus to pick up from stated location in Hanoi to transfer to Halong town (3.5 hours)
12noon - Arrive Halong town, go on boat tour around Halong bay.
Swim and kayak around the area.
Overnight on boat.
Sunday, 9th September 2007
6:30am - Follow boat tour programme.
12noon - Depart Halong town for Hanoi
4pm - Arrive Hanoi. Check into guesthouse (yet to book. About USD$6.50 per person. I'm thinking this.)
6pm - Dinner at Bobby Chinn's restaurant. Explore surrounding areas.
Monday, 10th September 2007
8am - Explore Hanoi's sights and sounds, according to Lonely Planet guidebook.
Visit Ho Chi Minh's Masoleum
One Pillar Pagoda
Temple of Literature
Dong Xuan Market
Vietnamese massage
6pm - Depart Hanoi town for airport
8pm - Depart Hanoi for KL. Flight AK672 (3.5 hours)
Tuesday, 11th September 2007
12:30am - Arrive KL. Nicole to return home, Kenny to stay overnight in KL.
7:40pm - Kenny's flight from KL to Kuching. AK5214.
Note:
- Hanoi is one hour ahead of Malaysia (meaning when its 8pm in KL, it is 7pm in Hanoi)
- We might be having trouble finding a power socket to charge our gadgets. Get a spare battery for your phone and make sure its fully charged because we might not be able to find a power socket until Day 4.
Packing List:
- We'll be hiking on the 2nd day so make sure you got good shoes, windbreaker, warm but light clothing (Sapa is the coldest town in Vietnam). What you wore to Taman Negara should be fine.
- We'll be doing some swimming and kayaking on the 3rd day so make sure you have some swim wear with you.
- Bring your own towel. We won't be getting any 5-star treatments anytime in Hanoi.
- Vietnam uses Type C European round style sockets (refer to: http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_c). Bring a converter.
- Vietnam uses a mix of US dollars and Vietnamese dongs. Bring a mixture of both. About RM1,000 equivalent should be fine.
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 5:19 PM | Link to comment
good luck kenny! =D
Posted by: Patricia at 06 September 2007 5:25 PM | Link to comment
yaiks to the cobra meat man! witty
Posted by: danielle at 06 September 2007 5:29 PM | Link to comment
Have fun!
Macau and Hanoi should not be compared at all.
Posted by: Kelly at 06 September 2007 5:34 PM | Link to comment
try the water puppet in Hanoi... some other meat can be found along the roadside in Hanoi old town...
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 5:51 PM | Link to comment
Wow.
Looks... like one hell of an experience. COBRA MEAT O.o
Have fun, Kenny!
haha
Posted by: yh at 06 September 2007 5:51 PM | Link to comment
Dude, don't insult Uncle Ho while you're there. He's greatly revered by the Vietnamese.
Other than that, enjoy your trip. I love Hanoi!Great food, and the weather's good at this time too.
If you need a break from the busy traffic and crowds - go to church street. Very nice restaurants and cafes there.
Posted by: Ben Israel at 06 September 2007 5:55 PM | Link to comment
take more pictures of vietnamese please..
Posted by: Yurneric at 06 September 2007 6:02 PM | Link to comment
cobra meat tasty? how they cook it? O.O~~!!!
Posted by: spookygrace at 06 September 2007 6:13 PM | Link to comment
If you ever get to Miss Loi's Guesthouse in Saigon, help me take a pic of her okay? :)
Posted by: Miss Loi at 06 September 2007 6:47 PM | Link to comment
Poor cobras. They're going to be an extinct species soon at the rate they're being eaten for dinners.
Posted by: Karyn at 06 September 2007 7:54 PM | Link to comment
kns..damn shiok fler...always travelling...
Posted by: Aaron Tan at 06 September 2007 8:08 PM | Link to comment
Oh great, Kenny is going to Vietnam. Your trip seems fun but quite packed. I wouldn't rush to too many things. Hanoi is a place to relax and take it all in. Don't forget to spend a few hours walking around Sword lake (Ho` Guom) and try co^'m ice cream. Yum!!!
Posted by: Annie at 06 September 2007 8:15 PM | Link to comment
Internet Connection is all over Vietnam Kenny. Even in 'remote' Sapa!!
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 8:55 PM | Link to comment
so lucky, you are always travelling. You sure you have a day-job?
Posted by: Going crazy anytime at 06 September 2007 9:34 PM | Link to comment
Wah, travel all over...
Hopefully you can see something interesting and share with us.
Maybe you can try on 致富的环游世界八十天。
Posted by: 思斌 at 06 September 2007 9:48 PM | Link to comment
wow... macao and now hanoi! how many days annual leave do you have in a year?? good luck with the cobra meat... eeeewww i dont dare to try :P
Posted by: evelyn at 06 September 2007 9:51 PM | Link to comment
take your blog when u got internet connection and pc with you la....i doubt there will be people so interested in your every freakin move to want to subscribe to the services....
Posted by: ted at 06 September 2007 9:57 PM | Link to comment
The cobra certainly looks pretty scary :P
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 10:26 PM | Link to comment
Have a great trip KENNY!
Btw, desperate addict (0811.blogdrive.com) has just posted that she's leaving.
Read here. At least go say your goodbyes! (:
Posted by: love52! at 06 September 2007 10:29 PM | Link to comment
enjoy ur trip dude.
Posted by: Darren at 06 September 2007 10:55 PM | Link to comment
DO POST UP PIC OF THE CROBRA DISH!! AFTER EATING THIS DISH IT IS SUPPOSE TO MADE UR POKEING STRONGER! SO DO TELL US THE RESULT! HAVE A NICE DAY!
Posted by: Horny Ang Moh at 06 September 2007 11:55 PM | Link to comment
wow real cool dude! Been reading this blog the whole day.. its so cool you get to travel quite often.. Any pkans to visit the middle east anytime soon? Like in Abu Dhabi or Dubai? Winter approaching hehe.. Cheers
Posted by: Aodian at 07 September 2007 12:05 AM | Link to comment
be very careful of your personal belongings during your train ride. i often heard that there are thieves in the train, it happns before that they blow smoke into the cabin so that the passengers blur blur and tidur syok syok. i took the train dozen of times, but never encounter before. sapa is like a french village, nice n its cold. there is casino both in lao cai and halong bay. if you have 2 or 3 days more, you can cross the border to yunnan, china.
Posted by: lil'd at 07 September 2007 12:07 AM | Link to comment
dude, you're now into that SMS thingie... daym.
Posted by: c.k. at 07 September 2007 12:59 AM | Link to comment
Oh gosh.
Cobra meat; I'd really love to see that served on a platter. Damn.
Posted by: Rachel at 07 September 2007 1:01 AM | Link to comment
Cool, i've been to HAnoi last year and i also spent a night in the 'ship' at halong bay. It's really beautiful and they serve fresh seafd =)
Posted by: arron at 07 September 2007 1:50 AM | Link to comment
Uncle Ho is everywhere in Vietnam lor..
Posted by: The Horny Bitch at 07 September 2007 2:01 AM | Link to comment
The gals spot dyed hair, super high heels n skinny jeans now..
Posted by: The Horny Bitch at 07 September 2007 2:02 AM | Link to comment
wow...si beh syok man !
Posted by: benjamin and yus at 07 September 2007 7:29 AM | Link to comment
lol yeah, it sure does look like Siang Pure Oil's founder.
Posted by: Seizhin at 07 September 2007 8:00 AM | Link to comment
You have a save Sumatran rhinos icon on your blog.Aren't you contradicting your message by saying you want to eat cobra meat.Even though they fall under different categories of animals,both species have 2 things in common,they are endangered and also used in traditional chinese medicine.Please think about the message you're putting across.Like you have mentioned,blogs are becoming more popular with the masses
Posted by: Christine at 07 September 2007 8:23 AM | Link to comment
cobra still a lot in the world christine where as rhinos is difference story,so dont worry kenny consume as many as you CAN.
Posted by: MOTHER OF CHRISTINE at 07 September 2007 8:38 AM | Link to comment
My dear, you are off again. Enjoy your trip then and come back soon to blog so I won't be bored staring on old blogs in the morning while having my cup of coffee at my working desk.
Posted by: jane aka kepo at 07 September 2007 8:38 AM | Link to comment
My friend told me that Vietnam is like 80's of Malaysia..
Please let me know whether is through or not. :)
Posted by: Aco at 07 September 2007 9:17 AM | Link to comment
you have officially master-ed in TRAVELING!
Posted by: abc at 07 September 2007 9:18 AM | Link to comment
Awaits for yur return... Have a pleasant journey ;)
Posted by: Oya Ashikin at 07 September 2007 10:12 AM | Link to comment
hey i was at the noi bai airport last night the same time you're there!
Posted by: son at 07 September 2007 10:13 AM | Link to comment
you should try this dish called Buddha's Delight when you are at Ho Chi Minh. Its a vegetarian dish but its sooooooooo good. I can't remember the shop name that I went to though, its a popular vegetarian restaurant there :p
Posted by: neil@taz at 07 September 2007 10:46 AM | Link to comment
u arse hole wanna eat me?
Posted by: king cobra at 07 September 2007 11:24 AM | Link to comment
omg! wat a good life u have! *envy!
Posted by: peii at 07 September 2007 12:08 PM | Link to comment
enjoy your trip!
Posted by: bjk at 07 September 2007 1:33 PM | Link to comment
heard tat ppl eat snake meat will got snake skin..
Posted by: rawpotato at 07 September 2007 3:15 PM | Link to comment
ewww....cobra meat
Posted by: mr. kawanku who is kiasu n kiasi at 07 September 2007 3:18 PM | Link to comment
Har..... how about digi user ler...
Posted by: Senel at 07 September 2007 3:19 PM | Link to comment
if it's on digi, ok. maxis? sorry no, thanks.
see when will they solve their scams.
Posted by: ah no maxis please at 07 September 2007 4:20 PM | Link to comment
Oh my goodness, you're going to try out Cobra meat? Ewwww....
Come back and talk like Harry Potter "Parseltongue"... hahahaa
Posted by: piggygrace at 07 September 2007 6:40 PM | Link to comment
Vietnamese leng lui pics pls. hehehe
Posted by: js at 07 September 2007 6:47 PM | Link to comment
Fancy eating cobra meat!
You sure are adventurous.
I would like to try cobra's meat too :O
Posted by: Natalie at 07 September 2007 10:56 PM | Link to comment
My family have just moved to Ho Chi Minh City. Have fun in Hanoi. Never tasted cobra meat before though. Dunno whether I have the guts to do it.
Take care!
P:S// There are a lot of pretty girls with rosy cheeks there! =)
Posted by: -Princess Shin- at 08 September 2007 7:39 AM | Link to comment
My dear, Follow ON KENNYSIA to 22700. May costs just 25c per month unlimited but Hotlink charged your readers a huge. If I am not wrong, it's about RM10 per message.
Posted by: jane aka kepo at 08 September 2007 8:26 AM | Link to comment
DONT KILL THE COBRASSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! :(
actually, just eat them ;)
Posted by: ying ling at 08 September 2007 11:26 AM | Link to comment
cobra?!? *Faint* The moment I saw ur pic I felt so eerie.. Lolx..
Posted by: Esther at 08 September 2007 2:57 PM | Link to comment
wah... really that cheap? Wish to try it someday... ;)
Posted by: curryegg at 08 September 2007 7:16 PM | Link to comment
i think uncle Ho looks like this dude..http://www.friendster.com/photos/6021316/1/355290911
Posted by: yongyong at 08 September 2007 8:46 PM | Link to comment
Whoa, is this coincidence or what. My mum's there right now too! She even showed me that ahpek currency!
And, please, do not eat cobras. That's equivalent to erm, killing me.. Oh nah, haha, not that serious. That's equivalent to cutting my hair- 3inch of it. (Yours truly is born in the year of the snake.)
Posted by: lien at 09 September 2007 12:10 AM | Link to comment
KENNY SIA TZE FOO DONT EAT COBRA MEAT! THE EXCESS STING WILL FLOW INTO UR BLOOD STREAM AND CAUSE YOU TO GROW GIANT NIPPLES... ON YOUR TESTICLES!!! HAHA. TAKE CARE THERE. =)
Posted by: seri at 09 September 2007 4:49 PM | Link to comment
u mean 8 pm in Malaysia, 9 pm in Vietnam?
Posted by: babybluepico at 09 September 2007 11:19 PM | Link to comment
it's because of people like you that animals are becoming more and more endangered.no animal started off endangered.you're just supporting his actions because you're a fan of his blog.I like reading his blog,but that doesn't mean i condone all that he does,no offence kenny
Posted by: Christine at 10 September 2007 4:26 PM | Link to comment
Gosh...
I just got back from Hanoi
It was good, yes
especially when you saw how simple Ho Chi Minh's life was
He did not want to live as a rich person while his people are poor
have fun! and drink coffee as much as you can, because IT IS FABULOUS!!!
Posted by: Khai at 10 September 2007 5:57 PM | Link to comment
朋友介绍我来看看您的部落客,因为小弟最近也有开始搞类似这样的东西.观赏以后心中真的一言难尽,一句话:好!写的太好了。
Posted by: Max Neo at 13 September 2007 2:19 AM | Link to comment
Hello.
I'm planning to go from Hanoi to Macau and back. How did you get from Macau? It seems like there's no direct train (?), so maybe I have to fly via Peking or Hong Kong? I would very much appriciate your advice if any. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Miriam, Sweden
Posted by: Miriam at 09 January 2008 12:25 AM | Link to comment
You have been to a lot of place.
Posted by: David Chew at 09 January 2008 3:33 PM | Link to comment


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