Beautiful Vietnam

After travelling to India, I had to go to Vietnam with the same purpose, to meet prospective suppliers.  I flew with Tom via Manila to Ho Chi Minh City.  We arrived at 2:00 am at Bong Sen Hotel.  It was a three star Asian styled unique hotel located in the heart of the city.

Cozy and relaxing

My room at Bong Sen Hotel

My first activity was to attend church service at 5:45 am.  So I woke up early with very little sleep and hailed a taxi that brought me to the church location.  A 10-minute drive from the hotel.  There I felt at home.  I felt I am where I belong.  I met some of the brethren and chatted a bit after the service.

Some of the brethren in Ho Chi Minh City 

Our meeting starts at 10:00 am, I met Tom and Jonathan on the buffet breakfast.  Food was superb.   Two thumbs up. Then we traveled for an hour and a half to Tay Ninh Province where Easternpoly is located.  We visited two factories.  Then we headed back to the hotel to get ready for another meeting at 2:00 pm with Kanematsu, a client of Jonathan.  It was an interesting meeting and though I am not in sales, I get to see how our sales team works.

At Easternpoly factory with Mr. Dung, Deputy Manager

Tom with Kanematsu's Manager of Grain Dept.

By 4:00 pm, we are all done for the day, it's time for shopping.  Jonatahn and I went for a walk to Ben Thanh market.  A place where tourists buy their pasalubong.  Crossing the streets of Saigon is an adventure.  Buwis buhay as we put it in tagalog.  There were pedestrian crossings but no traffic enforcer or a traffic light, you have to cross at your own risk.  Motor bikes are everywhere, their number one means of transportation. We had fun buying stuffs at Ben Thanh Market.

With pretty sales ladies at Ben Thanh Market

Jonathan with a Vietnamese lady who knows how to speak Tagalog

           

It's Lunar New Year

A real tourist in Vietnam

Day 2 was as busy as Day 1. We started at 10:00am, had to travel again by land for almost an hour to Binh Tan to meet Liksin, a new supplier.  Then we have to rush to the next meeting at An Giang in District 1, a place near our hotel, after that we had late lunch at 3:00 pm.  So we were all exhausted but Jonathan has one last meeting with a client.  But he was kind enough to let us go, so he went by himself.

Jonathan with The Opera House on the background

Amazing lights surrounded the city

I knew this is my last day in Saigon, so I decided to walk one last time around the city.  It was fun, there were extravagant lights on the streets as the Lunar New Year comes near.  From the classic decorated shops to small stores, everything seems glowing with the presence of chrysanthemum flowers all over the place.

That night Jonathan and I just sat outside the hotel and watched people walk around.  It was fun seeing so much people in the streets of Saigon.

I will surely come back here.  Thanks for the experience beautiful Vietnam.

My Indian Escapade

I was sitting in a lobby of a luxurious hotel in Mumbai called The Lalit Mumbai.  A five star hotel with Asia's largest atrium lobby.  It is located near the airport but despite the busy location, it is quite peaceful and relaxing.

Atrium Lobby of The Lalit Mumbai

Travelling to Mumbai is not easy, considering the long wait I have to deal in Hongkong.  I went Mumbai to meet our suppliers which I did in one full day.  One meeting after the other all done in the grand hotel lobby.

With Mansi of Staarship Logistics

With Mr. Joseph Albert of Star Group Logistics

                                                

While my boss Tom de Bruin was on a series of meetings with our clients together with my colleague Avinash Wagh in other parts of India.  He commented I was lucky I came to Mumbai as a client so I can schedule my meetings at my convenience.  Contrary to their purpose of coming to Mumbai as supplier, so he has to travel from one place to another to meet prospective clients.

Avinash, Sandeep, me and Tom

Rattan, Mr. V.K Taparia and Vivek Taparia of Supreme Industries

I was on my last meeting when Bhushan, my colleague, arrived with his wife Di and sister Pinky.  We are going to the Fashion Street.  I was able to taste MOD (Mad Over Doughnuts), a famous doughnut chain in India where Pinky is working as a trainer.  She personally invited me to an MOD store to have a taste of my self titled doughnut Hazel Dazzle.  It's delicious.   We went to a food night market and I had a taste of Pav Bahji and shop for shawls, bags, bangles and other pasalubong.  I had fun and it was quite an experience.
Driving in Mumbai is never easy.  Traffic is so heavy.  There were cars everywhere blowing their horns.  But I realize, if I have another chance, I would love to go back to Mumbai.

With Di and Pinky

At the Fashion Street

Pav Bahji

My self tilted doughnut Hazel Dazzle