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VIETNAM
HOCHIMINHCITY
COUNTRY CODE
+84
CURRENCY
VND10,000 = PHP21.05/US$0.48
TOUCHDOWN
Tan Son Nhat International
Airport is a 30-minute drive away from District 1.
A taxi ride costs about VND80,000 (PHP168).
You can also hire a motorbike and driver for
VND20,000 (PHP42).
BY DAY
Stroll through Dong Khoi St.: start from
the Notre Dame Cathedral, then walk to the
Reunification Palace and historic Post Office. Have
your photo snapped in front of the Opera House
then head to Ben Thanh Market for bargains.
BY NIGHT
Stick around Ben Thanh Market when
night falls and try the BBQ and other Vietnamese
dishes there. The Bonsai boat cruises along the river
have a nice buffet and cool performances, and the
crew speaks English.
www.bonsaicruise.com.vn
SLEEP
Budget travelers will appreciate the basic
conveniences of A&Em, which is in the city center
and just 20 minutes away from the Tan Son Nhat
International Airport.
www.a-emhotels.com
COUNTRY CODE
+81 (6)
CURRENCY
JPY100 = PHP57.30/US$1.30
TOUCHDOWN
Take the Nankai Express Rapit
from Kansai International Airport to Osaka (38
minutes to Namba station) and the JR Haruka
limited express (33 minutes to Tenno-ji, 51 minutes
to Shin-Osaka).
www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access
BY DAY
For the latest trends in fashion, head
to Amerikamura’s many small and affordable
boutiques. The Minami-senba and Horie districts
have stores that cater to more mature and
sophisticated markets.
BY NIGHT
Head to one of the
izakayas
(Japanese-style pubs) and order the iconic Osaka
dish:
okonomiyaki
, which is a mix of ingredients
grilled pizza-style. Enjoy with friends and lots of
Japanese beer.
SLEEP
Yamatoya Honten is a Japanese-style
budget hotel close to attractions like the Osaka
Castle, Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka
Aquarium.
www.yamatoyahonten.co.jp/eng/
JAPAN
OSAKA
LOCAL SPEAK
”
Beppin
” means
“a foxy lady” and “
Honma
?” means
“Are you for real?”
BEST BUYS
Nerd out at Den Den
Town for all your techno geek goods.
Do try to haggle!
BEST SOUVENIRS
Evisu is
Japan’s premier denim company and
it comes from Osaka. Get great quality
denim jeans here.
BESTBREAKFAST
Ngon
Restaurant is nice and serves traditional
food that’s famous for being delicious.
BESTBUYS
Handmade souvenirs
made with Sapa material from Ben
Thanh Market.
BEST DINNER
I love the BBQ
garden
(135A Nam Ki Khoi Nghia St.,
District 1)
whether it’s for a business
meeting or a romantic dinner for two.
Manami
Okazaki
journalist/curator/
mediaproducer
Huynh
Trung
art director, Yantv
Cruise on the Aqua-Liner to cover
Osaka’s major tourist spots.
DIDYOU
KNOW?
06CA Smile
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