Bitexco Financial Tower

This tallest building in HCMC was opened on 31 Oct 2010 with a big bang, boasting commercial and retail space. So thought that the 6-level shopping centre would be opened. Went there last night to a big disappointment - nothing is up. It's like a ghost town. Couldn't even see any semblance of a shop, let alone a shopping centre. Looks like it'll be a couple of months more before we do any shopping and dining there.

See? No shops!

By the way, there's supposed to be an observatory deck at Level 47 where you can have a 360 degree view of the city. Would be nice to go there ... on a clear day! The helipad is at Level 50 - hope to fly there one day - in my remote-controlled helicopter!!!

See some reports about the tower here :
- http://vnre.blogspot.com/2010/11/bitexco-financial-tower-world-class.html

- lovely photos of the opening : http://vnre.blogspot.com/2010/11/inaugurated-vietnams-highest-building.html

Bizarre Food in HCMC

This is a very interesting page on the types of food we consider "bizarre" but probably totally "common" to Vietnamese. Have a look here.

Caphe Cut Chon (Fox-Dung Coffee)

You see it all over Ben Thanh Market - different grades, different prices etc. The ignorant me thought that the vendors were really selling fox-dung coffee aka weasel coffee aka caphe cut chon aka civet coffee beans aka kopi luwak (in Indonesia)!!! We bought a 100g pack for my mum last month for 45,000vnd (US$2.25), and thought it was the real deal. Actually, it was real dumb!!

"Weasel or Welsel Coffee?"














Did some digging around and found out that fox-dung coffee is one of the most expensive in the world. It's made from coffee beans that eaten and 'passed out' from the civet cat (which looks like a fox and so the name fox-dung coffee in Vietnam). This process supposedly enhances the taste of the beans and makes them highly desirable to coffee connoisseurs worldwide. The civet eats only the best coffee cherries and eventually excretes them out — though only after the beans have gone through a fermentation process in the animal’s stomach. Indonesia is the leading producer followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Apparently, the data shows that only 200-300kg is produced world-wide annually, which naturally accounts for the expensive price.

Fox-dung coffee costs a few hundred US dollars a kg. So how can it be sold for US$20/kg in Ben Thanh? Thus what is advertised as weasel coffee in VN and sold at cheap prices are all fakes. Here are some photos and references.

A civet cat eyeing coffee cherries














Civet cat droppings

However, Trung Nguyen Coffee has laid claim to an artificial fermentation process that reproduces the fox-dung coffee taste without the "passing out" process. Named the "Legendee", Trung Nguyen boasts that there is no artificial rival to it. Try it out the next time you're in a Trung Nguyen cafe.

References :
New York Times
QY-Coffee
Photos from here.

AFTERNOTE :

Bought a 250g pack of Legendee Coffee for my mum at 135,000vnd (S$8.44/US$6.75) at MaxiMark Cong Hoa on 17 Dec 2010. At this price, isn't it much better to buy the Legendee than some fake dung coffee at the market which costs the same??? Some even cost more.

The 250g Legendee pack will set you back US$16.95 if you order online in the US; the Legendee Coffee Gift Pack (250g pack, a tin of condense milk and a phin filter) cost US$26.95 (not including shipping) .

The Legendee gift pack of a mug and aluminium "phin" filter sells for 205,000vnd (S$12.82/US$10.25) at CoopMart in HCMC.

A cup of Legendee coffee costs more than S$10 in Singapore. Goodness, one cup in SG costs more than a 250g pack in HCMC - one reason why I like living in HCMC.

Sinh Tourist Prices

Adrian, Agnes and family came over today for a short trip. They went to book their day tours and open bus tours from Sinh Tourist. Apparently, Sinh Tourist does not advertise their prices publicly now unlike in the past. Their brochures do not have any tour prices, only descriptions. You need to enquire at the counter - seems like overall costs have risen too rapidly and too much for them to keep printing new brochures. As of today, Sinh Tourist prices for the following tours are :

Day Tour to My Tho/Ben Tre : 218,000vnd/pax (US$10.38/S$13.70)
Half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnels : 97,000vnd/pax + 80,000vnd/pax entrance fee (the latter to be paid to the tour guide on the bus) (Total = US$8.42/S$11.06)
One way open tour to Mui Ne from Saigon : 101,000vnd/pax (US$4.80/S$6.30)
Same price to come back
One day tour to Cai Be/Vinh Long : 280,000vnd (US$13.33/S$17.50)

Exchange rate today:
US$1 : 21,000vnd
S$1 : 16,000vnd

(Take note that Sinh Tourist normally round up the figures when you pay in US$; actually they will quote in US$ first, and then tell you in vnd if you ask)