Pandora City

A new shopping mall has just opened at the stretch where Cong Hoa Street meets Truong Trinh Street - Pandora City. You can't miss it - a lively coloured facade of red, white and blue, and anchored by Big C. Should be opening some time soon. There's Big C, Nguyen Kim (electronics supermart), Adidas, KFC and Pizza Hut as far as I can see for the moment. However, seems like only KFC is open for business so far. Completing the Cong Hoa/Truong Trinh stretch will be another new shopping/office complex Pico Plaza. I also saw a site opposite Pico Plaza with a signboard that states TDB-Parkson Plaza. Certainly good news for residents of Tan Binh, Tan Phu and the surrounding districts.

For those unfamiliar with the location, this is the stretch of street bringing you to Cu Chi Tunnels and Cambodia. You can now stop along these locations on your way back from Cu Chi/Cambodia to explore a more local shopping scene. No worries, you can either take a cab back to town or take Bus No 4 which brings you to the Bus Station opposite Ben Thanh Market.

Pandora City

Church @ Truong Trinh

This is the nice and modern church that I went to for mass yesterday - Nha Tho Thanh Anton. Located at 98/1, Truong Trinh Street in Tan Binh District, NT Thanh Anton has alter girls (didn't see the altar boys), and in this sense, is way ahead of many countries where the Catholic Church is still very much male-dominated. Mass times on Sunday are at 7.00am and 5.00pm.

There's a nice emporium just down the street - an all-in-one departmental store and supermarket. Even sells copy CDs from music to education!!!