Saigon Day 1: Yoga & chilling at 42 Nguyen Hue, Q1
Just some visual impressions from my first day in Saigon, or now Ho Chi Minh City. I arrived last evening, and to my surprise it was pleasantly warm. Not too hot, like in summer. It also doesn't rain much during this month. March is my new favorite month to visit Saigon ! Anyway, I arrived, mom picked me up from the airport, I went to my aunts place to have dinner and then went to my friend's boyfriend's place, who is in America for two weeks and left me his apartment, which is really nice, and I'm so glad I can stay here, because my aunt is living like really far away, and I spend most of my time in district 1, that's why I prefer this place over staying at my aunts'. Either way I don't have to pay, which saves me so much money ! So if you plan to visit Saigon, whatever you do, stay close to district 1. Everything else is a pain in the ass, and might end up really expensive. Unless you want to spend a lot of money on transportation. I called my friend chi Lam Thuy Nhan as soon as I was settled, and she told me that she was going to go to Yoga early in the morning, and since I'm eager to work on my body, I instantly decided to join !
MY FIRST YOGA LESSON IN VIETNAM
Met up with chi Nhan at her Studio, and then we took the cab to 19 Vo Van Tan. She made me hurry, because apparently they are strict on people who are late, as in, they won't let you participate once the lesson has started. One thing I can tell you: don't underestimate Yoga ! It was so freaking exhausting, I thought I was going to die several times. I felt so weak after repeating and holding poses like the downfacing dog or something for a couple times. Seriously, I always thought that my strength is not bad, but I would have never thought that it's this bad ! I was horrified. And honestly, couldn't wait for the lesson to end. Yoga is super exhausting. But I'm not going to quit, because I bought a one-week pass, so whenever I have time to, I will attend a class ! The fact that I couldn't even bring up the strength to perform all positions properly is motivating me. And I bought the pass already anyway. It was 17 Dollars. After the Yoga lesson I felt so strained and stress-relieved at the same time. Is that possible ? The location is ok. It could be a little cleaner, but all in all it's good enough for Yoga I guess. A room with a lot of yoga mats and chilled music is all you need. If you want more information on that place, click here. It's called Yoga Living, and is in the back of a bigger building.
42 NGUYEN HUE
One of my best friends in Vietnam, chi Nhan has opened her shop at 42 Nguyen Hue in district 1, and now there are several shops there. Among them the shop of my former roommate, when I was interning at Elle two years ago. I spent the rest of the day chilling here and there, met Helly Tong from Heverly, took photos for Chi Nhan at Renbytee and then went to catch up with chi Hanh at her Popbirdy studio. All these girls produce clothes, and each of them has a different style. There are also other shops in this building, which looks really fucked up from the outside, so that I don't think you'd go in there, unless you know that there's something in there. That's why you might want to put this address on your shopping guide, if you want to buy clothes made and designed in Vietnam. The price range is not very expensive either ! I'll list the shops of which I know below. Tomorrow I'll have to start preparing for my pop-up sale on Friday and Saturday ! I need to get flowers, and displays, and all kind of stuff, to make the pop-up sale a success. If you have friends and relatives in Saigon, tell them to come ! Or if you are living in Vietnam and are reading this, feel free to come as well ! It will be fri/sat 7th/8th march, 11h-17h at 42 Nguyen Hue, Lau8, Q1.
Shops listed alphabetically:
HEVERLY (going to move soon though)
42 Nguyen Hue, Floor 9, Room 98
Mon-Fri 9AM - 12AM
heverlyinfo@gmail.com
NOSBYN
42 Nguyen Hue, Floor 3, Room 35
couldn't find the opening hours
info@nosbyn.com
POPBIRDY
42 Nguyen Hue, Floor 4, Room 42
Mon-Fri until 6.30PM
popbirdy.order@gmail.com
RENBYTEE
42 Nguyen Hue, Floor 8
Mon-Sat 10AM - 5PM
renbytee@gmail.com