Singapore Eating: Sentosa Island

Once the management realized it wasn’t against the law to provide something other than junk food at a tourist attraction (a lesson many tourist attractions could learn), eating on Sentosa underwent something of a renaissance.

Combining decent beachfront eateries, fine hotel restaurants and some top-notch fine-dining institutions, Sentosa has planted its flag proudly on the city’s culinary map.

Some of the places double as bars in the evenings, catering mainly to the bikini-clad club crowd.
PRICE GUIDE

The following price guide is based on dinner for two, with a couple of drinks.

$$$ over $75

$$ $20-75

BRAISE (French $$$)
6271 1929; Palawan Beach; mains from $38; Metro: HarbourFront then monorail or shuttle bus

Braise typifies the new Sentosa, serving up refined nouvelle cuisine in a minimalist interior (sorry, space), with white walls, high vaulted ceilings, bare brick and full-length glass maximizing the beachfront views. Seafood monopolizes the starter menu, while meat dominates the mains. Don’t come in your beach gear.

IL LIDO (Italian $$$)
6866 1977; www.il-lido.com; Sentosa Golf Club, Bukit Manis Rd; set menus $90-180, mains from $40; Metro: HarbourFront then monorail or shuttle bus


With stunning views over the Strait of Singapore and the lights of Indonesia beyond, Il Lido does the vista justice with its food. Choose from modern, classic or vegetarian menus or, if you have a spare $3000 lying around, you can book the yacht for an evening of private dining.

SKY DINING (European $$$)
6377 9633; www.mountfaber.com.sg; meals $98-168; h6.30-8.30pm Tue-Sun; Metro: HarbourFront


We can’t quite decide if this is inspired, or just plain silly, but the idea of eating a meal travelling along in a cable car 70m up in the air holds an undeniable appeal. The novelty might wear thin by dessert, but gliding from Mount Faber to Sentosa taking in the sunset cityscape is a stunning way to spend a romantic evening – though the cars are too small to contemplate anything indecent. Book at least two days in advance.

THE CLIFF (Seafood $$$)
6275 0331; www.thesentosa.com; 2 Bukit Manis Rd h6.30-11pm (last order 9.30pm). Metro: HarbourFront then monorail or shuttle bus

Sitting on a clifftop, The Cliff has become a byword for ‘special occasion’, partly because of its location, partly its great service, but mostly because of its seafood. Take the pain out of it and order the set menu, then sit back as plate after plate of marine masterpiece files past you. Book one of the junior suites, and the evening will be complete.


FARM FRESH

Set in the wonderfully peaceful Bollywood Veggies organic farm, Poison Ivy Bistro (6898 5001; 100 Neo Tiew Cres; dishes from $4; 9am-6pm Wed-Sun; taxi) is the perfect place to stop after a visit to the other farms in the area, or Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. The food, using veggies from the farm, is nothing to write home about, but the rural location makes it special.

COASTES (International $$)
6338 8832; Siloso Beach; snacks & mains $7-25; Metro: HarbourFront then monorail or shuttle bus;

The pick of Sentosa’s beach eats, Coastes’ atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. While it draws blatant inspiration from Ibiza, it’s also the kind of place you can bring the kids without being made to feel like you’re ruining the vibe. Pick a wooden bench, or recline on a lounger and order your wood-fired pizza while you sun-fire your body.

SAMUNDAR (Indian $$)
6276 8891; 85 Palawan Beach Walk; mains from $12; Metro: HarbourFront then monorail or shuttle bus


It boasts one of those vast menus that can drive you mad with indecision, but stick with the tandoor menu and you won’t go wrong (unless you’re vegetarian – but even then you have 15 choices). Order three days in advance for the special sikandari raan (marinated leg of lamb) – a snip at $84.

Singapore Eating: Sentosa Island

Singapore Eating: Colonial District & the Quays

Eating around the Colonial District and the three quays is a fancy affair – budget options are pretty thin on the ground in this part of town. The range of international restaurants, from sophisticated French, such as Saint Pierre, to shameless raunch, like Clarke Quay’s Hooters, is so staggering it would take a year or more just to eat your way through the Quays. A few hawker centres, ideal for a quick lunch or cheap dinner, remain and all the main shopping malls have their obligatory food courts.
PRICE GUIDE
The following price guide is based on dinner for two, with a couple of drinks.

$$$ over $75

$$ $20-75

$ under $20

BOBBY’S TAPROOM & GRILL (American $$$)
6337 5477; www.bobbys.com.sg; B1-03 Chijmes, 30 Victoria St; mains from $20; noon-midnight Sun-Tue, noon-2am Wed-Sat; Metro: City Hall

A completely refurbished high-end American barbecue and sports bar specializing in steaks, chops, ribs and all things meaty. It’s particularly well-known for its baby back pork ribs, but the steaks are also excellent. Veggie options available.

CHEF CHAN’S RESTAURANT (Chinese $$$)
6333 0073; 01-06 National Museum, 93 Stamford Rd; set menu $88; Metro: Dhoby Ghaut
Staking a very strong claim to be Singapore’s top Chinese restaurant, everything about Chef Chan’s is outstanding, from the glorious location buried in a hard-to-find nook of the National Museum to the genuine antique Chinese decor and the magnificent, classic set menu (featuring his famous crispy roast chicken, complete with head). Reservations only.


DOC CHENG’S (International $$$)
6412 1264; level 2, Raffles Hotel Arcade, 1 Beach Rd; mains from $20; Metro: City Hall

Decked out with curtained booths, high ceilings, soft lighting and chequered tiles, Doc Cheng’s has a discreetly colonial air. The food, however, is decidedly modern fusion. ‘Son-in-law’ egg starter is surprisingly successful, as are dishes like the tandoori trout.

BOOK CAFÉ (Cafe $$)
6887 5430; 01-02 Seng Kee Bldg, 20 Martin Rd; mains $10-15; 8.30am-10.30pm Sun-Thu, 8.30am-midnight Fri & Sat

At the river end of Mohamed Sultan Rd, Book Café is a convivial bistro with large, comfy sofas and a good selection of old books, magazines and foreign newspapers to browse through while you lounge around enjoying breakfast or a coffee.

CORIANDER LEAF (Asian Fusion $$)

6732 3354; www.corianderleaf.com; 02-03, 3A Merchant Court, Clarke Quay; mains $15-25; Metro: Clarke Quay

A fusion of European, Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian menus, Coriander Leaf offers a wide selection of dishes, some a little jarring, most excellent. There’s also a small deli and a demo kitchen offering cooking courses

SAGE (European $$)
6333 8726; 7 Mohamed Sultan Rd; mains from $28

Set in a tiny converted shophouse on the Mohamed Sultan bar strip, Sage is one of the best restaurants in the Quays area. Intimate and relaxed, the service is immaculate and the food, from the prawn and escargot risotto starter to the mushroom soup and the beef cheek main, is superb. The only potential downside is the noise, if a big group happens to be sharing the small space with you. Booking is essential.

TAPAS TREE (Spanish $$)
6837 2938; 01-08, Block 3D, Clarke Quay; tapas from $5; Metro: Clarke Quay

Among the most popular of the recent Clarke Quay arrivals, this eatery boasts a huge range of classic tapas, a riverside location (though there’s comfy seating inside) and great music (the flamenco trio are fun, though inevitably they’re Filipino). Booking at weekends is essential.

WAH LOK Map (Chinese $$)
6311 8188; 2nd level, Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Rd; mains over $20; Metro: City Hall

The rotunda hall with the high dome ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, bright interior and warm ambience of this Cantonese place don’t quite prepare you for the entertainingly brusque service, but the food is great. Wah Lok well known for its excellent tofu; the roast meats are also a highlight.

GLUTTONS BAY (Hawker Centre $)
6336 7025; 01-15 Esplanade Mall; mains $10-20; 6pm-3am; Metro: City Hall

Selected by the Makansutra food guide, this bayside collection of the best hawkers (or street-food masters, as they call them)

KOPITIAM (Coffeeshop $)
cnr Bencoolen St & Bras Basah Rd; 24hr; Metro: City Hall

One of the top spots in the district for a late-night feed, this branch of the Kopitiam chain is brisk and blindingly bright, so if it’s a late boozy night grab a table outside, where the light is friendlier. The food is uniformly good and you won’t pay much more than $6 for a meal.

Singapore Eating: Colonial District & the Quays

Eating in Vung Tau

Being a seaside town, Vung Tau revolves around seafood. Don’t assume, however, that the flipping fish in front of you is from the sea — Vung Tau hosts a couple of rather large fish farms. On Thuy Van St (Back Beach), large seafood restaurants sporadically stand on the seafront. Portions are generous and standards hardly differ, it’s best just to take a lucky dip.

On the other side of town,Cat Bien is a restaurant of similar ilk. The vast menu contains any kind of mollusc, fish and crustacean you could wish for — and maybe some you wouldn’t. A specialty is BBQ fish wrapped in foil — we had the grouper — and dipped with some muoi tieu chanh (salt, pepper and lemon juice mixed together), it was mighty fine.

Possibly the most popular dining venue in town is Hai San Song. Vietnamese tourists flock here due its reputation, price and location — weekends are especially heaving, but not in stressful way. This place is a little out of town, follow Quang Trung St out of town to the North for about 1.5km. The restaurant is housed directly on the shoreline, with good views out across the bay where you can see the container ships trafficking in and out of the estuary that leads to Saigon. On the top of the inevitably wide-ranging seafood menu, the prices are exceptionally good value.

Back in town, Le Dung is a kind of seafood ‘takeaway’, where you can order your preferred dish to be prepared on the spot and then thrown in a box for a beach side picnic.

By now, the taste of squid and shrimp are probably becoming a little overbearing, but don’t worry, there is a smattering of western choices in town too. Ali Baba is the one and only Indian restaurant in town, and just across the road is a branch of the Vietnam-wide Good Morning Vietnam, the Italian option.

 

Along the front of ‘Front Beach’ is the Pig and Whistle, which has a restaurant above its seedy looking bar area. Despite the name it looks nothing like a pub, but the menu would suggest otherwise — it has everything from fish &chips to steaks to pies. Further along the road, opposite the ferry terminal is Ned Kelly’s Eureka Inn.

Another good destination for anything that may remind you of home, this place is run by an Australian expat and some interesting photos of Vung Tau in the 1930s and 1960s adorn the wall. Ned Kelly’s seems to play Aussie Rules all day long on the TV, and there’s also a pool table to entertain you. Still further along the road, now past the ferry terminal is Tommy’s Bar. This is a more relaxing cafe style environment, with some comfortable outside seating. They have daily specials, Western and Vietnamese food, and in true Aussie style, ‘Beer under ice at all times’.

In terms of nightlife Vung Tau has a seedy reputation, and once you’ve wandered around for a while, you’ll see why. A large number of bars with exotic names and a couple of ‘Discotheques’ masquerade as girly-bars/clubs.

For the majority not interested in this kind of activity, options are limited. You could choose to meet the crowds of resident expats who gather in the aforementioned bars of Ned Kelly’s and Tommy’s, and more than likely some other tourists as well. At the Vung Tau Beach Club (opposite Sammys Hotel) you will find the windsurfers and kitesurfers who are in town. Other than that, you may want to try a Vietnamese night out at one of the insanely popular coffee shops — try Blue Star on the beach road on Friday or Saturday night for an example of Ho Chi Minh City-style posing at its best.

 

Eating in Vung Tau

Nha Trang"s Activities

One of the first things people do on arrival in Nha Trang is to head straight down to the beach. And what a beach! Facing east out over the East Sea and palm lined, it’s definitely a place to hang out.

Because of this there are a lot of water-based activities such as diving and snorkeling as well as sailing when the weather permits. A fast-growing destination, you can be sure that Nha Trang will change from year to year.

Boat Cruises

Nha Trang is flanked by 71 islands, and the sea at most times of year, is crystal clear so the plethora of boat trips daily heading out plus the easy availability of booking agents is self-explanatory. Trips are not expensive and are more often than not party cruises but with a fair amount of snorkeling and fishing fitted in between the drinking. Check whether lunch is included or not and compare deals before booking.

If you are not an extremely early riser then charter a boat the day before. Most hotels can handle the booking but the place to book in person is the Cau Da Dock.

Bicycle and Rafting Tour

Biking trips are the best way to enjoy the beautiful countryside of south central coastal area of Vietnam. Some organized tours take you through rural areas, visiting some historic sites along the way. You can also combine biking with rafting down the Cai River. Tours usually includes light lunches.

Cooking Classes

As Vietnamese food is beginning to be appreciated worldwide, a cooking class is a good introduction to this wonderful cuisine. A half-day class usually begins with a trip to the local market to select fresh herbs, spice and meats. Back in the kitchen, you will be taught how to handle a wok and the correct way to chop, slice or grind.

Diving & Snorkeling

Nha Trang has 10 or so dive shops, so this is a ‘buyer-friendly’ market! Students looking for certification will find that the value for money here is superb, with PADI open-water courses available with full equipment rental. A two-dive boat trip with equipment rental and snacks can be had for a very reasonable sum. As with everywhere in Asia, check what you are getting for your money and make sure you speak to the Instructor who’ll be teaching you, not just a ‘salesman’. Diving, and especially training, should not be chosen by price alone.

Half-Day Bike Tour of Nha Trang

Check out Nha Trang’s attractions by bike. The Hon Chong Promontory, the Po Nagar Cham, Long Son Pagoda, with its huge seated Buddha, and Bao Dai’s Villas. All these sights are within a hired bike ride away from each other.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Established in Hon Tam Island in 2010, the new centre for hot air balloon rides now operates from near Pham Van Dong Street.

The hot air balloon has solid handrails and a protective net. The ride takes you to a height of 150 metres, and includes a 15-20 stop so you can enjoy the panoramic bird’s eye view of the city and take those hard-to-get aerial photographs of the bay and the sea beyond.

Golf

Golfers will not feel left out in Nha Trang, where a few professionally designed 18-hold golf courses are to be found at: Vinpearl Complex, in Hon Tre Island, just across the bay of Nha Trang; Diamond Bay Golf Course, at Diamond Bay Resort, Nguyen Ta Thanh.

Mud Baths

The mud baths at Thap Ba natural hot springs are a healthy and fun way to spend a few hours. The best time of day to go is between 12:00 and 15:00 when they are less crowded. You will be offered single or shared mud baths and obviously the single ones are more expensive yet the communal tubs are more fun. Shower off in mineral-rich water afterwards or let the mud dry on you first for additional benefits before showering.

Nha Trang"s Activities

Ho Chi Minh "s Festival & Events

There are a number of celebrations and festivals in Ho Chi Minh City, with one of the main highlights being Tet (Vietnamese New Year), as well as smaller local historical celebrations and cultural festivals.

Tet

The Tet Holiday or Vietnamese New Year, which is from the last two days of the last lunar month to the third day of the first lunar month, is by far the most celebrated and important event of the year. Schools and businesses close during the holiday for up to two weeks. Many Vietnamese return to their homes and families in the countryside, leaving Ho Chi Minh City strangely quiet and peaceful.

A number of ancient customs are carried out in preparation for the Lunar New Year. Special foods are prepared such as That Kho Hot - a combination of pork and eggs, Banh Chung – pork and rice wrapped in banana leaves and Mien Ga - noodle and chicken soup.

Of special interest to children is the giving of “lucky money”, and many company executives also give “lucky money” to their employees. Lucky money is the giving of a new VND note in a red envelope, made especially for this purpose.

Tet is most importantly a time for families to reunite, relax, eat and drink. During Tet, Vietnamese are also obligated to visit their relatives and Buddhist temples. Tet is the first day of spring, also called Hội xuân(spring festival), and is a time of renewal and hope for the coming year.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street Festival

During the Lunar New Year celebration, Nguyen Hue Street is closed to traffic for several days to allow people to walk the street and admire the beautiful flower arrangements and enjoy the local food and drink. There are children’s games, exhibitions by local artists and more.

Tao Dan Spring Flowers Festival

Another unique sight during the Tet holiday is the Tao Dan Spring Flower Festival, which features flowers, music, games and food in a beautiful park area near the centre of the city.

King Hung’s Commemoration

In Vietnamese history there were 18 Hung kings and on the 10th day of the third Lunar month the people of Vietnam remember and pay tribute to them all. Although widely celebrated in the north of Vietnam, this day is more like a holiday from work for southerners. However, at Suoi Tien Park there is a temple constructed for the Hung kings and many come to pray and offer food to the god-like Hung.

Buddha’s Birthday

This religious holiday on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Lunar calendar is celebrated quietly with prayer at the various temples around the city.

Book Reading Festival

For two weeks every March the local bookstores put on an exhibition of Vietnamese- and English-language books in a park setting. The books are reasonably priced and include some unusual finds.

Liberation Day

Liberation Day on 30 April celebrates the end of American occupation and the reunification of the north and south. It is marked by festivals and events throughout the country.

Southern Fruit Festival

This festival takes place in Suoi Tien Park every July. It is a spectacular exhibition of all the different species of fruit grown in Vietnam, of which many are unique to southern Vietnam. The colours, shapes, textures and tastes are unusual and varied. Visitors can walk through the park and taste the different fruits. Prices are reasonable and the quality exceptional.

National Day

National Day or Independence Day is on 2 September and is a one-day holiday celebrating the nation of Vietnam. No organised events take place, but often there is music and local celebrities singing in Ho Chi Minh City’s local parks.

Western Holidays

 

New Year on 1 January is of much less importance in Vietnam than Tet; however, the locals of Ho Chi Minh City join the expatriate community to celebrate this western holiday.

Christmas Day is celebrated by local Vietnamese Christians, primarily of the Catholic religion. Christmas day is a minor holiday in Vietnam and is not classified as a public holiday. Many hotels that cater to expatriates have buffet lunches and dinners accompanied by western Christmas music. Local retailers in the centre of the city put up colourful decorations and make it largely a consumer opportunity. Christian Vietnamese decorate their homes and many drive around to take in the sights.

Ho Chi Minh "s Festival & Events

Beside a lot of attractions, Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Sai Gon) has a lot of activities beside many attractions. Here is a few things you can do here

1. Cheap eats

Vietnam is a food paradise, and Ho Chi Minh City has all the food from all over the country, with many price, from street food to restaurant. You can try the food at family shop, named like “Aunty” or “Chi” followed a number representing their order in the family, or chains, such as Pho24 and Pho 2000. Interestingly, the chain store cannot beat the family shops here.

2. Motorbike tours

Riding on a motorbike to travel in the traffic with nearly 5 million motorbikes is an exhilarating way to experience the city like a local. Be caution that helmet is compulsory in Vietnam, so don’t forget it. If you’re not confident enough to find your own way around, take an organized tour that give you some idea on food, nightlife, unusual sights or attractions, remember to ask the guide for hot spots so you can visit them yourself later.

3. Bia hoi (Fresh bear)

Fresh bear, free preservatives and therefore best gulped down immediately, was first introduced in Czechs, but now you can it on most street corners and in ramshackle bars. The price can vary from place to place, but still reasonable, but the trial and error is the best part here.

 

4. Coffee

Vietnam is one of the biggest coffee export country in the world. It is still the local’s favorite beverage since the introduction in 19^th century by French colonist. The local has a unique filtered steeping process leads to a richer, more naturally sweat flavors. The coffee served here is usually ca phe da, or iced coffee, and ca phe sua da, iced coffee with condensed milk.

In 30/4 park (opposite of Independence Palace), you can try out a unique coffee culture only in Ho Chi Minh, Ca phe Bet. What unique is that you’ll drink coffee while sitting on the ground in the park, no chairs or tables. There a lot of clubs, group of youths come here, and they’re usually really friendly.

5. Cooking class

Find the food here is to your liking? How about bring the recipe home and cook it to surprise your family? Many major hotels offer generic cooking class, but small-size class can be better. The best classes will assign a chef to your team, and teach you from the very beginning: buying ingredients in a nearby market, to cook classic dishes (summer rice rolls, rice noodle soup and many more). Cooking class usually come in private, half-day, or full-day class, depend on how much you love it.

6. Cu Chi Tunnels

Here is where you’ll learn what claustrophobia really mean. This vast network of interconnecting underground tunnels was used during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and was an important part in many military campaigns. You’ll be allowed to experience the tunnels first hand, and even fire the AK-47.

7. Tailored clothing

If you haven’t know, the World Heritage-listed town Hoi An, in the Central of Vietnam, is a top spot for quality tailoring, but Ho Chi Minh city is also another safe bet. For the best result, you should make preparation by taking magazine, or clothing you want to replicate. Determine how much you’ll spend, or you might change your whole wardrobe. Allow a few days for necessary adjustments, so you won’t have any regret later.

8. Nightlife

The night in Ho Chi Minh is still very bustling. You can go to Pham Ngu Lao Street, known as backpacker district, which is another version of Bangkok’s Khao San Road. If you’re looking something more expensive, try the rooftop bar hop in three most famous hotels in the city: The Rex, Caravelle, and Majestic. The price can be … scary, but the view from here and the colorful history can worth your money. Dong Khoi area is another area full of live-music venues and more upmarket bars.

9. Shopping

Beside market, you can still find high-end shopping in major department stores such as Diamond Plaza and Saigon Centre, and as expected, price won’t be much different from home. Other shopping center you can try out is Vincom Centre, or Nguyen Hue Street.

 

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