February 2012

Fly away with Jetstar Asia

Jetstar Asia Fan Club

Jacinta Wee
Ho Chi Minh City

My sister and I do a sisterly trip once a year, and this year we picked Ho Chi Minh City simply because it's not your conventional food and shopping destination. It took us a while to adapt to crossing the congested roads but all in all we loved our four days in Saigon, especially the delicious pho and banh mi.

We visited famous sites in town such as the Reunification Palace and Central Post Office. We also attended mass in the Notre-Dame Basilica. The highlight of our trip had to be a foodie tour by XO Tours that evening where we rode pillion on Vespas driven by Vietnamese girls dressed in their traditional ao dai. They took us all through several districts to savour traditional Viet cuisine. One of our fellow tour members even tried balut (a fertilised duck embryo)!

Of course, we did not miss visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels. The journey by car was about an hour and a half (although it's shorter but pricier by boat) through scenic HCMC rural zones. We explored the tunnels and even went to lower basements. We then headed back to the city to visit the War Remnants Museum, which really opened our eyes and hearts to the people of Vietnam.

Shopping is always part of the equation so we went to Saigon Square and Ben Thanh market and ended our evening with delicious French cuisine at La Villa in District Two.

Aishah Hamza
Hanoi

All too often, we get too consumed by the daily rat race to truly appreciate the simpler things in life.

With the help of Jetstar, seven of us went in search of peace of mind in Sapa, Vietnam. We took a comfortable and convenient Jetstar flight to Hanoi, followed by a night train to Sapa.

There, we trekked through rice terraces and bamboo forests, balanced on suspension bridges, shared meals with the locals in their villages and had timely breaks by the beautiful waterfalls. Of course we couldn't possibly have navigated through the terrain without the help of a whole entourage of Hmong villagers! The friendly Hmong ladies, dressed in their colourful garb, ensured we didn't slip or hurt ourselves, by offering a helping hand throughout the three-hour trek.

We also visited a village school where we distributed stationery, much to the delight of the young students.

Sapa taught us the value of the human spirit. The villagers we encountered may not have much but what little they have, they truly cherish.

About the competition

Every issue, up to 20 lucky passengers with winning travel stories will be rewarded with a S$500 travel voucher in $100 denominations (suitable for use on all 3K/VF coded flights).

If you would like to have a shot at this opportunity, tell us about a recent Jetstar Asia trip. Stories are not to exceed 300 words and must be accompanied by three photos (300dpi minimum). Send in your entries to us at fanclub@jetstarasia.com.

Winners will be required to pay all airport taxes, administrative and handling fees for each flight. Jetstar Asia will absorb base airfares incurred. Jetstar Asia magazine reserves the right to use all submitted entries in its promotional material and to edit text for clarity. Other terms and conditions apply.