Salam,
After dinner at VN Halal we roamed around on the streets near the roundabout before we hit midnight. Mostly all main streets were closed for New Year's celebration so you could go anywhere only by motorcycle or by foot. Mostly all the parks were decorated with colourful lights and lots of booths were set up.
At a New Year 2010 Christmas Tree =D
Decorative lights everywhere.
Even FAHASA, their most popular bookstore was fully lit up with fairy lights.
We saw quite a grand looking shopping mall, Saigon Centre, also beautifully decorated. We decided to check it out.
Nana at the entrance of Saigon Centre
Inside Saigon Centre is not very spacious, quite narrow in fact but the stores there are quite good. Many branded names such from Nine West, United Colours of Benetton, Guess? to name a few have their retail outlets there. Oh yes I saw one salesperson at Nine West was so cute! Haha! We didn't shop for anything, mostly these are the things you could get at Malaysian shopping malls though some of the stores have French names so maybe they are originated from France. However Ummi was attracted to check out the dining ware and hourse decor store selling lovely but quite expensive ceramic and glass dining ware.
Isn't this lovely? =) 
Oh yes I saw this at the window display of an Indian house decor store. I am positive that this is from Kashmir, just so mesmerizing. 
Yes I love the architecture of this building because it is so French-looking unfortunately I still don't know the name of it. Any help anyone?
This is the City Theatre. 
Oh yes please bear in mind that tens of motorcycles will always interrupt your view in this post. =) 
We walked some more and again we bumped into this luxury brand store. 
The Louis Vuitton store is closed people. Check out the trunks, a classical sign of wealth if you travel with it hehe. Really reminded me of Kimora Lee Simmons, she claimed to own the most Louis Vuitton handbags and trunks. That lucky devil.
The lights outside the LV boutique.
Whoa! I told you there'll be lots of motorcycles! 
It was a challenge to snap a clear photo of this hotel. 
Lovely building don't you think? 
The Saigon Continental Hotel. 
Oh another dash of bikers! =D 
Gorgeous, gorgeous lights decorated at the walkway of the hotel. 
Here you go, for you to view them clearer and admire their beauty. 
Deena standing against the posters of some Vietnamese latest films. 
Yes Ummi decided that she did not want to celebrate New Year's eve with us, she insisted to kick back and relax at the hotel so we sent her to our room. I still took the opportunity to have Nana model the new super spacious cotton handbag I bought at Ben Thanh market, and this was how she choose to model it. Errr..thank you Nana. 
Sweet colourful designs that I love. =) Then after Nana changed into what she wore earlier that day (she decided since there'll be lots of people she just had to look more attractive ;p) we headed to a nearby park on foot for us to welcome the new year.
We passed by Cathedral of Notre Dame and we witnessed that it was brightly lit with lights and hundreds of candles.
The Virgin Mary statue was also adorned by a lovely, huge bouquet of fresh flowers. We saw that a huge number of Christians prayed at the brightly lit compound of the church, praying for a more peaceful and prosperous year ahead most probably.
Nana again posing at one of the gorgeous side doors of the Cathdedral.
Yes we have arrived at the park facing opposite the historical Independence Palace. Hundreds of Vietnamese, old or young, friends, lovers, families all packed the park.
It's a 10 yay! The start of a new decade since the 2000 millenium! 
Ok from the looks of this photo, it seems that there weren't many people. Seriously there was, we were sitting at the very back of the crowd and only facing a screen instead of watching the real entertainers performing at the very front of the park.There were many very goodlooking and equally talented singers performing that night. One thing that bewildered us the most was the fact that the Vietnamese did not bother to clap after each and every performance. We were clapping and even shouting 'Woot! Woot!' loudly we almost thought it was rude to cheer and clap when almost everybody there stared at us. Ok one obvious reason they stared at us because they knew we were not locals, and especially me wearing Abaya and Hijab when most of them are not Muslims. Initially they gave us empty-looking stares but then they smiled at us then surely we smiled back. =)
We started to chat with the girls sitting next to us, and when we told them we were from Malaysia, instantaneously they complimented us 'Beautiful, your eyes big!' Haha oh masha Allah thank you thank you. Crazy thing was when two pretty teenage girls wearing Baby-Ts and shorts walked towards us and asked me specifically "Can I take photos with you? You have beautiful eyes!" Really Nana laughed and made a face there. I was flattered though and felt it was a very very funny experience, because the girls were prettier than me! =D
This guy sang well. Since we didn't know the names of the singers we gave them the names of Malaysian and Indonesian artistes which we found similarities with them =p This one it was a tie between Dafi and Vincent Chong. Another guy, who sang a wonderful R&B Ballad, we called him Kaer Azami & Afgan. Yes they sung like they were losing their throats but thank you nobody clapped.
Tired yet excited siblings.
This guy, well we were not sure whether he was Vietnamese or Korean, he was the DJ spinning some trance music there and some young people started to dance.
Yes THIS super sexy woman here was the ONLY ONE who obtained energizing clapping and cheering when she started to perform. I asked a girl next to me who is she, she knew there's no point telling me her name so she excitedly shouted to us over the loud music saying "She's Vietnam's No.1! No.1!" Definitely, we had to call he Siti Nurhaliza because of her status, but due to her sexiness sometimes we called her Mulan Jameela, but her vocals, I dare to say as strong and powerful as Anggun's. No wonder she was #1. The girls next to us said she's quite a mature lady already, but since she's rich she has the money to get the most powerful beauty regime ready for her. Again, that would be Siti Nurhaliza and Kris Dayanti =D
Now now is the time! 10 seconds to 2010!
3 seconds... 2..1...
Happy New Year!!! The orange and white balloons representing a local telco were released on top of us! Sorry no fireworks people that would be nearby the port but hope that these will do! =DThis time, Nana and I were cheering so loudly like we obtained some sort of personal victory and did nothing else but jumping up and down and hugging each other, saying we love each other. =')
Now we could see the non-clapping crowd were all laughing and cheering happily. =)
Nana acting out as Malaysian TV host, reporting the new year celebration live from Ho Chi Minh City. =)
On the way back to our hotel, we enjoyed looking at rows and rows of motorcyclists ready to make a slow but sure move. Again I enjoyed the fact I was stared by them for my unique appearance and big, black, kohl-rimmed eyes. Always get the same attention regardless of which country I go. Eheh! =D
Check out the Christians, solemnly praying to their Lord for a better new year.
Nana again at another Christmas decorative lights.
Ok people, signing off, goodnight from two loving sisters. ;)I love you Nana, you are the permanent record-holder of the best sister in the world!
MMMMUUUUAHHHHH! =)
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