Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (previously known as Saigon). Despite all the movies I've watched depicting it as an unfriendly place, the real thing is simply the opposite. HCMC is a vibrant city where motorcycles rule the roads - with the rider not wearing any head protection (helmet). To me it reminds me of my kampung folks going around on their trusty ''kapcai'' around the kampung road, a long the ''batas ban'' (the paddy field dividers), and once in a blue moon, a trip to nearby town. Leisurely ''drive'' here is a stroll on motorbikes along the main roads in the city totally oblivious to everyone else.

Anyhow, I also discovered a wonderful restaurant, Satay House - serving wonderful, very authentic Malaysian food and everything is Halal. It's a big yellow frontage unit with unmistakably Malaysian touch throughout (I lost count of the number of Malaysian flags in there). The satay (we only had beef), was wonderful. The fish curry (tenggiri) was nice with the right balance of spices. The sambal udang was also good though slightly hot fare would have given it the oompph. Kangkung belacan was just like home and they''ve ran out of the beef rendang (and we thought we were early - got there at 7pm).

Anyhow, it's at 35 Mac Dinh Chi St, Dist 1, HCM City. Tel no. 8221 727 (and they do deliver to Dist 1 and 3).

I was staying at Sofitel Plaza Hotel and it was only a short walk away.