Shopping in Vietnam

Well back to home sweet home tonight - and despite having a long haul back - left HCMC last night at 9.30pm and home via Sydney and Brisbane and finally back here around 5pm, we're both not feeling too bad. The painter has been here as planned but isn't finished yet (not quite as planned) but doesn't matter too much apart from the fact that the washing machine is buried beneath dust covers and I have a humungous pile of washing to do! I thought I'd do a little shopping post for all you like minded people. I've taken photos of most of the goodies we brought back - good job we took a couple of empty bags in our suitcases! Then next post I'll tell you a bit about our holiday other than just food and shopping which is all I've rabbited on about up to now. The shopping was pretty good - I still love Hong Kong and Thailand for shopping but this was pretty good too and some real bargains. Of course you have to barter which (she says modestly) I'm pretty good at - we all have a bit of a laugh and Bloss tells them what hard woman I am! I don't know that I always get the rock bottom prices but they're so cheap that it's a bit pointless to start haggling over 20cents which is what some people come down to. If I feel I've got a bargain then I'm happy!

Well of course I couldn't possibly have a holiday without buying some shoes. In fact I had to throw two pairs out while away as they gave up the ghost so I didn't feel at all guilty buying another couple of pairs. These cost me about $24 for both pairs

These are lovely little shawl/scarves - great for over a little black dress or black top to change the look. These were about $5 each. The last photo shows me wearing the orange one.

Did a bit of a job lot so not quite sure what each of these were worth - there are two sets of three little change purses (Louis Vuitton copies) and one wallet - I think the sets of change purses were about $4 each set.

Had to get a toy for my grandsons - these worked out about $16 dollars each - came with battery and make all sorts of noises and voices when you shake them. Had to take the batman one out of the box to shut it up otherwise we'd probably have had a security alert with all the sounds they make!

Didn't find Vietnam as good as HK for kid's clothes but picked up a couple Lacoste for the boys and also a Diesel and Billabong for their Dad - Dad's were about $6 each and the boys were probably around $7 each but they are decent material

Tiffany - my DiL loves shoes too so got her a couple of pairs - $8 for both pairs

A few bits and pieces here - got 2 pairs of little pearl earrings - can't remember how much. Couple of pairs of designer sunglasses - about $10 for both. The little wooden trays on the side have little incense cones and a tiny ceramic dish to sit them in to burn them - kinda got hooked on these after the ones at the Ana Mandara in Nha Trang. ($1 each)

There's lots and lots of beautiful lacquer ware. The colour hasn't quite come out right in this - it's a beautiful rich ruby red. It's a large box with a lacquered lid and inside are 8 place mates, 8 coasters and 8 napkin rings - and I was sorely in need of some new table mats. $30

Think I might have told you that one wall of my office is covered in pictures of places we'v travelled to. This is for the wall - it depicts a junk in Halong Bay (where we sailed last week). $2

A set of three prints I couldn't resist - they'll probably go on the wall too - about $12 for the three - couldn't be bothered bargaining that day.

Loved these and bought about 20 of them - they were about $2 each - don't know if you can see the ones at the back clearly - they have pictures of lingerie embroidered on them and words like Lingerie, Underwear and Petite Linge. I thought they'd be a lovely little gift for some of my friends and team.

Tiffany is a teacher and covers the Vietnam War in Social studies so she wanted as much info as I could get for her - so got these two books. I'll tell you about the tunnels in another post.

Some more lacquerware - got these for two close friends - thought they'd be nice on their dressing table - think each pair was around $10 And we bought another oil painting - obviously will need to get it stretched again but I have a spot in mind for it in the lounge room. It's called the "Four Seasons' and supposedly represents the seasons. $38. This photo doesn't do these justice - it's a beautiful little PJ set in satin - an XL mind you which will fit Tiff (who's an 8/10!!!) but the sizes are so different in Vietnam as they are such a tiny race. These were only $4. As I said my laptop bag died so I bought a new one and then decided to buy the backpack too. I do rather like LV as you might gather. Laptop bag around $30 and the backpack about the same I think.

Bloss got a few new shirts

And some new jocks!

And here's me wearing the orange shawl

Hope you enjoyed shopping with me

Take care

Z xx