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The PERFECT Ho Chi Minh City Itinerary 2025 – Saigon Travel Guide

May 20, 2025 by Bino Leave a Comment

Ho Chi Minh City is the commercial hub of Vietnam. Although less traditional than the capital, Hanoi, and possessing less potential in terms of outdoor activities compared to Central Vietnam; the city which is also still called Saigon to this day offers a lot of diversions to keep the traveler busy in what could be a fun-filled Ho Chi Ming City itinerary. From quirky concept cafes to marvelous architecture as well as ultra-happening rooftop bars, Ho Chi Minh City is perhaps better thought of as the place to go in order to experience modern pleasures. If you are making your way around the country, this city is a nice complement to the other parts and personally, I would think of Ho Chi Minh City as the best place to end a trip around Vietnam.

Other than that, if you are here just for a short getaway, Ho Chi Minh City also has plenty of activities to keep you preoccupied for 2 or 3 days. This Ho Chi Minh City itinerary shows you where to go and the places to eat during that jaunt.

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Morita UNIGORO – Uni Omakase From Japan Lands in Singapore

May 15, 2025 by Bino Leave a Comment

Acclaimed sea urchin specialist Morita UNIGORO, which hails from Osaka, has opened in Singapore. Apparently, the original outlet in Japan is notoriously difficult to get a reservation so it was quite a relief to see just 2 groups of diners on the weekday evening I came for dinner.

Occupying a space in a shophouse along Stanley Street and just a few doors down from Restaurant Gaig and Sushi Hare, the intimate 14-seater outlet features counter-style seating – just apt for the mode of service here. Each dish is prepared right before the diner’s eyes with great attention to detail.

Morita UNIGORO offers 3 types of menu ranging from S$98 / S$168 / S$250. For this particular occasion I tried their S$168 menu.

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Biggest Bak Chang Guide 2025 Singapore & Best Rice Dumplings for Dragonboat Festival

May 7, 2025 by Bino 2 Comments

Dumpling Festival 2025, also known as Dragonboat Festival or Duan Wu Jie (端午节) in Chinese, will occur on the 31st of May 2025 – the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Although the Dumpling Festival is not a public holiday in Singapore, this is the time that families and friends come together to enjoy exquisitely handmade sticky rice dumplings or zongzi (粽子) or bak chang in the Hokkien dialect. Traditionally, there are 3 types of rice dumplings:

Nyonya – Often has a blue tip. The interior features minced meat.
Hokkien – Juicier than the Nyonya rice dumpling due to the presence of pork belly brimming with fat. The juices get absorbed by the rice.
Sweet – Filled with various beans, nuts, dates or simply just the sticky rice and nothing else. Also called kee chang. Vegetarian-friendly.

If you were to choose to buy your rice dumplings from hotels and Chinese restaurants, expect luxurious ingredients such as scallops, abalone and even duck. This year, a couple of outlets have introduced some unique flavors. Many of the bak chang listed below for Dumpling Festival 2025 are available not just for takeaway but also for delivery. Here is a list of the best rice dumplings being sold this year.

You can also join our newly-launched telegram channel here and receive updates on F&B promotions as well as other flash deals and offers in F&B and travel.

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Updated Afternoon Tea Promotions in Singapore (April 2025 Edition)

March 31, 2025 by Bino 1 Comment

Few other things are as evocative of the leisurely life as spending the afternoon socializing with friends and family over scones, cakes and finger sandwiches laid out nicely on a three-tier stand. Afternoon teas have only increased in popularity following the new normal as more folks take it slow and focus more on personal wellness.

In this article, I try to show all the updated afternoon tea offerings at the moment. Afternoon tea sets tend to get refreshed every few months so without further ado, these are the promotions you can check out this month.

As WFH becomes less common, afternoon teas are reverting to their original place as mainly weekend affairs so it is advisable to book ahead if you wish to come on a Saturday or Sunday. Weekday seatings are usually not booked out, but it is advisable to check ahead as there are hotels that have made their afternoon tea sets available only on weekends.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on NEW afternoon tea offerings, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as other F&B flash deals.

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Essential Things to Do in Padang in Western Sumatra – High Time to Visit This Underrated Indonesian Gem

March 15, 2025 by Bino Leave a Comment

The name Sumatra often brings to mind images of exotic wildlife as well as gourmet coffee beans. As the largest island that entirely belongs to Indonesia, it’s also one of the less commonly explored – especially when you consider the myriad of attractions found there. The Western Sumatran capital of Padang for instance, does not receive many overseas visitors. The trickle who come would take the quickest boat to the Mentawai Islands rather than spend a couple of days in Padang. The fact that Padang is not a buzzing or up-and-coming destination certainly adds to its charms. For the most part, you’ll find yourself to be the only foreigner in a town that Indonesians have long been in-the-know about – and for good reason, too. Here are the things you can do when you visit Padang, Indonesia.

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Food Review: The Black Pearl – NEW Cantonese Restaurant in Odeon 333

March 12, 2025 by Bino Leave a Comment

There is a new Chinese restaurant in town. The Black Pearl occupies the rooftop space of Odeon 333 along North Bridge Road. It is one of the concepts of Gaia Lifestyle Group, a chain that also includes Social Place and Gyutan-tan. The Black Pearl is helmed by Executive Chef Dee Chan.

The space is impressive and features panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline, including the iconic Marina Bay Sands. The 80-seater main dining hall is inspired by the beauty of the pearl and evokes the spirit of the Qing imperial banquet.

Aside from the main dining hall, there are also private rooms as well as a chef’s table with a particularly noteworthy ceiling. Overall, it is quite an enchanting venue – one that I’d imagine suit business lunches and family gatherings.

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My Perfect Itinerary For Hoi An, Da Nang and Hue In Central Vietnam (2025 Updated Travel Guide)

March 10, 2025 by Bino 20 Comments

The central part of Vietnam where the cities of Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang are located, is considered to be one of the main touristic centers of the country. The region contains a diversity of attractions ranging from a UNESCO World Heritage town to archeological sites and even Vietnam’s former imperial capital. For outdoorsy types, the area also has plenty to offer in terms of beaches and you can find plenty of award-winning luxury resorts here. The world’s largest cave – Hang Son Doong – can also be found in the region.

If you are also visiting Hanoi during your trip to Vietnam, check out my suggested Hanoi itinerary here

If you are visiting Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue and thinking how to organize your itinerary and long you need to spend in the area, I would suggest you go for 5 days / 4 nights minimally. The three cities are accessible from each other to be day trip destinations but I would suggest spending at least a night per city to really appreciate the distinct vibe in each place.

Where you start really depends on your personal preference and where you are coming from. During my trip to Central Vietnam, I arrived via Da Nang International Airport and headed to Hue right away as it was the farthest of the three cities. From Da Nang, Hue is around a 2 hour drive.

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18 Best Hotel Buffet Promotions in Singapore (February 2025 Edition)

February 10, 2025 by Bino 1 Comment

For the month of February, many hotels are offering the tail-end of their Chinese New Year themed buffets, with most ending by mid-February. Despite the seasonality, I find that most of these hotels don’t deviate too much from their mainstays, while still offering a few CNY-themed items here and there. A common pattern seen are bak kwa-infused dishes such as pizza.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on NEW buffet offerings, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as other F&B flash deals.

Without further ado, here are some noteworthy hotel buffet dining promotions to check out for the month of February 2025:

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