February 26, 2009

A Star is Born ... in Hanoi!


Yes friends, the great day has finally come! Young Nicolas Viet Legendre has been born to loving -- and patient -- parents our very own Nguyen Viet Ha and the dashing Canadian Alexandre Legendre.

Nicolas was born on Monday, February 23, 2009 at precisely 19.06 hours in the French Hospital in Hanoi. He is a large boy weighing in at 3.6 kg or 7.9 lbs. His Mom, Ha, is doing very well and he has now left the hospital to go home with his Mom and Dad and will now come under the watchful and loving eyes of his parents, his maternal grandmother - one of Vietnam's most famous and renouned doctors - and I am sure his paternal grandparents are on their way from Montreal.

It is also important for this blogger to mention that Nicolas waited far beyond the Doc's orginial due date so he could join his Dad and his Uncle Ernie and be a Pisces! We needed another great fish in this world, and there is some speculation that given the size of young Nic's hands and feet, we may have another rugby player too!

Whatever path he chooses, he will be great and truly loved. What more can be asked?

Everyone at BBA is very excited. This is only our second baby since the company was founded in 2004 -- Rena and Ben Dolven's precious Eliana being our first.

We hope you will join in that excitement and send a note to the parents when you get a chance. Alex's email is alex.legendre@gmail.com.

February 19, 2009

Blinded by the Light - Secret to 2 Great Days in Ho Chi Minh City


Recently, a friend asked for recommendations on how to really enjoy a couple days off in Ho Chi Minh City. Here is a recipe for enjoying two hedonistic days in one of Asia’s fastest growing and most dynamic city (with special thanks to Nguyen Viet Ha, Jess Beeson, John Tocco, and Andrew Hooper-Nguyen for their past recommendations and contributions).





EAT >


K Cafe - Best Sushi … This is on Hai Ba Trung by the Park Hyatt. This is a great place for a leisurely dinner and a bottle of sake.

Hoa Tuc - Best Traditional Vietnamese. 74 Hai Ba Trung District 1

Barbeque Garden - GREAT traditional Vietnamese BBQ and beers - 135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia. Cheap good eats.

Bunta - Vietnamese - 136 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1. Best garlicky baby bok choi in the country!


PARTY >


Zanzibar - great for happy hour cocktail drinks. Just across from the Sheraton Hotel

The Cage - dancing/discotec style bar. In an alley right by the Legend Hotel

Apocalypse Now – ear-plug loud, very young, dancing upstairs, late night heavy food downstairs - 2D Thi Sach Street


RECOVERY >


Juice - fresh bread and coffee. 49 Mac Thi Buoi Street

Au Parc - Mediterranean/French - great for hangover. 23 Han Thuyen Street

Wrap and Roll - Vietnamese rice paper/noodles - 62 Hai Ba Trung Street

Massage at Spa in Park Hyatt – 1.5 hours with the hot rocks


ADVENTURE >


Take the hydrofoil up river to Vung Tao and eat on board or take a picnic (couple hours, worth it) http://www.vietscape.com/travel/vung_tau/index.html

War Museum – horrifying pics of the war, see US tanks/planes … gives you real perspective

Water skiing in the river – wear your flack jacket and bail BEFORE you hit the floating log


HOTEL >


Park Hyatt is an oasis - great place to spoil yourself after a long day