Late post. I miss Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Firstly thank you to Fitflop and Hua Ho for making my trip a reality to the city last month. It was definitely a fun experience and it has been 10 years since my last visit to Ho Chi Minh. Of course, I was worried about my trip because of my status or the-lack-of-citizenship status, holding a Certificate of Identity instead of an official passport document. Good thing that our travel document is still recognized but you will need to get an official letter from the Vietnam Embassy to verify that the COI is legit and valid as a travel document, then all is good.

Back to Fitflop, the purpose of my trip is to see the latest collection of the SS16 range from Fitflop. I had the privilege already to see last year’s collection back in Bohol, the Philippines. So this year, Ho Chi Minh City was the showcase city for the latest SS16 collection and I must say that it was a great choice indeed.

My first overseas assignment of the year. Thanks Fitflop and Hua Ho.

Yea… Brunei represent yooo…

My gears and souvenirs from Fitlfop. Thank you 😀

Emma Saunter is such a lovely person and she shared to us on what’s in store for the new collection

Thanks Melody for taking taking care of us

So what’s new with Fitflop? Aplenty. For the men’s, sorry. This will be more focused for the Women’s SS16.

SUPERJELLY™RUBBER FLIP FLOPS

Our flip flops eat other flip flopsfor breakfast. Want to know why? It’s because underneath their happy-go-lucky, all-rubber, beach-friendly, wade-in-the-water-wearable upper is our patent-pending Microwobbleboard™ midsole – an ergonomic, pressure-diffusing, layer of cush.

• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, comfortable sandals
• supple, moulded, waterproof jelly upper
• adjustable, enamel-covered, metal buckle
• biomechanically engineered, comfortable sandals
• seamless built-in arch contour
• slip-resistant rubber outsole
• LEOPARD, SNAKE and WEAVE print options also available, along with SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™ LEOPARD FLIP FLOPS

We expect roars of appreciation when you slip on our outrageous new animal print flip flops. Because these are no ordinary jellies. Ours have Microwobbleboard™ superpowers – so feet feel the love whether they’re paddling, chilling by the pool, or out shopping all day.
With built-in arch contour and our amazing Microwobbleboard midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable flip flops
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
• snake and weave print options also available, along with original SUPERJELLY, SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™ WEAVEFLIP FLOPS

Not only do OUR FLIP FLOPS EAT OTHER FLIP FLOPSFOR BREAKFAST but they do it looking like this. Adjustable straps, shiny jelly, weave pattern prints and our magic Microwobbleboard™ midsoles. Need beach shoes? It’s a no-brainer.

With built-in arch contour and our amazing Microwobbleboard midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable sandals
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
• leopard and snake print options also available, along with original SUPERJELLY, SUPERJELLY SLIDE and SUPERJELLY TWIST options

SUPERJELLY™SLIDE(PERF) FLIP FLOPS

Want to channel a little 70s glamour? Perforated-jelly slides flip flops are fresh, light and airy – plus you get all-day cush. Slip on these supersporty flip flops with their funky retro vibe…and watch the decades slide away.

With built-in arch contour and our amazing MicrowobbleboardTM midsoles
• on our original Microwobbleboard midsoles
• generous fit
• APMA* Seal of Acceptance, for footwear found to promote good foot health
• biomechanically engineered, supercomfortable flip flops
• rubber uppers
• seamless built-in arch contour
• lab-tested for slip resistance
SUPERJELLYtoe-thong and SUPERJELLY TWIST options also available

The Superjelly Slide

Click to enlarge

The Superjelly Print Weave

Click to enlarge

The popular Gladdie

Click to enlarge

So there you go.. Some of the collections for Fitflop to launch for the Summer Spring collection. 36 of us compromising of bloggers and copy writers from Southeast Asian region had the privilege also to interview Emma Saunter, Fitflop’s International Marketing.

On the first day, we were treated to a mini photo competition where one winner will be given a one-year collection of the new Fitflop range. We had to use Ho Chi Minh’s landmarks such as the Saigon Opera House, the Independence Palace, the Post Office and the Notre Dame Church for the Instagram competition. Last year, I won the competition but this year, the line up was pretty tough.

The Fitflop team introduced the new collection during a presentation at Propaganda Saigon (a popular restaurant/cafe). The evening itself we were treated to dinner at Villa Song where Emma Saunter unveiled other collections, inspired from Miami Luxe.

Thank you once again for the opportunity and I’m sure the locals here can’t wait for the upcoming collection. Do check out Hua Ho Manggis in the next few months or so.

One of my entries for the IG competition. Taken at the Independence Palace. Interesting history of Vietnam then.

The post office. I send a postcard but don’t think it reached its destination :/

Loads of walking with the delegates but it was fun especially crossing the streets

The night event at Villa Song and unleashing the new batch of Fitflop

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The Miami Luxe collection

The older collection

Representatives of the distributors from the region

Love the hotel we are staying in because there is a cinema downstairs at Liberty Point Hotel

Catching up dinner with my roomie Azley at Seria restaurant at Ho Chi Minh City

There are many halal restaurants at Ho Chi Minh City

 

Listen to the podcast review of Zootopia. A must watch 😀

 

Soon Tiong, representative from Hua Ho Manggis sending Azli Azney of The Brunei Times and I at the Brunei International Airport last Tuesday as we departed for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Traveling on National Day, Royal Brunei Airlines served this on the plane. Awesome!! Well done on the viral image of RB’s women pilots recently. Apparently it has reached more than 2 million viewers, thanks to the power of social media.

It’s great to be back in Vietnam after 10 years. The last time I flew here was backpacking with a friend as we traveled to three cities – Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siam Reap. I’m happy that I finally made it to Vietnam recently. I had this fear that I won’t be able to make it to the country as passport or should I say my Certificate of Identity may encounter problem at the immigration counter upon my arrival.

Yes, there have been cases where families have been sent back to Brunei as the immigration doesn’t recognize the brown book (our version of Brunei passport) and this is despite having a valid visa from the Vietnam Embassy in Brunei Darussalam. Then at one stage, Vietnam temporarily stopped from COI holders to enter Vietnam before opening the opportunity again to COI holders. So the back and forth saga didn’t really give much confidence to me and other COI holders.

This time, I had no choice but to take the risk as I accepted to do a coverage in Ho Chi Minh City for a FitFlop regional launch event. As you may have recalled that my previous FifFlop coverage was at Bohol, the Philippines. This time round, it’s in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The application fee is kinda pricey (BND 80). Malaysia is the cheapest I think (below BND 10) while Thailand visa costs BND 50. I’m also given an official letter, written in Vietnamese, from the Vietnam Embassy that the COI document is recognized by Vietnam and acts as my safety net should any problem arises.

I did manage to get my travel document chopped but it took the immigration officer a while to do so. He had to consult with his colleagues on my brown book and also the official letter. So I’m glad after a few minutes of internal discussion, the officer was convinced that my COI document is legit and it was a huge relief for me.

So to all the Certificate of Identity holders, don’t worry about traveling to Vietnam. Just make sure you get bring the official letter to state the legitimacy of the COI document. It really does help. And yes, Ho Chi Minh City is a great city to visit as it has developed in the past 10 years and affordable too.

I will posting a dedicated coverage on FitFlop tomorrow. So ladies, you can check out the latest design for FitFlop for the coming Spring Summer Collection of 2016. Thank you once again to Hua Ho Manggis and FitFlop for giving me this opportunity. I’ve been wearing them at home and FitFlop also gave me two new pairs to bring back home. One word – comfy 😀

How the visa looks like for those holding the Brunei’s Identity of Certificate. It costs BND 80.

The official letter from the Vietnam Embassy in Brunei Darussalam to state that the COI document is recognized and valid. Show this two-paged letter at the immigration upon arrival. It saves the hassle from being interrogated.

Yea, we have our own signboard from FitFlop and thank you, Huong, for taking care of the Brunei delegates

We bought the sim card at the arrival hall of the airport. I subscribed for the 3G bandwidth which ran out after two days (too much IG-ing and Snapchatting). Do get the Viettel line.

The bikes are aplenty but now the number of cars are rising compared to 10 years ago

Emma Saunter unveiling the Miami collection for the Spring Summer collection of FitFlop for 2016 at Villa Song Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City

I kinda like the cinema environment at Cinema Liberty Hotel. Very impressive.

…. and I caught Deadpool for the second time. It’s not censored too.

The hotel room at Liberty Citypoint is pretty awesome too. Spacious and internet speed is pretty fast too. The going rate is BND 170-180 per night.