Traveling through a big part of Vietnam in only 10 days is venturesome and I would’ve liked to spend more time in places exploring the places less trodden by tourists. We were only in Hué for a total of 4 hours in which time I rented a bicycle with the guys I met on the boat (and who I got stuck on the bus with) and rode around looking at some of the historic sights and the pagoda by the river.
Hué was once the capital city of the Nguyen Dynasty and there are still many famous monuments and architectural sites to look at. Hoi An is known for its many tailor shops, so there I had a blazer, jeans, and two pairs of leather sandals designed and custom made for me. The next day they were ready and I was very impressed by the quality, since the price was so inexpensive.
 |
| Sunrise in Nha Trang |
Then it was off to the beach capitol of Vietnam:
The beach area honestly reminded me of a smaller and less crowded version of Santa Monica, with people doing Thai Chi on the beach and running along the sidewalk. It was a much different scene than I've been used to in Asia. Since we arrived at 6 am, we chilled on the beach and watched the sunrise before checking into our hostel. We did a day-long boat trip where we went 'snorkeling' (didn't see anything) and stopped at a beach. After lunch on the boat we were told we could jump off the boat and swim and a floating 'bar' was thrown overboard a long with us. Of course it was only the white foreigners who went for it. All the Chinese tourists on our boat were just excited to watch and take pictures while we floated around down below. Later Leo and I found a restaurant ran by a man who looked like he had walked straight off the ranch. I can't say I have ever been that excited for barbeque, but my mouth was watering just by the smell in that place and by the time we got our food we just shut up and ate every last bite. The man was from Texas he told us, and that was some of the best BBQ I have ever eaten, even back home. Nha Trang is also known for it's lively night life, so with some other American girls we met on the boat, we went out the the Sailing Club and danced the night away.
 |
| Motorbikes crowding the sidewalk |
When we got to the Southern capitol city of Ho Chi Minh, also called Saigon, Leo and I visited the famous War Remnants Museum. It was interesting to see, but also difficult to see the pictures and read accounts from the people during that time. We had much more fun was just walking and exploring the busy streets. There were so many motorbikes that sometimes you couldn't even walk on the sidewalk, and to cross the street you just had to walk slowly into the sea of zipping bikes and let them dodge you. It was nerve racking at first, but soon we got the hang of things. To get out of the heat one day we ducked into a mall to play arcade games and watch a movie in the air-conditioning. If you are ever homesick, this is one of the best things to do because in the dark room you really could be anywhere in the world!
To get rid of some of my ‘dong’ (name for their currency) before going back to Thailand, I decided to treat myself to a facial—only $7 for a rejuvenating hour of relaxation and bliss! Traveling in Vietnam gave me a different perspective on the country and taught me a lot. I also realized that although I love the fact that Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonized by a European country, I really loved the bread and coffee in Vietnam, thanks to the French!
No comments:
Post a Comment