We've arrived! We had a quick bus trip into the city this morning and arrived at a bus station 10 km outside of the city centre. We tried really hard not to get ripped off by the moto taxi drivers, but we're not sure if we paid the true price or not. Needless to say we joined the throngs of motorbikes on the streets of Saigon. Have a look at those videos again and then put yourself in the middle of the chaos, on a motorbike, with your backpack sitting on the bike between you and the moto-driver. It was pretty crazy, but a lot of fun!
We're both loving Vietnam so far. The people have been really great, contrary to what we've heard from other travellers. We're staying a 10 min. walk from the main tourist area, and maybe that makes a difference. In the tourist area you run into higher prices in restaurants and there are English speaking Vietnamese everywhere. But, just step 10 min. away and you're living with the locals...which is where we like to be.
Today we are spending the day just checking the city out. We had to book our train and bus tickets for the remainder of our time here, as the Vietnamese new year celebration (called Tet) is coming up and everything gets booked up. We had hoped to take a train into Hanoi (in the North) but we were told it was completely booked 2 months ago. Fortunately we found a sleeper bus to take.
Tomorrow we're heading to Dalat, a town in the mountains where we'll spend a few days. We're then heading back to Saigon (we're not sure why it's still called Saigon here, but many people still refer to it that way. I surmise that it's because the South is still sympathetic to democracy...but that's just a guess. We'll try to figure that out) to meet up with my brother, Craig, who is joining us for a few weeks.
14 years ago
3 comments:
Sleeper bus had to be one of my worst memories of Vietnam :) We did it because we didn't really have a choice. The seats were too short, the roads are terrible, and in the middle of the night the driver picks up random people (that sit in the aisles) so he can make some extra cash. Everytime now that I hear a loud horn from a bus, it reminds me of all the times it woke me up in the middle of that night through Vietnam :) And if you go to Hoi An, our favorite was renting bikes and going anywhere we wanted! Definitely the best way to see the real local life. I'm sure you can do that in most cities. But Hoi An was small and good for bike riding.
In the city is there any mention of the battle of Saigon during the Vietnam war?
Erin! Nice hat and nice tan! You look great.
You are now coming home in fewer days than you have been gone. This excites me!
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