Saigon, now officially Ho Chi Minh City, is the largest city in Vietnam and essentially the capital of southern Vietnam. Like Hanoi, it is filled with motorbikes and the sounds of incessant honking of horns. It's more modern than Hanoi with more modern structures, office buildings, shopping malls, etc.
Day 151 - Thursday, June 21
Tuesday I met up with a couple of my British friends from Fiji and New Zealand. It was great to see some familiar faces. We checked out the
Cu Chi Tunnels, where many Viet Cong hid out during the Vietnam War.
That night we checked out a bit of the Saigon nightlife and sampled the local beer.
Day 152 - Friday, June 22
Wednesday I explored the city on foot, and checked out some of the markets and other sights, of which there aren't all that many.
That night I met up with my friends again and we checked out a "bar" that was basically just plastic furniture on the sidewalk and a couple of giant coolers with beer. But the beer was cheaper than at the 7-11 on the corner, so it was a very popular spot. We ended up playing the game where everyone has the name of someone on a post-it on their forehead and they ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who they are supposed to be. With an international crowd, we tried o stick to very famous people. We thought we were pretty safe with Elvis Presley, but after one of the guys gave up and we told him that he was Elvis Presley, he claimed to have never heard of Elvis. Really?! I realize I'm somewhat biased as an American, but what kind of international traveller from a developed country hasn't heard of Elvis?!
Day 153 - Saturday, June 23
South of Saigon is the
Mekong Delta, a region that relies heavily on the Mekong River and its many tributaries in virtually all aspects of life. It's a rural area that provides quite a contrast from the major cities of Hanoi and Saigon, but also quite different from the rural areas in north and central Vietnam. I booked a 2-day trip from Saigon that explores the region on the way to Cambodia. Some photos from day one of the trip.
I think I see the problem here...
We overnighted in Chao Doc, a small town close to the border in which everyone seems to be asleep by 10pm.
Day 154 - Sunday, June 24
That morning we explored around Chao Doc a bit. Then we jumped on a boat for the several hour ride to Phnom Penh. Pics from day 2 in the Mekong Delta.
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