Blogs from District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 6

Well woke up this morning and what do I get Mike has been up all night watching the Olympics - not a good start to the morning as it is my BIRTHDAY today. Anyway went to the bathroom and there was lots of stickers on the mirror saying happy birthday. We went for our normal breakfast which is chicken noodle soup. I know you must be thinking oh no but to be honest it is really light and fresh with the herbs you put in. Went to drop some washing off today as there was a laundrette we found. When we got there my clothes weigh 1kilo as been washing most by hand whilst away. Anyway for 2 kilo it was 30,000 dong so not best pleased as could have washed more, so pay my 30,000 ... read more

Well woke up to Mike telling me all about the Olympics as he has been watching them during the night whilst I was sound asleep. Ticked off from the bucket list "good morning Vietnam" been trying to log into facebook to update and found that you cannot send messages via facebook - I can see your messages and can also send an individual comment but that is it. We had the induction this morning so "Xin Chao" so hello. We also took a half day tour around Ho Chi Minh and guess what we went around the Independence Palace which had Russian Tanks, Chinook Helicopters and the war rooms. We then went to a museum that was all about the Americans and the things they did like dropping Agent Orange on the Vietnamese. I must admit ... read more

Well breakfast in Cambodia lunch in Vietnam. Up not so early this morning which has been a real treat as our flight is not until 14.15 today. Down to breakfast and I know I did the cooking course but how come everytime I put toast in the toaster when the toast popped up someone knicked it and I had to start again. After the 3rd time of this decided that I would guard the toaster like a hawk and I was not going to be done again. Ordered my egg and guess what again someone else takes it - even the lady cooking the eggs looked at me and giggled as she saw the toast episode. We are panicking a bit as I mentioned before during on-line check-in our names are not quite right on the ... read more

Ho Chi Minh City! Everywhere you turn you will see a hustler riding a bike selling food. The place is full of motorbikes, street hustlers and food. We have finally arrived after 3 days at airports! got here this morning at 11am vietnam time and we just woke up half an hour ago at 9pm. we are 6 hours ahead of you in UK and 7 hours ahead form Africa. We were delayed in Abu Dhabi as there was a storm/fog/dust in the isolated place so had to fly somewhere in northern africa to refuel as we were just circling the airport waiting. Then got to bangkok at 9pm, and flew out this morning at 745am, so it was a long, tiring bloody night in the airport sleeping on benches! Luckily we hucked the aeroplane pillows. ... read more

Xin chao! Onwards to Hanoi!! We flew to Hanoi on the eve of independence day so the streets were absolutely heaving with people and scooters and the complete extreme from Luang Prabang! If I'm honest it was really quite overwhelming so we ducked into a rooftop restaurant and observed the chaos from behind a bowl of beef pho noodle soup! Deeelish! The next morning we set our alarm for 7 so we could pack in an entire day of sight seeing as we didn't have long in Hanoi. We started with muesli and Vietnamese drip coffee (the first decent coffee in a while) and took a cyclo (bicycle taxi) to the one pillar pagoda which is exactly what it sounds like - a pagoda build on a single column rather than 4 legs. We then walked ... read more

So we have decided to head to Da Lat so are setting off tomorrow. I have loved Ho Chi Minh City. Lots to see and do (tourism) but that also means that you have to hold onto your bag tighter. Yestereday we visited the Cu Chi Tunnels. Pretty clever, the underground system of tunnels that they dug out. I managed to climb in the tunnel entrance without getting stuck, much to my relief. Some guy thought i was trying to buy viagra today (god knows what they must think of the europeans) but to be fair i see many old 'western men' with a younger wife/gf. Im sure its all true love but you cant help but be a bit cynical.... read more

Leaving Saigon with my new bike I was a little nervous but mostly excited about what was to come. Making my way through the crazy traffic of bikes, cars, trucks and buses there seemed to be no rules other then size matters!! Surviving the day I was roughly 150kms out of Saigon with around 150kms left to Mui Ne when the sun started to go down at 5:30pm. Stopping for a coffee on the side of the road I asked the girl where a hotel was with my trusty piece of paper the receptionist in Saigon wrote out for me converting English to Vietnamese for questions like, how much is this? Where is the nearest ATM? Where is the nearest hotel? This piece of paper has been worth it's weight in gold. With it becoming dark ... read more

Everyone has large buckets here apparently.........fulll of alcohol. We are in Ho Chi Minh city and i love Vietnam already. Loads of the buildings seem to be small but tall (kinda like the building from batteries not included). Leanne narrowly missed getting her bag stolen. Guess it happens everywhere but those moped cowboys really are quite clever. I made my biggest purchased ever since beginning our travels, a pair of denim shorts. I have searched high and low for a pair that fit my (cough cough) curvy figure. Just a heads up for any ladies that may be reading this blog, everythings cheap but clothes are tiny. We are staying in a lovely little family run guest house in district 1. I always prefer staying in family run places as it feels a lot safer (and ... read more

Following our Cu Chi tunnels experience we headed back to the capital Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon as it used to be known before reunification) and after longed for showers and some lunch we headed off on a scary but hilarious cyclo tour of the city. Cyclos are the equivalent of the Indian rickshaws, only on these contraptions you sit at the front with the guy pedalling behind you rather than in front in India. This, of course, means that YOU are heading into the traffic first! Remember my description of the massed mopeds? Well all 4 million of them seemed to be heading towards us as we set off ACROSS the flow of traffic on left turns! Apparently cyclos have right of way in this crazy system and very trusting of this rule the riders ... read more