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Published: March 21st 2009
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After Cambodia we headed to Saigon, Vietnam
The bus ticket was ridiculously cheap, US 7$ per person from Phnom Penh to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh city). Everything went OK when travelling to Vietnam. Bus dropped us before the border and we walked to passport control. Luckily we realised early enough our passports were eligible for free 15-day visas so we did not need to apply Vietnam's visa at all! It seems someone had done something right when speaking about politics.
Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam and at a first glanse it seemed to be FULL of crazy motocyclists and bikers. When we arrived there at once the buss stop's location was excellent! No need to start those endless negotiations with taxi/tuk tuk/ motorcycle drivers. We just walked in to district one and got hitted by the hostel workers who welcomed and greeted us to stay at their place. Suddenly we all ( we were travelling together with those British gentlemen) had an accommodation under the Saigon's rooftops. Somehow during our journey we always have had our room located on the top floor, which is normally four or fift level. This time I really liked our hostel, actually I
have liked all of the places we have been this far but Saigon's hostel was really worth of the money we payed, clean, quiet (ups, maybe I forgot the cats at the nighttimes..) and middle of everything.
City had everything we could hope for and it reminded me from Bangkok's backpacker's areas, in a good way though. First evening in Saigon contained a lot of fun above the streets. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of that bar - restaurant, location was on the corner, and the food was cooked in front of us! We even could cook it by ourselves if wanted so. After the food we headed to the night market to do some light shopping. Our capacity of carrying the stuff was limited, as it still does, so we tried to stick in a small items. More or less we managed to do that..
We were several times told and warned that Vietnam is suffering from high amount of pickpockets. Fortunately we did not lost anything while being there or got anything stolen by thief. We met some people who were not that luckly and they have been avoiding Vietnam ever since. Our extra carefulness
was definitely needed considering those facts , but it did not help when it came to bad stomach. Anniina was handling the very same things than I was in Cambodia, this time we just have the medicines already. She did not have a chance to enjoy Saigon as much as I did but thank's to those great medicines I got in Cambodia recovering started almost immediately and the illness took "only" two days in Anniina's case.
Couple of days we discovered Saigon and wandered around the city visiting e.g. War Reminant's Museum (learning experience again) and some street markets admiring the nice buildings and just hanging around. I insisted to see The Notre Dame's Cathedral, and we were still in Vietnam, not in France.. and The Reunification Palace as well. Both buildings were great, The Notre Dame just a bit different than the "real" one, or should I say "Same Same but Different" like everyone is saying here.
The weather was perfect for all those days we were in Saigon, but time was still flying ( and Anniina recovering from the stomach illness) so we decided to take off by night train together with James. He had been
repeating continuously his willingness to sleep in a night train and although we had some doubts towards that idea it came out that it was too late to book buss tickets for the day we wanted. So night train towards Da Nang it was supposed to be and I started to look forward that trip as well, nice!
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