This was my number one “to do” activity in Hanoi. The day after I arrived I made arrangement for a one day tour of the bay, then back to Hanoi the same night. I don’t remember the cost, but it was very inexpensive. Probably in the $25.00 USD range. I met the van in front of the guest house about 07:00. I was the only one going from my hotel that day. The van made a few other pick ups until it was full. The driver had an assistant and the assistant had a friend. The two of them shared a [View Full Entry]

---

---

The electric system in Ho Chi Minh City is a wondrous thing. It seems every apartment, every business, and every sign has its own power line strung up on the poles. In many cases it looks like hundreds of lines are strung from a single pole. During my visit to the city I saw literally dozens of new lines being strung. The workers would lean their bamboo ladders against a pole, climb up and attach the line. Then they would go to the next pole and repeat the process. Power failures are not uncommon in Saigon. During the time I was [View Full Entry]

---

---

I think her name was Thuy. She spoke little English, and had a very thick accent. She walked the streets in the back packer district of Ho Chi Minh City telling fortunes with cards. I had noticed her several times. We may have spoken in passing. One day I was sitting at Kim Cafe with a few Australian English teachers who were unwinding after classes ended. Thuy came by and offered to tell our fortunes. Someone at the table accepted the offer. She sat down and began shuffling, fanning, cutting, and reshuffling the cards. She dealt them out in a certain [View Full Entry]

---

---