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Published: November 18th 2006
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After arriving in Ho Chi Mihn City (HCMC) we booked ourselves onto a couple of day tours to places near-by; the Cu Chi Tunnels & the Mekong Delta. The Cu Chi tunnels was something that Zoe had been looking forward to visiting since we started planning this trip, so naturally that was our first destination (after an annoying stop en-route to "look round" a factory). The tunnels themselves were tiny, and you had to crouch at all times (well I did, Zoe was ok!); it's amazing to think that the Viet Cong Guerrillas lived in here whilst fighting the US Army. We learnt a few of the tricks (some people took up the opportunity to shoot a machine gun!) & then got to test out the tunnels for ourselves. Zoe's only dissapointment was that we got out earlier than expected, but I was delighted with this!!
The Mekong Delta tour prooved to be a much more relaxed affair, with most of the time spent sitting - on a bus, on a boat, in a restaurant etc! It's a huge river though (3 km wide where we visited, though there are islands inbetween). We took some paddle boats through the smaller
canals on one of the islands, got to sample some local delicacies (coconut candy & honey tea), our tour guide sang for us all (accompanied by vietnamese guitars!) & we even braved holding a python! The next day we headed out into HCMC ourselves, and took in some of the sights here - namely the Reunification Palace and The War Remnants museum. Both provided us with yet more fascinating insights into the Vietnam War (what were America doing there anyway?!?!), and highlighted the horrors of chemical warfare. The Reunification Palace was particularly interesting, being (funnily enough!) where Vietnam was reunited!
Leaving the millions of mopeds in bustling HCMC behind us (4 million apparantly!) we went to the Fishing Village of Mui Ni, hoping for a little R&R by the beach. Unfortunately the beach was absolutely minging, and was covered in dead fish, a dead piglet, rubbish & even human waste (yep!). Lovely! After taking in the local sand dunes for a sand sledding session (and being harrassed by hundreds of kids after your money) we quickly arranged to head on to Dalat, in the cooler Central Highlands. Here we hired some "easy-rider" moped guides for the day, and were treated to a crazy artist's house (a local attraction), a waterfall, lake, and some temples/pagodas. We also visited a local ethnic minority village, where we were due to have a talk with the local chief, but unfortunately he'd consumed a little too much rice-wine!!!
A very cramped 4 hr minibus ride later - 26 people in a ford transit (complete with motion-sickness, though not mine!) - we arrived in Buon Ma Thout, a much less-touristy town. Here, we really were a novelty to many of the locals, and sure we caused many a moped-crash from them staring at us & not watching the road!! We went on a tour to Yok Don National Park, where we had a 3 hr trek, but unfortunately didn't catch any of the local tigers or wild elephants! We again visited an Ethnic Village; this time our guide blagged us an invite into a wedding party! Whilst we were sampling the local rice-wine straight from the jug & overcoming the communication issues like true-pro's, our guide was outside being informed by the local Police that we shouldn't be there as tensions are pretty high in this village at the moment! Needless to say, a quick exit ensued, though our new friends waved us off smiling (not chasing with sticks!). We then visited 2 spectacular waterfalls, before returning back to BMT.
After yet more minibus rides (yep, cramped again!) we got to Kon Tum, another highland town. With only one afternoon here before an early morning bus, we hired a moped & saw the sites ourselves. Zoe started off with the driving, which was far more scary for me than when I actually drove! Apart from a few off-road sessions (enforced, not human error!) we visited an ethnic village & saw a really impressive communal house. We also visited a local orphanage, where there were 220 children. In a strange co-incidence, we ended up having dinner with an English guy who teaches there & was staying at our hotel. He gave us some good tips for the remainder of our tour through Vietnam - both of us have been taken by surprise by the time it takes to get anywhere!
We're now in Hoi An now, and visiting the local tailor shops later to order some new clothes!!!! Will try to add pictures for this soon.....
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