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Published: February 23rd 2016
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This was my second trip to the tunnels in 3 weeks, same company, TNK Travel. I've used them on every visit to Vietnam. This time I have so not been impressed! It would seem that a very good question to ask is how many people will there be. In the past I went on a minibus, small group, good fun. This time it was a huge coach, about 30 of us and it was far too many. Also, we made an unnecessary rest stop after 1 1/2 hours, nobody wanted it, and the sole purpose was to herd us through a workshop where disabled people were making lacquerware and stuff out of eggshells, huge sales room, nobody bought anything except for fruit shakes, a total waste of half an hour.
So we got to the tunnels and the first stop, where a group before us ALL wanted to go down the tiny hole. we had to wait for them to move off and then our tour guide, An, just stood around while our group did the same. Unfortunately they were all young things, all wanted a go, and I had to ask An to show us how the hole is
hidden, which is the point of it! Trailed around, some information at some of the points and a lot missed out, so I filled Gill in with what I remembered. At the end, we were walking straight past the place where you watch a short video. I asked him if we were going to see it and he said 'video on bus' so back on it we got. everyone was hot and tired by then so we all fell asleep. It was just old footage with a bit of commentary. In the one at the tunnels they have a cross section showing all the different levels, which puts it in perspective, otherwise you come away with an impression of a few holes in the ground. No rest stop on the way back! So a real swizz, it is also worth asking if you will see ALL of the exhibits and not just a few. On the way back, as it was a half day morning trip, they dropped people off at the War Remnants Museum.
Back for a few hours in the cool and to reorganise our stuff into one case for Phu Quoc. Then walked over to the
Chill Bar for sunset and cocktails, taking clothes to wear against the brisk wind expected at the top. It was rush hour, so every junction had an army of scooters ready to zoom at you, Gill isn't keen but it was fine. The problem is not knowing how long you've got until the light changes. Could be 30 secs or just a couple, but they really do go round you rather than squish you flat!
The Chill Bar is just on the opposite side of the park, next to the New World Hotel, on the top floor of an office block. As usual, the tables had reserved signs on them, but before they also had the name of the fictitious person who never ever showed up, but made it look super busy and popular! We were told we were OK until 9pm, which was more than OK with us, this was 5.30 and we'd be long gone by then. all drinks and snacks (don't bother!) at happy hour are 88,0000, the cocktails were very nice but it would be a lot for a beer. The 27th floor views were fabulous although there was a pointless sunset. Luckily, to avoid
the wind, we sat on the non-sunset side, a much better view of the colour-changing buildings and moon rising over the Bitexco Tower. Our phones didn't take good enough pics to do it justice. Then we walked back to Bui Vien to the vegan restarant opposite The View. Ho hum! Gill's yellow noodles arrived as pasta (penne), which really wasn't what she wanted, again lost somewhere in translation. The food was OK, not really different to the vegetarian stuff elsewhere. Back to the hotel via the pharmacy to stock up and get snacks for today when we get to the beach.
This morning we zoomed down to breakfast at 7 and made rolls to bring to the airport with us so we could get a taxi nice and early, before rush hour. Haha - rush hour was well underway when we set off at 7.20! Easy peasy to the airport, now waiting for our flight to Phu Quoc And 6 days of beach time!
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