Good Morning Vietnam!


Advertisement
Vietnam's flag
Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City
July 22nd 2006
Published: July 24th 2006
Edit Blog Post

What a cruisy road through to HCM - I guess its all relative. Green rice paddys, motor scooters and the water table - either near it or in it - maybe a hydrogeo's perspective? I've barely seen a hill since Bangkok (not that there are any there either). Houses on built up areas creating a mote beside them or on stilts are pretty common. The first impression of HCM city is big, spread out and circulated by scooters - like ants in a hyperactive nest - I love the way they just avoid each other and when u walk slowly the stream magically goes round u as u cross the road. First impression is very friendly - can't possibly get to know this place in the little time unfortunately......lets c what happens ...

Checked out CuChi vietcong tunnels today - very touristic trip but still provides an insight. A classic David and Goliath - committed low tech beats high tech. Briefly thought I'd lost my passport - when found I hadn't went out an ate wierd stuff to celebrate. Found a fun new game for me - hacky with feathers - bought one for 30,000 dong (~$1.5) then another for 3,000 (still learning). Am staying another day here - have been moving too fast - am going to kick back and wander a bit tomorrow.

Over here the Vietnam war is called the American war. It didn't make any sense when I was protesting it at highschool and it sure loox very crazy at the war museum here. Such a mess and the irony is that the US fear of communism has been turned on its head in Vietnam which is now so capitalist and entrepeneurial.

Had an afternoon definitely connecting with the locals with the help of Hai - a wee local who decided she could show me some insights - photo into streetside seafood - went three up on scooters thru night traffic - good fun. After we had dinner together she got a doggy bag so she could give food it to poor people outside. Having a wee friend to interpret was really useful. Its up the coast 2moro - time to leave this very friendly city.






Additional photos below
Photos: 4, Displayed: 4


Advertisement

Hai & IHai & I
Hai & I

Streetside seafood


Tot: 0.156s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 11; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0477s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb