Blogs from Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 236

Many stories have been told about Vietnam, most of them had to do with the war, but mine has to do with the people and the progress of the human spirit to overcome tragedy and adversity and shine through. Well, after this Hemingway-ish intro, let me tell you about my tour in 'Nam. It all started many years ago for me, and my ever incresing interest in Vietnam and the war fought there by the USA; so, I decided to go there myself and see how it was. I was living in Korea at the time, so the flight there was only 5 hours and pretty cheap. You have to apply for a tourist Visa in advance, which my travel agent did through the Vietnamese embassy in Seoul. Visa and plane ticket in hand I made ... read more

Okay, our final 3 days… We made it back into Vietnam, with my THIRD visa for the country - grrr. A bit of a tip for anyone going to Vietnam thinking they might stay longer than the one month allowed, just get the three month multiple-entry at home, it is NOT cheaper in Vietnam, and NOT easier, despite what we’d been told! Anyway, Ho Chi Minh City is a bit busier and more hectic than Hanoi, but we felt comfortable and at home being back in Vietnam after our 2 weeks in strange countries. We took a few day-trips into the Delta, and had some nice boat trips along the Mekong and into its little canals. We also visited the Cau Dai temple in Tay Ninh, which was a really fantastical building. The religion is a ... read more

Saigon. Oder heute: Ho Chi Minh City. Die Vietnamesen haben es einige Tage nach Kriegsende sofort umbenannt. 8 Millionen Einwohner, 4 Millionen gemeldete Roller. Wir kommen abends an und suchen uns ein Hotel. 10 Dollar fuer ein Vierbett-Zimmer das wir zu zweit beziehen ist ok, leider liegt es im fuenften Stock. Dafuer hat man aber ne nette Aussicht auf die sehr belebte Strasse in der Backpacker-Gegend von Saigon. Ich sage Saigon, klingt netter und ist kuerzer :). Wir treffen zufaellig eine Neuseelaenderin, die wir bei Hoa's Place kennengelernt haben. Die hat irgendwie drei Jungs und ein Maedel um sich geschart, zwei Englaender und ein neuseelaendisches Paerchen. Wir gehen zusammen in ein ausgezeichnetes billiges Strassenlokal, bestellen und teilen das Essen, so dass jeder was von jedem bekommt. Danach gehen wir ordentlich einen trinken, Rum Cola, danach Saigon-Bier. ... read more

Evening all, How's things? Hope you are all fine and/or dandy. For all those that aren't aware, I'm currently in Vietnam for work at the moment and will be for a few weeks. It's kind of a prelude to what will hopefully materialise into a long term stay, but we see how we go. I've been in vietnam for a week now, and I would have written earlier, but I must admit it's harder to work up the desire and inspiration to write when your mind is elsewhere for the most part (and by elsewhere I mean working). I have settled in reasonably quickly and have developed a fondness for Vietnam for one very simple reason: FOOD! My long days are thankfully broken up by 3 moments of pure bliss named breakfast, lunch and dinner. My ... read more

another great city in Vietnam, took a trip to the chu chi tunnels where the vietnamese hid from the americans and they dug the tunnels small enough so that they could get down but the americans could not fit inside even if they found them. Got the chance to shoot an M60 riffel... read more