In a nutshell it was a blast, which is already an understatement. Our experience was priceless. I had many firsts in Vietnam, many discoveries, encounters and many bonds either strengthen or formed over the duration of the trip. For photos visit Dean’s Facebook.
The Destination
Saigon (I still prefer Saigon over HCMC cause it does not sound aesthetic) is a bustling and thriving city with motorbikes outnumbering cars by at least 3 times they seem to be swarming like ants. Traffic is crazy. I dub it humans left to their own devices which is actually safer than one might think. Accident rates are lower than Malaysia (surprise surprise).
Nha Trang is a beach city with great night life and smorgasbord of activities such as island hoping, water sports, diving and spa. Coffee and food here is undeniably the best of the 3 cities, or it could be attributed to our host’s discernment in choice of restaurants and food.
The Experience
Wouldn’t be a blast without Phuong, Kim Chi, Mai Chi, Ha, Huong, Nam, Zui, Zum (if I got the spelling right). Hospitable, accommodating hosts with such great hearts. A million of Cảm ơn to them. I have to hand it to them, with me now conferring the title of Hosts of the Year to Vietnam. People there are so friendly and contented with life. Their apprehension is so blatant when they try to swindle you. Totally different from my encounter with overseas born Vietnamese in Melbourne.
Ate, slept did almost everything we could to our heart’s content yet we under spent. What’s more pleasing than to be in the blacks? Being able to divide costs by 5 (1MYR = 5000VND) was so much better than multiplying costs by 5 (1EUR = 5MYR). 7 days and 7 nights only cost us RM600 (with change!).
We were intrepid enough to try dog’s meat and ducks embryo, not forgetting our crash course on motor biking without licence.
Pampered ourselves in a mud and mineral bath, tasted so much Vietnamese food till we fell deeply in love with it, did an island hoping tour which culminated with a floating wine bar where we sipped wine while drifting in the sea.
Owh not forgetting Edrea and our wretched duck ride in the Valley of Love. We went in circles to get ashore cause we got a lemon duckie, but ended up being rescued after the others managed to convince the operator there really was a problem with our duckie. Not forgetting all the wacky stuff we did on the Lang Biang, on the beach and on the sleepers train. We actually spent more than an hour at it on the train!
Street food was fun, clean, yummie and very affordable. Had my best sour soup and sapodilla juice in my 23 years of life, not forgetting how Dean got converted to be a coffee lover after our insistent shot of coffee everyday. The chance of lunching in Kim Chi’s place just like how the locals do – priceless.
Post trip
Midway we were already contemplating on our Northern Leg (Hanoi, Sapa, Hue, Hoi An). That’s how much we love Vietnam. Phuong is already prebooked (no escaping).
It was hard to part, from Vietnam, and even in KL Central. As much as we enjoyed each other’s company we will also miss them dearly. Curtain officially closed in 1U’s Camp 5 where we went for rock climbing a day after our return.
I felt very rejuvenated from the trip returned with elevated spirit level and better skin thanks to the tanning and the mud bath! Great way to kick start 2010. To those who say Vietnam is no fun, come talk to Aiting, Dean, Edrea or me. You will instantly be a convert.
“A toast to Vietnam” (insiders joke).
No comments:
Post a Comment