The Saigon Experience

I don't have my travel notebook with me right now so I won't be able to write about the details of the trip but I haven't blogged about the Vietnam trip so I'm going to share some pictures and some of the things I can remember.  It has been 2 years.



I don't have problems sleeping at airports while waiting for a flight.

Since it was only a 6-day trip I only have my North Face backpack with me, I used to be a champion of travelling light like that.  I'm re-learning that skill now as through the years I have accumulated several additions to my "travel essentials".   



Of course, the classic picture-taking at the airport.

 If I can remember it correctly, Vietnam is an hour behind Philippine's +8 GMT time.  We arrived late in the evening at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC which I still prefer to call Saigon, it just sounds nicer for me.  Good thing we already pre-arranged a coaster to pick us up at the airport and bring us to our hotel.  HCMC looked like Manila in the dark except that they have a lot of streets lined up with huge trees even larger than the trees lined up around UPD's Sunken Garden.




Dong Song Xanh's facade.


Although the hotel is located near Pham Ngu Lao -  HCMC's backpacker's district, it was pretty difficult to find Dong Song Xanh because it was tucked into one of HCMC's tiny alley's.  We had to go around for a bit to find it because it was not familiar even for our driver.



Dong Song Xanh's lobby.


Dong Song Xanh looked like a typical 4-storey house (or was it 5?).  We got a room for I think just around $3/night.  Super tipid to think that it accomodated all 9 of us. We opted to get just one room since we just needed to have a place for us to rest a bit and freshen up since we were heading for Siem Reap early the next day.  The lady at the front desk didn't seem so happy that we woke her up that late, she was grumpy and not friendly at all.  She hushed us a lot of times and refused to let out bigger baggages up to our rooms since it would create noise.  We put up with her attitude since we were all tired and were all eager to shower.



Despite the modern-ness of HCMC, you still see a lot of locals wearing the traditional cone-shaped hats.


So we left the hotel early so we can at least roam around Pham Ngu Lao before we leave for Siem Reap.  Pham Ngu Lao seems to be more alive at night than in the mornings.  It was like visiting Malate on a Sunday morning where the bars are just closing up and the the loud music, the smoke and the alcohol from the previous night left a faint hint hanging in the air. 




Pho with beef and fresh mint which was too strong for my taste buds.



I was sooooo tempted to put this inside my backpack. LOL!


Before going to Mai Linh's office for our Siem Reap tickets, we had to meet our college friend, Brian, who is now residing as a designer in HCMC.  He helped us arrange this trip.  He brought us to yet another alley to have breakfast of pho.  There were several  vendors scattered around the area, similar to our pares vendors, they cook their soups and noodles right in their mobile kitchens.  We went to one who even had tables set up in one of the tiny spaces between two buildings. The kind where if you are not careful enough, someone's airconditioner's drips will merge right into your soup. The pho was good, my friends enjoyed it a lot but I wasn't able to finish my bowl since the mint was too strong for my tastebuds.



This is my kind of breakfast food - banh mi.


I found something that I love though, I think they call it banh mi.  This is the Vietnamese version of the French baguette sandwich. They have all sorts of cold cuts and spreads to choose from including the very familiar Laughing Cow cheese spread.  I bought one for myself and took it with me as baon for the long drive to Siem Reap.



Discussing our plan of attack. ;)



I have never seen a city with this many motorbikes!

Seriously.  



How could someone like me who is so scared of crossing the street survive in a city like HCMC.

 

Before boarding our bus for Siem Reap, a group picture with Baray who looks like a local in his motorbike.

It takes a lot of motorbikes to intimidate me because I grew up around some since my father was a motorcross rider.  I was freakin' dumstrucked with the number of motorbikes in this city.

Comparing to Cambodia, it was more difficult to navigate Vietnam as a backpacker not only because of the traffic but also because of the language.  There seems to be more English-speaking people in Cambodia.  Even around Pham Ngu Lao it was difficult to ask for directions since most of the locals speak only very little English.  I also prefer Cambodia's more laid back feel compared to HCMC's hustle and bustle.  


Our Vietnam experience was fun but definitely bitin since it was more of just a stopover.  I am looking forward to going back to Vietnam, maybe explore the more laid-back northern region and experience Ha Long Bay. 

Soon.