Vietnam Part 1

Hi everyone! We're in Mauritius right now and heading to South Africa tomorrow...we're quite behind on the blog, mostly because sitting by the infinity pool in perfect weather with rum flavoured drinks has clearly the priority for the past week.  :)

We spent a total of 15 days in Vietnam starting from Ho Chi Minh (Sagion) and then making our way up north to Hanoi and Sapa.  We had originally planned to visit Laos as well, but had to scratch it off our list in efforts to maximize our time in Vietnam.  I was a little devastated by this.  Laos was one of the top places I wanted to visit, but there just wasn't enough time and T persuaded me that it just didn't make sense from a budget perspective either.  I made T promised we would visit Laos in the next 5 years...and now I have this promise publicly declared on this blog.  yay.

Saigon was....eh.  We took a $11 bus from Phnom Penh, Cambodia which took a long 7 bumpy and  honky hours.  As soon as we got off the bus we were literally swarmed by taxi drivers.  We were a bit groggy from the long ride and not really thinking straight, especially with tons of taxi drivers shouting and pulling at you.  Without thinking we got hurried into a cab to get to our hostel.  The driver drove us around for about 10 minutes then charged us $30 which is crazy expensive for Saigon.  Still feeling too tired to argue we paid that man and got out.  Turns out our hostel was within a 5 minute walking distance of the bus stop we were just at.  We. Got. Hosed.  Oh well. Lesson learned.  Always be alert after a crammed 7 hour bus ride. Haha.

Other than being hosed in Saigon, Vietnam was beautiful and friendly.  Though, we especially had a very difficult time crossing the street in Saigon.  Turns out there are even YouTube tutorials on how to cross the street without being killed.  Here's one in case your curious.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8WUZCXAi2g

Here's what we did in Vietnam in mostly pictures and captions.  Lazy, but probably much more interesting then my writing anyway. :)


1 night and 1 day in Saigon

 

Our first lunch in Saigon. All this for just $2!!!! That's what I call a lunch special!

Visiting the Vietnam War Remnants museum. T posing as an American.

 

A guillotine and creepy depiction of a POW

That was about it for Saigon...oh I also went on a mad hunt for the perfect Bahn Mi sandwich but was unsuccessful.  Not to fret though my fellow Bahn Mi lovers...I found (actually Anthony Bourdain did) the most perfect sandwich in Hoi An our next stop.


Laid back Hoi An
From Saigon we hopped on a 16 hour overnight train to Hoi An.  Train travel is so affordable and so comfortable in Vietnam...definitely recommend it.  Its also a great way to meet people. Our bunk mates ended up being a Vietnamese monk and his trainee. 

T contemplating joining the monk life

Hoi An was a great change from Saigon. Quiet, quaint, and not life threatening every time you have to cross the street.  It's also recognized as a world heritage UNESCO site so its very foreigner friendly and well maintained. 

Japanese covered bridge

I forgot what these are called but they are deep fried sweet rice cakes.  SO DELICIOUS.

Pho Ga...Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup and the last Pho I will ever have.  

I came to terms with something in Hoi An.  I don't like Pho.  I think it's gross.  There. I said it.  For YEARS (since college) I have tried to like Pho.  Countless people have raved about its deliciousness and how it has magical powers to cure hangovers and colds.  I've tried Pho is Boston, LA, Chicago, Bangkok, Seoul and countless places in NYC.  For years I kept telling myself that that I just haven't tried the 'right' Pho. That if I only tried the authentic real Pho that I would love it.  I really wanted to love Pho...I did.  But I gave Pho numerous chances in Vietnam and each time I was disappointed.  I hate when I don't like a certain food but this can't be help.  Pho, I don't like you.

Moving on... Bike riding in Hoi An is relaxing and a great way to get around!  And a rental is only $1 a day!!!

The most amazing Bahn Mi street cart ever.

My sad realization that I don't like Pho was quickly alleviated by finally having the most perfect Bahn Mi sandwich ever.  Bahn Mi sandwiches are Vietnamese sandwiches filled with liver pate, pork, ham, cilantro, spicy chili sauce, shredded carrots, cucumber, mayo, sometimes a fried egg, and head cheese which is not cheese, but actually jelly made out of head.  Look it it up if you want to know more...I won't write about it because I like it so much and I don't want to think about what it actually is.  We found this street cart after a google search and finding a video of Anthony Bourdain trying one.  This $2 sandwich alone made my visit to Vietnam worth every penny and second.


Hoi An is also famous for its custom clothing shops.  You can get just about anything made in just a day or so for a very low price.  Since we both know we'll have to hop on the interview wagon once we get back to the US we both got custom suits made. 

T's new sport coat with elbow patches at my request!!  Love elbow patches.

Getting fitted for his new suit.

 

Me in front of the Hanoi opera house wearing my new custom made jumper!

After Hoi An, we headed back to Hanoi before taking the bus to Halong Bay where we would spend 1 night on a junk boat.

Our boat did not look like junk at all!

Our cute room on the boat

Awesome sun deck

Great sunset view

This photo reminds me a scene in Goonies

We were also allowed to jump into the water from the deck.  Of course, T was the only adult among 8-12 years olds jumping.  haha

T and his 12 year old friend working up the nerve to jump

Here he goes!

The junk boat was great fun but the highlight was me catching a squid!!! 

This is not a flattering picture but I'm just so happy to have caught a squid!!!

There's my squid, the 2nd to biggest one caught!  I felt a little guilty after it started to squirt ink...I kept thinking about the cute little squid in Finding Nemo

T caught one too, but mine is bigger :)

 I was so excited that I actually held the squid with my own hands which I don't even like to do when cooking!!!

My squid dominates T's little guy.

T eating his little guy the next day for lunch.

After a night on the boat, the next day we took a canoe and paddled out to a cave.  Or should I say, T paddled while I complained.  Paddling is hard work!

Strapped into my life vest.  T sometimes gets embarrassed about my obsession for life saving attire and tools

After our great time at Halong Bay we went back to Hanoi before heading to Sapa which Ted will write about later.  Here are some pics from Hanoi...of mostly food.

Bun Cha, grilled pork noodle soup. $2 (and that's with the tourist premium!  Locals only pay $1 for it!)  It doesn't look pretty, but its so good.  I don't get why Pho is so popular when Bun Cha is by far superior!!!!  I know, my Pho hating is getting out of control.  Sorry.

Enjoying our meal at a typical street restaurant...you know its authentic when they have little stools for chairs and you have to eat with your knees at your chest.

Deep fried rolls and mixed greens

We passed this store a few times and every time (day or night) it was bumping with ladies buying shoes and fake Chanel purses.  Proof that pretty shoes and Chanel are universal among all women.

Me with a bunch of random Vietnamese men after I took a tobacco bong hit with them.  You can't tell in the picture but my throat is in fire.

Dinner at a fantastic grilled steak street restaurant.  Again with little stools for seats.  Vietnam street food is truly awesome and so cheap. Tourists who are too afraid to try Vietnam street food are REALLY REALLY missing out.  Its worth the touch of diarrhea.  JUST KIDDING. We had no diarrhea. I swear.

That's all for now.  T is up next with our hike of Mount Fancy Pants in Sapa.