The rain in Vietnam

After 13 hours stuck on the coach listening to Cambodian karaoke and sweating like mad due to sitting under the air-con engine, we arrived at the bright lights of the city of Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City in official lingo). In desperate need of a mug of ale, we quickly found a hotel and set off to hit the town hard. Despite the disappointment of the local nightlife, we still made the most of it and arrived back home at 4am pretty leathered. Although, the reception shut at midnight so we needed to knock up the receptionist to get in (he didn't look pleased).

Eventually we awoke the next day and decided to visit the War Remnants Museum which was surprisingly interesting. However, on the way back the heavens opened requiring us to take shelter in the nearest cafe, presumably for half an hour. Four hours later and the streets we now like rivers - we were going nowhere for a long time.

On Dan's birthday (5 Nov) we went on an amazing boat trip around the Mekong Delta, visiting the floating market and watching locals trying to make a living selling rubbish and making coconut candy. When our boat stopped for lunch Dan and Karl ventured out and had the delicious, although crazy looking and sounding, elephant ear fish. We had an hour to spare so went for a bike ride on the dodgiest bikes ever. What a laugh - Karl almost got us lost but we make it back with minutes to spare.

During our short stay in "Nam" we crammed a lot in. We went to the Cu Chi Tunnels that were used by the Vietcong in the war - these were about 4ft high and 2ft wide and go on forever. Dan lead the whole group through the tunnels in the darkness scaring them by shouting it's full of scorpions and spiders. Still hungover from the supposedly quiet night the night before that turned into a mad sesh, we could think of better places to be than a never ending mud hole.

The most rewarding part of our trip so far had to be visiting the orphanage. Fetching gifts and sports equipment really put a smile on their faces - and ours too. We were only there for about an hour, playing games with the kids, handing out fruit and sweets, but we had to let them go back to class. A few of the kids cried but overall it was good to do something different and helpful. Unlike getting hammered and remembering nothing, these memories will last a lifetime.

We finally decided to leave and flew back to Bangkok for a few nights out drinking buckets of long island iced tea on the streets. After three days it was time to take the 12 hour train to Koh Tao to do some diving (and give our livers a rest). (DD)

written by

Sean, Karl & Dan on November 7, 2007 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

from the travel blog: Around the world in 180 days...

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great piece of writing Dan, but if you did write this why do you refer to yourself in the third person?
Anyway Adam thinks it looks great and is very jealous.
See ya

Adam Bratley aka Catface bastard !

written by Adam Bratley on November 24, 2007

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