Mozzeenet

wee-hee! Signing in at Saigon city!

Been experiencing Vietnam over the last 4 days! It’s interesting comparing the differences with Cambodia.

We entered Vietnam by boat into the Mekong delta. It was a lovely trip, seeing life on the river from deck chairs on a small boat. I noticed immediately how much more built-up and busy it was compared to Cam.

Lots of boats, houses and activity. I could see the Chinese influence in the style of the boats with their painted faces at the bow. We began to see people wearing the distinguishing conical hats.

Our first destination was Chau Doc near the border. We were quite surprised that it was a busy, little town. After Cambodia, it is a surprise to see how built-up and modern Vietnam is.

The first day, we were a bit dazed. We felt a bit helpless, not knowing any of the language, where we were going or how things worked. Such a contrast to how we feel in PP now. It felt strange not being able to communicate or understand a little of what people were saying. We noticed people in the Mekong delta didn’t have much English.

At Chau Doc, we made a decision about what we were going to do but it took almost all day to work it out. We hadn’t had much time to plan so none of us really had any idea about what was on offer.

After a few failed attempts to get some information, we found a place where an expat guy gave us the low-down on everything.

Only having a very limited time, we had to be selective. Although we all were keen to find our own way, it soon became obvious that a tour was the way to go. It became apparent that it was much easier and cheaper to go on a tour.

So, the next day we headed off on our tour which took us to a Cham settlement over the river houses built on the water, complete with electricity cables and TV antennae - a necessity in this day and age our guide told us.

The Chams had their own kingdom in earlier times called Champa and are Islamic. There are also Cham people in Cambodia. We saw them making scarves and had a look at one of the mosques. I was more interested in the life around me, I wandered up the road where children were sliding down a muddy bank into the river.

Our guide had a very dry sense of humour and we noticed this with a lot of the people here. They were often quite serious and single-minded. The way of communicating is very direct, almost authoritarian. “Do this now, do that now” type of thing. “It is raining lightly now”. “Pick up your bags now”.

We speculated on whether it was simply personality or more than that, the influence of a Socialist political system. In contrast, the Khmers seem very laid-back and unimposing.

In the afternoon, we arrived by boat at Tiger Island where we had booked a home stay. We stayed with a family in a wooden house. It was fairly tourist-oriented and there were 4 other people staying there as well. Still, it was a nice sojourn.

We rode bikes around the island in the afternoon, had a beer by the ferry dock and dinner back at the home-stay. We slept on canvas fold-out beds with mosquito nets. Everything was very clean and comfortable.

The next day, we went to see a floating market nearby - lots of boats piled high with coconuts, pineapples and other foodstuffs. We even bought an iced coffee from a floating drink vendor! Then, we went to an on-land market.

It was very interesting - lots of weird things for sale like snakes, eels, frogs and any number of other culinary delights.

The afternoon was taken up by a bus trip up to Saigon. It was supposed to take 5 hours but another 2 were tacked on because a lot of Saigon was flooded when we arrived. It had been raining all day and the drainage system is not up to scratch.

There were traffic jams coming into the city and bikes and buses broken down in the knee-high water.

Finally we made it to the backpacker area near the centre. Saigon 1 is the centre of the city. Ho Chi Minh (its official name) is broken up into districts and Saigon is the name of the central district. The city seemed fairly frantic compared to PP but not as frenetic as Bangkok.

We were pretty tired so we found ourselves a hotel. The hotel is very clean and comfortable and still fairly cheap, $4/person a night. It even has a proper shower with hot water which is a real luxury.

We had Italian for dinner. Lots of good restaurants and coffee shops. The coffee has been a real treat here. The Vietnamese use these small metal, drip-through contraptions, one for each person. We bought some yesterday at a market - they’re great. You put the coffee in the top with the hot water and it drips through into your glass. Saves making a whole pot.

Had an excellent sleep on Thursday night, didn’t wake up until 10am! We have air-con so perhaps that made a difference.

During the day, we wandered round and then caught cyclos for a bit of a tour. People here are much more into the sales pitch and drive a hard bargain. They didn’t give us a great tour but it was fine to get our bearings.

We first went to a market - the best thing there was the cold spring rolls I had for lunch and a papaya, strawberry and avocado fruit shake. It is more civilised than Cam and nice just to sit and eat in the food-hall. Usually, I feel too harassed and hot in Cambodia when I eat at the market.

We spent quite a bit of time at that market. Then, they took us to a Chinese temple. It was very interesting with huge pots of incense burning and intricate carvings on the roof of people, animals and landscapes.

We then went to the Chinese medicine area of town. They had everything for sale there, tiger’s teeth, snake-skin and many different dried herbs and concoctions, interesting.

Next we did a bit of a tour of the river area (dirty, smelly, fetid). And finally back again to the backpacker area where we are staying.

After a couple of hours of relaxing, we went out to dinner up the road. An excellent meal. I had prawns in coconut - whole prawns I might add, beautiful! And coconut ice-cream for dessert.

We went for a drink then headed out with some other backpackers to a bar called Apocalypse Now. It was packed, could have been anywhere. I thought it was a bit hideous. It closed at around 12 then we went to a place called Sahara. It was OK but again packed to the rafters. We had a few drinks and then I headed back at about 4am. I’m not sure what time Jennie and Natalie got in.

So, feeling a bit tired today. We’re going to the War remnants museum, perhaps get a massage and do a spot of shopping. I’ve had breakfast already, I left the other two sleeping so I will go back soon and see how they’re faring.

Tomorrow, I’m headed back to PP by plane. It has been great to get over here and check Vietnam out. Perhaps I will get to the North at the end of the year.

Ruth e xx
Miss Phnomer in Cambodia