Travelling Trio

Vietnam – the first few days

• By Denise
• September 5, 2015
• 4 Comments

Saturday 22 August 2015

Our introduction to Vietnam was an interesting one.  Flying from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City (previously Saigon) in Vietnam and just the night before we had arranged our authority letters (albeit a bit late cause obviously I am too relaxed and forgot to do this earlier!!) to present to immigration to allow us to obtain our visas. Just a money making scheme really as the overall cost would be about $420 (a bit of a late fee included).  We were advised that we would have to pay a fee of $US125 cash at the airport and I assumed they would be able to accept visa for this payment.  How wrong was I…. Should never assume and you know – I know that…but there you go I’m obviously relaxed!

After a bit of sorting out I had to leave Dave and Carter in the “holding” area while I cleared customs and exited the airport in search of an ATM. The first ATM machines had been removed so had to walk to the other end of the Airport for one that did work – and then I couldn’t get enough cash out of the first one due to the limit imposed on the machine. However, I eventually got the required money then made my way back through the doors from which I had come. This meant going back through customs and immigration, explaining my predicament in pigeon english each time, paying for the visas then going back through again with Dave and Carter in tow (what country allows you to do that!). Welcome to Vietnam!!

Off in our taxi to our hotel – Bali B of all names. This was a budget hotel but totally adequate for us as it was located right in the heart of the city in District 1. They have named their suburbs by District – reminded me a little of the Hunger Games – but that is where the similarity stops!

Just a couple of things to note – the humidity and heat in Ho Chi Minh City was unbearable – we thought Bali and Singapore were hot – well these cities are easy compared to here. Another thing that was obvious from the start were the extremes from clean, green, tidy and wealthy Singapore to the dirty, green, untidy and seemingly poor Vietnam.
The first afternoon was spent in our room working out where and what to do. By 5.00pm we had decided to venture out and take on the traffic and I mean “take it on”. Here’s a photo of the traffic on the first night.

In order to cross the road you have to first look left (they drive on the right) which is not something we are used to doing. You then just walk out into the road and be strong when you are doing so. Head for the other side and just watch out for cars/trucks as they don’t tend to stop. Mopeds and scooters just go around you. But its scary stuff!!

War Remnants Museum
A trip to the War Remnants Museum was a must see and do. This was such a sombre place with some very sad tales of war. Carter’s question – why did they have the war? And you know – he is right – why did they?

Our entry to the museum started with an older man shaking each of our hands and taking a liking to Carter holding him quite firmly (Carter told us that afterward) and telling us his experience where at 8 years old he stood on a land mine and lost his forearms and one of his legs – and that was the introduction. The museum itself is split into a number of floors – each telling a different story about the war. Did you realise that in 1968-69 NZ had over 550 soldiers there too? I didn’t realise we had been involved to that extent. That was the peak of our involvement in the war however. An Agent Orange room is set out (painted orange) and has a suffocating smell when you enter with pictures and stories of many on the walls. The famous Agent Orange Girl photo is there too.

The Museum also had a helicopter, tank and other machinery used in the war sitting in the yard so people could touch, feel, smell and see what was used.

Independence Palace
Off to the Independence Palace – a magnificent building with marble pillars and very large opulent rooms. This is where the president of Vietnam lived during the war and after it was bombed has not been lived in since. You are not able to see any damage from the bombing but they have painted two large red circles where the bombs landed – so you get the picture.

Bahn Thai Market

Another experience not to be missed is going to one of the Vietnamese markets – we went to the Bahn Thai Market – not far from the backpackers area of Saigon and also not far from our accommodation either. Here I was able to negotiate a new pair of Burberry jandals (my trusty old Reef jandals packed a sad) for $14 – they are brilliant and are originals of course!! The people selling at this market have a determination about them – because they are sitting in their small stalls for hours on end in hot and sticky conditions pleading with each passerby to call in at their stall. The wares range from peanuts to pork, silk and cotton garments to leather, fresh vegetables to bottled drinks, small knick knacks to large suitcases and just about anything you might need.

Carter and I purchased two hand held fans for us – a large one for Carter and a slightly more dainty one for me. These have been superb over the past days and have helped provide some well needed cool air when used.

There is just so much to see and experience in Vietnam so will post this now and update you further soon.