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My Personal Sailing Adventures - with land trips on the side: Good morning Vietnam (Holiday in Vietnam Part 1)
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Three weeks. Three cities. Thirty five hours on a train. Man I love the Nam. Here's how our holiday in Vietnam started...
Ho Chi Minh City AKA Saigon
From the moment we landed at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) it felt totally chaotic. Despite having everything in order for our visa on arrival it still took nearly two hours to get through customs and immigration. The currency has a million zeroes to contend with. They drive on the wrong side of the road. Crossing the road is an adventure.
The motorbike traffic is legendary
There's no point in waiting for a break in the traffic. Just walk slowly, hold your nerve and the motorbikes and scooters weave around you. Not so scary after the first time. Except when the driver is sending a text message and not looking at pedestrians on the road.
We stayed in Ho Chi Min City's District 5 for the first five days. Very local. Not a western franchise in sight.
Street level drinking. Beer is less than a buck. What's not to love?
Holiday in Vietnam: The Slap
I thought we were blending in until one morning I was just walking along the street and felt a slap on my bum. Looked round to see where it came from. Got a snarling grumpy glare from a local woman. I still have no idea what it was about... They don't do tourism in Vietnam in the same way as the other countries I've visited.
Traditional Roast Turkey Vietnam Style
The other captain had his heart set on roast turkey etc on Christmas day so we signed up for the hotel's buffet lunch. Free flow champagne (I really don't think it came from that district in France) and beer plus an endless array of delicious food for about $25 a head. Including - well sort of -traditional roast turkey.
I asked for a slice off the leg. The server proceeded to chop at it with a cleaver, right through the bone. All to the soundtrack of Silent Night and Edelweiss on strict rotation. Christmas the Viet way.
The heart of Ho Chi Minh City Saigon
We moved in to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City Saigon for a few days after that. Checked out
Cu Chi Tunnels (an unforgettable experience deep inside a tunnel)
War Remnants Museum (if you want a taste of anti-Americanism this is the place to find it)
