Vietnam - Vung Tau

I couldn't leave Vietnam without spending the day at a beautiful beach. Lots of tour companies touted popular beaches around southern Vietnam, but I wanted something different. Vung Tau was mentioned around the tour websites as less crowded and clean, so that is where we went.

Vung Tau is easy to get to - simply go to the hydrofoil station on the Saigon River and buy a ticket. There are a handful of companies with plenty of boats leaving throughout the day. Although we went for a day trip, there were plenty of hotels and resorts in Vung Tau for overnight visits.

We were dropped off by the port, so we had the chance to walk around and look at the fishing village nearby.

This photo was taken by Rob, who went with me on the trip.

One of the most beautiful parts of the beach was the mirror-like surface on the wet sand, reflecting the sky and creating an endless stream.

Lots of vendors wandered down the beach, trying to sell everything from fruits to seafood.

Getting back to the station in Vung Tau was easy- we paid a few bucks to a guy on a moped who had us there, safe and sound, in minutes.

Vietnam - Mekong River Delta

My next stop, and primary reason I ventured to southern Vietnam to begin with, was the Mekong River Delta. We booked a tour group through our hostel (for details check out my post on Saigon here) and were hurried out of Saigon by bus. Once in the area, our group went from boat to boat in a variety of sizes. From motorized to row boats, each trip was unique.

Rowing boats racing down the narrow passageways

The crowding in Vietnam is not limited to the big cities!

Each boat in the area has eyes painted on the front.

Elephant fish!

Dredging the Mekong River for sand to use in construction in Saigon.

The floating markets were really interesting to me. Each boat selling was packed with one type of fruit, and had these little poles sticking in the air with a piece of fruit hanging from it. This was to make the fruit vendors easily identifiable to boats filled with customers. It seemed to be a great system.

In opposition to the farming boats selling massive quantities of fruit, lots of boats were based solely on selling individual servings of snacks. These seemed to focus primarily on tourists, which the Delta was absolutely crawling with.

Rice noodle factory

Rice factory

Coconut candy factory

Sunset over Can Tho

Ultimately, the Mekong River Delta is a beautiful place. I suggest that anyone who gets the chance spends a day or two in the area. I loved seeing a group of people living over a rivers and tributaries, existing on bridges and boats. I adored the brightly colored boats and buildings. The factories showed a side of local manufacturing entirely unmatched in the west. The only downside is that it is on every tourists' must-see list, and therefore its packed. Don't be disappointed if there are more foreigners than Vietnamese!

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City

A few weeks ago I went to Vietnam. I flew into Ho Chi Minh City, or Saigon, and wandered around the south. Two days were in the Mekon River Delta, then back to Saigon for a night. Next was Dalat, exploring the countryside. Then a motorbike tour from Dalat to Mui Ne, and finally back to Saigon. For my posts, I will break up the trip into city so it isn't too overwhelming.
First things first, Saigon!

These two pictures are the most representative of my experience in Saigon. Crowded, bustling streets filled with motorbikes and yet, chickens wandering around the storefronts.

Here's a clip of street traffic on a Monday night.

The French influence is visibile throughout Vietnam. There are small parks around the city with tall trees and sculture gardens. A nice place to relax in the shade!

One of the most iconic buildings in Saigon is the Reunification Palace. The interior is lavish, long tables with elegant chairs, furniture made from carved wood in pristine condition, and beauitful ornate rugs decorated with "Do not walk on!" signs. The most memorable part is not the display of Vietnamese affluence, though - it is in the basement.

This historic building has been kept true to its history - the furniture and decor have not been changed since 1975, when the North Vietnamese Army broke down the gates. You can see the President of South Vietnam's workplace and living quarters, complete with intelligence and communication rooms, kitchens, and so on.

The palace's grounds are memorable also, because there are tanks and planes on display.

The Russian T-64 tanks used to knock down the palace gates are on proud display here. Though the signage indicates that they may not be the actual ones used in the event, the language barrier leaves room for ambiguity.

Captured US planes are also scattered around the grounds.

From the roof, you can see the helipad used to evacuate the palace once it was under seige.

Accomodation Recommendations:

Ngoc Thao Guesthouse in the backpackes' district was highly rated on HostelWorld.com, but they were booked and referred me to Ruby Guesthouse, just around the corner.

Ruby Hostel was fantastic. The host was always close by and willing to help, not only with suggestions on trustworthy companies, but also held our bags for two nights for free when we left Saigon. One day we arrived at 6 am - well before check in, so she let us sleep in her family's bed while we waited for an available room. Needless to say, she was extremely accomodating!

The hostel is a tall and narrow building, and each room is on its own floor. We stayed in one with two sets of bunkbeds and another that was "familiy style" meaning it had a queen bed. Each room had its own bathroom and lockers or locking cabinets for valuable possessions. The main floor was being remodeled while we were there. When we left it had a sofa and chairs to make a communal area. There was also a free computer with internet acceess and wifi blanketed over the building. The set up was intimate and a nice change from the overcrowded hostels I have seen in the past. Most importantly, I felt very welcomed and safe the entire stay.

Contact info - for some reason, it isn't on Hostel World! You can stop in Ngoc Thao and ask about Ruby Hostel or email them directly at: rubyhostel@yahoo.com.vn