Vietnam Part 2: rocking the pointy hat

We had three nights in Hoi An at a hotel we chose because they brought the free breakfast up to the room where we could enjoy it on our balcony. It rained on and off the entire time we were there, including our motorbike taxi ride from the bus station to the hotel, but it provided a much needed break from the heat we have been getting everywhere else. It really doesn't feel like December since we are in shorts and T-shirts and still sweating constantly. Despite the rain, we did manage to make it to the beach.

beach in Hoi An - killer photo by Dave

breakfast on the balcony - photo by Dave

The streets of Hoi An were bustling with tailors lining the roads trying to lure you into their shops where you could have clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, ties, etc made specifically for you. The difficult part was choosing a tailor since every store looked exactly the same. We finally picked two at random who ended up being fantastic and offered us fair prices. We were really pleased with how everything turned out and were amazed at how fast they were able to make our garments and shoes.

at the tailor - photo by Dave

streets of Hoi An

The bus ride to Ho Chi Mihn City would have taken 18 hours and cost about $20. The flight would take 1.5 hours and would cost $40, so it was a really easy decision for us, especially since we are so burnt out from long bus rides. We flew. It was great. We spent one night in HCMC which reminded us of the massive city feel of Bangkok. We took the local bus to the backpackers area of town where the rooms are cheap and everyone is in your face trying to sell you something. We organized a 3-day trip down into the Mekong Delta, which included boat rides, bus transport, and 2-nights hotel accommodation all for a whopping $29.

Ho Chi Mihn City

We left the next morning at 8am on a bus with over 30 tourists and began our uber and over touristy trip (we knew what we were getting into though and read that this was the cheapest and easiest way to get around the Delta). It was a massive change of pace from the type of traveling we had been doing our entire trip. However, it wasn't anything like we expected as we ended up in smaller cities for the two nights when we thought we would be out in more rural areas. Some of the touristy stops included a coconut candy making operation, a honey bee "farm", a crocodile farm, a rice paper and noodle factory and fish "farm". We think the primary existence of all of these places was for tourist viewing as we were encouraged to purchase items at most of the stops at highly inflated rates.

rice paper factory

Tourists being paddled through the canals in Mekong Delta - photo by Dave

Our favorite part was the floating markets where farmers along the Mekong travel through the extensive canal system to exchange their produce. The larger boats displayed which items they had on board by hoisting one of them up on a flagpole. The smaller boats bring items from the land to trade with the bigger boats who don't have the opportunity to go on shore. This snapshot of such a different life was what was so incredibly intriguing.

smaller boats selling items to larger boat owners

floating market - photo by Dave

Pineapple on the pole shows what they sell on the boat

The markets dominate the trade amongst the locals in every town we have been to. The crowded streets don't deter people on bicycles or motorbikes from pushing their way through the narrow lanes in between stalls. Large pieces of very recognizable meat hang from hooks and the colorful produce stacks tall. There is a great energy in the markets which I absolutely love. In the Mekong land market we went to, there were all sorts of unusual things for sale including duck and pigs heads, chicken feet, live frogs, chick hearts, and live fish and eels, to name a few. No part of the animal seems to go to waste as the Vietnamese people eat every part of every animal, all of which are for sale.

hanging meat and dried seafood

mmm.. chicken feet

vendors plucking chickens and selling fish and eels

From Chau Doc, our final overnight on the tour, we took the fast boat across the Cambodian border into Phnom Phen. It was so much fun not to be on a bus and see the more rural countryside from the water. Crossing the border, although a little sketchy, went smoothly. Both Dave and I paid for e-visas which we were told was not accepted at this border crossing. This was frustrating as we felt we were being scammed and ended up paying the cost of the visa again.

on the boat to Cambodia

boating from Vietnam into Cambodia

We've been blown away by Cambodia so far. Extravagant temples line the water and appear around corners when you least expect them. The rice fields expand into the horizon in between small villages where the cows and chickens graze amongst the houses and the children run freely. After arriving into Phnom Phen we immediately caught the 6 hour bus into Siem Reap where we will be spending the next four days exploring the temples and the surrounding areas.

Cambodia