PicsFromTrips

The trip started in Ho Chi Minh City. I arrived at night, and it just happened to be the night of the 30 year anniversary of the 'reunification' of Vietnam.. In other words, when the Americans left. The streets were packed with folks as I zipped passed in my Taxi from the airport. I was too tired from the flights and time changes to join in the festivities, and even though the streets were busy, it looked as though most of the official celebration was finished for the night. I spent the next day wandering around town taking in the sights and also booking a Meekong Delta tour. I was lucky to have one departing the following day so I also booked a second night in my hotel. Saigon is as crazy and hectic as everyone says and crossing the streets is madness, but if you keep a level head about it it's really no big deal. I also found the people of Saigon to be really warm and friendly, and the tourists were quite open and sharing as well. I sat with a few Danish guys at dinner as they told me of their plans to seek out Vespa scooters and have them shipped over to Europe. I enjoyed the sights and walking around but the heat was amazing and eventually I had to stop walking and start using rickshaws and rides on motorbikes to get around (motorbikes being THE way to get around town).