As I type this, I am sitting poolside in Hanoi with the sounds of afternoon traffic honking along just outside my retreat. Vietnam has been quite the whirlwind of a trip. Actually the entire past two weeks have been one big blur. And now as I sit and relax for the last few hours of my vacation the thoughts about work to dos and apartment chores and March celebrations are making their way to the forefront of my mind. Why must I always I do that? So in an effort to stay engaged in the present let's recap a bit of what I loved and loathed in Vietnam.
The Good:
Two words. Beach bum. It's no secret that I love salt water so I made sure that at least for part of this trip we were camped out with sand, sun, and sea. We stayed at Jungle Beach and it did not disappoint - bare necessities bungalow, tasty meals, and good company. We had planned on only staying here for a night but the Vietnamese New Year had other plans for us so we ended up here for three nights which was the perfect length of time.
The Bad:
I am usually a very cautious eater. I inspect my food and have certain standards that it needs to adhere to. When traveling, I usually rely heavily on street food so I can ensure it's piping hot when it reaches my plate. For some reason, I decided to throw caution to the wind a bit in this trip. Why did I do this? My poor stomach has not been happy with me. Note to self: there's good reason for your obsessive tendencies and be wary of lukewarm rice.
The Ugly:
I pride myself in my ability to fall asleep just about anywhere. Twelve hour bus ride from Nairobi to Kampala? No problem. Twin propeller plane with chickens in a crate behind my seat and pecking at my ankles? Child's play. I may owe this to a narcoleptic-like response to motion sickness. I've been known to pass out mid roller coaster ride (this is also a great way to really freak out amusement park staff). However every talent has it's limits and mine is the overnight sleeper bus. Let me try to give a lay of the land to anyone's who has not yet had the privilege of spending 10+ hours in one of these vehicles. There are three rows of seats and two levels. You may lay down or sit partially up but don't even think about bending you knees. It's not going to happen. Also, once those seats are filled that doesn't mean more people can't fit. Those poor, unfortunate souls must be subjected to sleep in the aisle or squish into a storage area with about two feet of height. We used this mode of transit twice (I know. We are gluttons for punishment I tell you.) and if given the choice I will never take one again.
And yes, I didn't spend all of my time in Vietnam at the beach so here are some honorable mentions:
Hoi An is a really pretty place. I mean there's a reason it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old part of town still has its port city charm and I've heard you can get some amazing eats here, here, and here. The Tet celebrations were still underway while we were there so these places were all closed but I've heard they're the real deal from fellow travelers.
Despite being told we would be disappointed, we made the trek from Hoi An to My Son. Yes, it's a trek when it's a bazillion degrees outside and all sorts of humid. But even with the heat and stickiness, I would say it's worth heading out to. The ruins are beautiful especially with the way nature has crept in. Also, you can engage in a bit of a history lesson as there are bomb craters throughout.
notes:
- in an effort to share thoughts about the businesses we visited without these posts turning into one big review, we've created a tripadvisor account. if you're looking for the lowdown on where we slept, ate, and specifically how we got around town check it out here.
- the vietnamese new year is quite the celebration with lanterns, fireworks, parties, hordes of people, etc. before the new year, everyone travels north to their families and after the new year, everyone travels south back home. if you want to avoid major travel hassles, book well in advance.
- did i mention my mom came along on this whole cambodia/vietnam adventure? no? well she did and she's awesome. as in completely rocked the random accommodations, questionable food sources, and terrible overnight buses. not many people would sign-up for a trip that's not planned past day 3 of 14 and is likely to include many hostel stays. oh that's right. she didn't sign up for it. my dad and i hatched a plan and sprung it on her 5 days before we left... fortunately she was up for it. those traveling, adventuresome genes run strong. thanks, mom!
