Hong Kong and Saigon

Day 3


There was no day 2, we crossed the international date line. An 8 hour layover in Hong Kong was exhausting. The buildings are spectacular. The airport shuttle was efficient and terminated in a very large shopping mall, the Elements Plaza. It is in the bottom floors of the red towers (picture) . Walked till we dropped. After 33 hours of travel we arrived at our first hotel. Saigon is an insanely busy city. The traffic is unbelievable. Hundreds of cars and thousands of motorbikes. Unregulated chaos, but it works. The motor bikes drive the wrong way on one way streets and on the sidewalks.


Nowhere in world is like this. Still pictures cannot capture it. Pictures cannot describe the traffic chaos. Watch youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dqibvh96Og
Bach, the director of American Preparatory Institute and his girlfriend took us to dinner, real Vietnamese food. Lots of dishes we have not had at home. I am getting proficient with chopsticks.

Day 4 Friday 9/5
The Market is immense and packed with vendors and people. We bought all kinds of fruits –mangosteens, rambutans, lychees and dragon fruit. The hotel breakfast is a real adventure, too. NO COFFEE! Pho soup or eggs… We had to buy a coffemaker at the market so we can have coffee when we wake up. We bargained it down to about half of the starting price.
Went to lunch in a place recommended by guide book. It was wonderful. The food here is outstanding.
Went to the University of Economics and Finance and met with the director and assistant director. It is a start up organization (2 years) in old French colonial buildings.
Went to dinner in same great restaurant. The menu is so varied and they have separate cooking areas it is as if it is many different places. And very inexpensive. And mobbed. Long lines to get in if you arrive after 6 pm.

Day 5 Sat. 9/6
Had a morning tour of HCMC arranged by Dr. Hung. Saw parts of the city we would never find ourselves. Went to an exclusive neighborhood that looked like La Jolla. 5000 sq. ft. mansions. There is no indication of Communism here.

We booked 2 tours with Sinh Café travel agency. The first is a 4 day trip to Ankor Wat; the second is a one day trip on the Mekong river. Booked a flight on JetStar airlines to DaNang. A new Aussie start up with cheap fares. Went to Highland coffee for the second time. Nice place. Had a meeting at National University of Vietnam. We missed the afternoon downpour – again. Yesterday we were in the Market, today in a cab to NUV. Now on to a motorbike ride with Bach and Chung. Hopefully, we’ll survive. Check back to see if this is updated!!