Monday, July 25, 2016

Mekong River Tour

It’s our last day in Vietnam and we wanted to explore the Mekong River Delta. Just like yesterday, we booked the tour at a tour agency located below our hotel. Just like yesterday, there is someone from the tour who will see us at the hotel and we would followed her to the bus. We walked for a couple of minutes to pick up more people until we reached the bus which is parked at Backpackers’ Street.

After more than an hour, we arrived at a monastery. We stopped for a minute to take pictures. 






After 15 minutes, we arrived at the side of the Mekong River. We took a small boat to take us to different places in the vicinity.


On our first stop, we stopped by a shop with lots of tables. I also notice that they make bee products here. We were then seated and were given tea mixed with honey, bee pollen, and lime juice. The tea is actually good and refreshing. Next, we were given a sample of snacks. Some of the snacks include ginger chips, banana chips, and coconut candy. Lastly, a lady approached us and told about the health benefits of consuming honey, bee pollen, and royal jelly. She also tries to sell these products to us.



Box filled with bees

Tea with honey, bee pollen, and lime juice

A plate of snacks

Their products (honey, bee pollen, and royal jelly)

We went back to the boat and took us to our next location. Our next location is a place where they sell and make coconut candy. We looked at how they make those sweet treats and we were able to taste some of them.




We then walked for a short distance to some sort of a dining hall. Once we sat down, we were served an assortment of fruits. A few minutes after, performers gathered on one side and started to sing and perform Vietnamese folk songs.


Pineapple, papaya, mangoes, watermelon, and dragon fruit

One of the Performers

After the show, we walked again to arrive at a place where you start the small boat cruise around the delta. Only four people are allowed to tide on a single boat. The boat is maneuvered by two locals. They also provide local Vietnamese hats for protection. You cruise through a narrow creek until you reach the Mekong River. At the end of the small boat cruise, our boat that we took earlier was there waiting for us.







Our last stop was a restaurant in the middle of the delta. We were served lunch which is included in the tour. However, if you want to order drinks and more food, you have to pay. Another thing about this restaurant is that they serve interesting dishes including snake, ostrich, crocodile, turtle, and coconut worm.


Lunch consists of rice, beef strips, string beans, and spring rolls

Their exotic menu

COCONUT WORM!!!

It was raining hard when we had lunch. We had to wait for a couple of minutes for the rain to stop. Once the rain stopped, we returned to the boat and went back to the boat terminal. We then took the bus again to Ho Chi Minh City.  

We still had a few hours left before our flight. So we head back to Burger King to have dinner. After dinner, we went back to the hotel to pack and took a taxi to the airport.

This adventure ends here! It was fun while it lasted. I hope there will be more adventures waiting for me in the future.

See you guys later. 
Check out my other Cambodia-Vietnam vacation posts here!



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Friday, July 22, 2016

Cu Chi Tunnels Tour

It is the day we explored the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. We booked the tour at a tour agency located below the hotel. At around 8 am, a person from the tour picked us up from the hotel. We followed the guide as we walked to the Saigon Bus Station. As we walked, the guide stopped at several hotels and picked up more tourists for the tour. At Saigon Bus Station, we took a bus to take us to the Cu Chi Tunnels.

A scene at Saigon Bus Station

Before we arrived at the Cu Chi Tunnels, we had a stop at an art crafts center. In this center, people with different disabilities (like amputees) created wonderful works of art. You can see their final products displayed at their show room. Apologies for not taking pics at the products because we were not allowed to take pics inside the show room but we can take the pics on how the people made the products.



In no time, we arrived at the site. 

Tunnel leading to the Cu Chi Tunnels

At the site, you can see different huts where you can watch short films about the history of this place and see artifacts like weapons. Spread across the site are different entrances to the tunnels. 

One of the huts

One entrance to the tunnels

Afterwards, our guide takes us to a place where you can see the different booby traps that the Vietnamese soldiers used during the Vietnam War. Our guide also demonstrates (using a stick) how the person can be injured, be killed, or be impaled by the following traps. 




Then we head to one of the huts where you can see the different weaponry used. 

 One of the huts


We then took a break from a souvenir shop inside the site. There is also a shooting range located next to it. If you ever come to this place and be surprised to hear several loud explosions, those are gunshot noises from the shooting range. 

Souvenir Shop

It's time for the main event - entering the tunnels! The guide took us to a place where he suggested we should explore the tunnels. He instructed us the directions on where to get out of the tunnel network and meet with the rest of the group (Some people don't want to enter the tunnels). I couldn't take pictures inside the tunnel because my phone can't take photos while I'm using it's flashlight. This will tell you that it is dark inside. Also, the tunnels are narrow that you need to crawl or take small steps while squatting. Furthermore, if you're in there for a while, it tends to get hot. Once I got out of the tunnels, I was profusely sweating.   

We then caught up with the rest of the group. We walked to the last location our guide wants us to go. As we walk along, the guide told us that the trees that we're seeing now are post-war. When the war happened, this place was just ground. 

A watch tower

Smoke vents - the smoke comes from an underground kitchen where the soldiers cook their food during the war. 

We arrived at one place where it seemed there's nothing on there. Then, our guide moved some leaves on the ground and revealed a secret entrance to the tunnels. 

The hole is so small that only a few people can fit right in. I would not miss this chance. You can also enter the tunnel network here and exit nearby. 

Such a small hole.

I fit in the hole!

That concludes our Cu Chi Tunnels Tour. We returned to Ho Chi Minh City for some last minute shopping as we don't have the time to do it the next day.

On the next day, we explored the sites around the Mekong River Delta.

See you guys later!


Check out my other Cambodia-Vietnam vacation posts here!



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Thursday, July 21, 2016

Off to Ho Chi Minh City

It's time to leave Phnom Penh for Ho Chi Minh City. We took Mekong Express Bus. The bus we took has an on-board toilet and has wi-fi access. We were also provided with a box of pastries, a bottle of water, and a wet tissue for the trip. The trip took around 7 hours. This includes a rest stop at Krong Bavet, a casino town at the Cambodia-Vietnam border, and immigration processing at the border. 

Box of pastries, a bottle of water, and a wet tissue

We crossed this beautiful bridge.

Cambodia Border Control

Motorcycles everywhere - a sign that you're in Vietnam.

We arrived in the central part of Ho Chi Minh City. We checked in at Dragon Palace Hotel.


We decided to check out the shopping scene here. We walked from our hotel to our first stop, Saigon Square. You can find a lot of clothing and accessories such as bags in here.

Downtown

Saigon Square Entrance

Lots of Kipling bags

After the first round of shopping at Saigon Square, it's time to head to Benh Thanh Market. 

Benh Thanh Market

This is the shopping mecca in Ho Chi Minh City. In this big building, you can find and buy everything here. 

After a few hours of shopping, we had dinner at Burger King. 

Double Whooper with fries, a piece of chicken, and iced tea

It's time to rest for we will have new adventure awaiting for us the next day. 

See you guys later!


Check out my other Cambodia-Vietnam vacation posts here!

Day 2: Places in Angkor - https://intro-traveller.blogspot.com/2016/06/places-in-angkor-day-2.html





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