Day 16 of 36
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Flight 9 of 18
392 miles of 22,121
We awoke about 7 am. Hot and a little overcast today. We showered, dressed, and had our continental breakfast at the hotel. We were supposed to have massages and facials today but they couldn't take us until 11. We requested a late check-out to 1 pm so we could shower and change after the massage. But the front desk refused our request twice! So Tim cancelled the spa appointments! (Revenge?)
So we took a "cyclo ride" through Hue. It was great fun. Each of us had a seat on the front of a bike and the driver pedaled us through the traffic. Easier than crossing the streets on foot! It was hard work. I traded places with my driver at one point and he was in the seat. It was hard - I'm glad he was doing the work.
They took us to the Citadel and we paid to enter again and went to the left to a side that was much more restored than what we had seen previously. Beautiful temples, colorful facades, and lots of bonsai plants - many of them small ficus trees. We walked for about 30 or 40 minutes and headed back to our cyclo drivers. They headed off around the entire citadel for our tour. It was great fun with the other bikes, minibikes, trucks, cars, busses and people zipping all around us. Through some of the back street to a large pond where they fish. There were nets in the pond to catch the small fish too. The driver wanted to continue on but I told him we had to catch a flight so we headed back to the hotel. The ride was $5 for 1 hour but I gave him $20 for both of us since we were out longer and since it was such hard work. They were both sweating from their labors.
Hue to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Flight 9 of 18
392 miles of 22,121
We awoke about 7 am. Hot and a little overcast today. We showered, dressed, and had our continental breakfast at the hotel. We were supposed to have massages and facials today but they couldn't take us until 11. We requested a late check-out to 1 pm so we could shower and change after the massage. But the front desk refused our request twice! So Tim cancelled the spa appointments! (Revenge?)
So we took a "cyclo ride" through Hue. It was great fun. Each of us had a seat on the front of a bike and the driver pedaled us through the traffic. Easier than crossing the streets on foot! It was hard work. I traded places with my driver at one point and he was in the seat. It was hard - I'm glad he was doing the work.
They took us to the Citadel and we paid to enter again and went to the left to a side that was much more restored than what we had seen previously. Beautiful temples, colorful facades, and lots of bonsai plants - many of them small ficus trees. We walked for about 30 or 40 minutes and headed back to our cyclo drivers. They headed off around the entire citadel for our tour. It was great fun with the other bikes, minibikes, trucks, cars, busses and people zipping all around us. Through some of the back street to a large pond where they fish. There were nets in the pond to catch the small fish too. The driver wanted to continue on but I told him we had to catch a flight so we headed back to the hotel. The ride was $5 for 1 hour but I gave him $20 for both of us since we were out longer and since it was such hard work. They were both sweating from their labors.
We refreshed in our room, finished packing, checked out, had a cold drink in the lobby bar and then headed in a taxi to the airport. We got to the airport too early and it was HOT - no A/C. So I had an ice cream cone (yum) that cost $ .40 and we found a fan that would at least circulate the air for a while. We only had to wait about 30 minutes and then we were able to check in for the flight - go through security - and to the air conditioned Vietnam Airlines waiting lounge. Much better. We loaded up on our Airbus early and left 10 minutes early with the plane full.
It was cloudy all of the way to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) so there was no scenery. Ominous clouds were out in the distance as we landed and shortly after landing the heavens opened up with pouring rain. We saw the US Military airplane hangers at the HCMC airport. HCMC was the former Saigon (they called it Sai Gon). We retrieved our bags that came out quickly, and bought a taxi voucher for $13 to take us directly to our hotel, The Caravelle, supposedly the best hotel in HCMC. Centrallly located and modern.
HCMC is the most Western city we have seen in Vietnam. Much more so than Hanoi. There are hi-rise buildings and lots of modern shops of all kinds. Clean and wide streets. The traffic, however, is just like the others - maddening.
We upgraded our room to the concierge floor so went to the lounge for hors d'oeuvres and drinks - a great selection. We met Bill there who was on vacation from Saudi Arabia. He leads a lonely existence there. We went to the concierge and booked a tour on Tuesday to the Chu Chi Tunnels outside of HCMC - a 1/2 day tour.
We walked in the rain with umbrellas 2 blocks to Nam Kha Restaurant - a beautiful room with pool, fountain. We laughed at the sign at the front "Not responsible for things falling into the pool!". They presented us with a price fixe menu but neither of us was that hungry. Tim inquired about a la carte dining and a huge menu appeared with all sorts of selections. We got a bottle of Australian white wine and enjoyed the assorted appetizer tray and our dinners - all for about $76. It was really good. I had the glass noodles with crab and shrimp.
We took a stroll around the city but it was still sprinking and there were lots of puddles in the streets so we headed back to the hotel and retired shortly after.
We look forward to our 2 1/2 days in HCMC and the venues it offers.
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