Ho Chi Minh City

After close to 24 hours of travel we made it to Vietnam.  Despite warnings about taxi scams at the airport, we made it to our hotel with no problems.  We are staying at the Vy Khanh Guesthouse in the tourist section, Pham Ngu Lao, of Ho Chi Minh City.  Ms Vy has been a lovely host.  She welcomed us with cold drinks and showers even though we arrived quite early in the morning.  She gave us a very detailed map of the city with recommendations of where to go for pho, massages, shopping, and sightseeing.  Even as I type this she has brought me Vietnamese coffee to sip while I wait for Adam to wake up.

The first thing you'll notice about Ho Chi Minh is the wild driving patterns of the motorbikers and cars.  There really aren't very many rules here, although the locals have seemed to work out a way to do things without killing each other.  If you want to cross the street, no one is going to stop for you, you simply have to just walk and the cars and bikes will drive around you.

After dropping off our bags and showering at our guest house, we headed into town for some food and sights.  First we went to a little corner stand for pho.  It was delicious.  Adam ate two bowls.

The food here is so yummy and inexpensive.  A meal for two, even in the "expensive tourist area" will run us around $5.00.

Next we got massages at the Vietnamese Traditional Massage Institute.  Here blind masseurs rub you down with peppermint oil, in a cool air-conditioned room for a mere $2.50 an hour.  It was very relaxing.

Then we wandered around the Chợ Bến Thành market where all out senses were accosted.  The crowded market is piled to the ceiling with everything you can imagine from nail polish to spices.  Everywhere we turned people were asking us to touch or try various goods.  Apparently as a foreigner at this market the prices they quote you are inflated by 300% thus we didn't end up buying anything there and decided to hold off until we were at the less touristy markets.

I barely made it to 8pm before crashing and I slept until 8am the next morning.  I'm writing this while sipping Vietnamese coffee and chatting with my lovely host Ms Vy.  She has owned and managed this guest house for the past 4 years.  Today she is complaining about her cat-lady neighbors who make it impossible for her to do renovations/improvements.  She thinks it is because they are bored that they put up such a fuss.

The plan for today is to check out more markets and some of the museums in the city.  I think I'll enjoy today a lot more after having a such a good night sleep.  Oh and a positive note, I woke up to an email from the third member of my committee saying he'll sign off on my thesis.  Now only my adviser is left!