Week 6 ~ Vietnam
- Mary Kate gKing
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Xin Chao from Vietnam
I’m sure everyone enjoyed hearing from the infamous guest writer last week. Rest assured, he will be sure to grace us with his creative writing again in the near future. I mean, who else is better to be writing about the food in these countries than our one and only international chef?!
Speaking of food…..
While I will leave the details of the Vietnamese cuisine up to the professional, a few eventful activities in the last week did revolve around food, which still deserve honorable mention. For starters, within our first 24 hours in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), we found ourselves on the back of a Vespa, thoroughly enjoying ourselves during a night city and food tour.
While at some points the night Vespa tour felt like complete madness, and I truly mean madness, the tour was one of the greatest highlights in our week.
These videos might help shine some light on the organized chaos that is driving in a city in Vietnam.
So yes, I absolutely did have to turn my trauma nurse brain off to get on the back of a moped in HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City). And yes, it was totally worth it.
Highlights of the tour included visiting 6 different dining establishments where we were the only non-Vietnamese people eating. (#Goals). We were also able to see so many locations throughout the city with our motorized transportation, visiting almost every district. The city really came alive at night, and not just because the 20-degree difference in temperature between midday and evening… or maybe that is a big reason the city came alive lol. - BUT the city lights at night were still cool to admire on the back of the moped with wind blowing through your hair, and the quiet thoughts of “this could be the end” in the background. JOKING parents & grandmothers. It honestly is way more dangerous trying to cross the street than riding on one of these mopeds. Overall, the tour was amazing, and we ended our night with live music, so all in all, an incredible experience.
Lessons Learned of the Week: Keep your head on a swivel at all times. No crazy story here, but just a very important rule to follow while walking in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh offered many more activities than just a food tour. We explored the city on foot, enjoying pedestrian paths, parks, cafes, markets, and some good ‘ole touristy highlights like this old apartment building that has been turned into a bunch of cafes, restaurants, and boutiques for foreigners to enjoy. ;)
It was also important for us to take the time to learn more about the history of Vietnam. While there is still so much for us to learn over the next 2.5 weeks, we really think the Vietnam War Remnants Museum in HCMC shared a glimpse of the pain and suffering that was endured during this challenging time in history.
On a brighter note, here are some pictures of Starfish Beach on Phu Quoc Island. (Wasn’t sure how else to transition from that one...)
After busy travels from Argentina to D.C. for a friend’s wedding (Congrats, Ryan & Grace), briefly visiting Nick’s grandmother, Bubbe, and then traveling back in the opposite direction towards Asia, we were in desperate need of some R&R. That’s how we found ourselves relaxing at the Phu Quoc Eco Resort and enjoying island time.
It was ~very~ relaxing. While the first 3 days were spent purely rotating between the hotel pool, beach, and restaurants, we eventually found ourselves exploring more of the island.
From the moment we laid eyes on the Vespa, we knew we were eventually going to find ourselves behind the wheel, so to speak.
Best way to explore Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam? Vespa.
Trauma nurse brain off? Not exactly... but enough to enjoy the scenic drive on Phu Quoc Island.
Thankfully, no injuries occurred during our exploration via vespa.
After our time on Phu Quoc Island, we made our way back to mainland Vietnam, to the city of Can Tho.
Can Tho City, home to 4.8million people in the Mekong Delta Region. Known for its infamous floating market along the Mekong Delta River.
Having read online mixed reviews of the authenticity of the market, I was hesitant to book the transportation to the Mekong Delta. After advice from my friend, Beth, and discovering a really unique tour that stood out for its cultural immersion and authenticity, we booked our flight and tour to the Mekong Delta. I also found a charming guest room to stay in at Ms. Ha’s house. After reading her reviews, I saw that she also offered a local tour to her guests. When we arrived at her house at 2:45pm, she greeted us with fruit and tea.
“Are you tired?” “Eh, only a little..”
“You go to floating market tomorrow?” “Yes, at 5:30am.”
“I can take you on two different local boat tours, one close by, one further away. The one further away is better, but we need to leave right now if you want to go.”
Nick and I looked at each other. We could’ve just rested in the room or walked around, but then again.. When in Vietnam! So we agreed to the longer boat tour that was further away, and she herded us out the door almost immediately.
No time to change, finish our tea. She did, however, call to her neighbor to make us some iced Vietnamese coffee to go while we waited for her driver to pick us up.
Ms. Ha was a very nice and funny lady. She explained to us so much about Vietnam and the history of the Mekong Delta. She explained that her tour is different and she keeps it a secret so other tour companies don’t learn about it and ruin it lol. She says we are visiting her friends who work in various places in the area. The first stop was visiting a spot where local Vietnamese charcoal is made. Located along the riverfront, boats will bring the mangrove trees that they cut down from the riverbanks. The trees are then cut, dried, and put into these sand/mud-based buildings, where they are smoked for multiple days.
It is all about the timing, when they fill more wood through the little hole, when they patch up the whole, keep the larger door open or closed. We met some of her friends, one of whom was an older woman who rested in a hammock, filling wood into the burning furnace like buildings every 30 minutes.
Next, we were off to bamboo baskets. Visiting more of her friends along the riverbank, we watched as they handcrafted these large bamboo baskets. She said they are extremely useful in the rice fields. We were informed that, unfortunately, the art of this hand crafting will die when her friends do because the youth have no interest in continuing on with this work…. She explained how the young people don’t want to work as hard and want easier jobs now. Doesn’t sound familiar at all, right?
Some of Ms Ha's talented and hardworking friends, who encouraged us to take pictures and share this craftsmanship.
Now more on the boat. We sat on this small boat, being driven through the lush greenery in Mud Xuan Nature Reserve Park. It was absolutely stunning as she pointed out the flora we were driving by. She also presented us with these traditional cone hats, Non la, which, aside from looking like photo props, are actually extremely helpful in sun protection. Much better than my safari hat!
The tour was incredible, but I think what made it special was learning about Ms. Ha and her community. She shared with us her life story. Born into a poor family, she received only 5 years of education, and she learned how to drive boats. She would drive the boats for tours of the floating market and learn English by listening to the guide and practicing with passengers. Eventually, she perfected her English enough to be a guide herself. She worked as a guide and saved up her money. She had a vision. Eventually, she saved up enough to buy her home, which included 3 guest rooms. She opened up her homestay and started offering her own private tours to show her guests the “real” Mekong Delta life. Her story was inspiring, her laugh was contagious, and overall, she was a highlight of our trip so far.
Dinner at a local recommendation from Ms. Ha, a quick walk through the night market, then off to bed for an early rise to the Car Rang the floating market.
Another incredible tour and guide. Sophia was incredible, explaining how the market previously included over 1,000 boats selling goods. However, with more bridges built connecting towns by car, and other developments, the floating market has dwindled to about 150 boats. The larger boats usually sell large quantities of produce, with whatever they are selling tied at the top of a bamboo stick to indicate what is being sold. The smaller boats zip around selling coffee, tea, juice, and noodles to tourists and workers alike.
After passing through the infamous floating market during its 6am hustle and bustle, we slowed things down in the countryside. Finding ourselves in another remote area, we enjoyed conversation with our tour guide, Sophia, and our two friends, who we met from Ireland and England. We stopped at a homestay in the countryside where we participated in a mini cooking class with our group, cooking the savory Vietnamese pancakes. Often enjoyed at restaurants but saved for special events when being cooked at home.
Nick may or may not have been made fun o.f for his fire-making skills by our guide.. International chef took on the challenge
We then wrapped up our tour back in the floating market, where it was much calmer during the mid-day heat. We enjoyed some fruit and a tour on a family's boat that they live on year-round. Biggest takeaway, no matter the limited space, there is always room for a karaoke setup.
The biggest takeaway from our first week in Vietnam is how friendly and hospitable everyone has been. We feel so grateful to have met such amazing people so far on our trip. Our tour guides and staff at our accommodations have been so genuine and positive. Every interaction we've had with locals, even something as small as ordering a coffee, has been delightful. We completely understand why everyone is obsessed with this country. We are so excited to have another 2.5 weeks to learn and explore.
Now we'll wrap up with our weekly high, low, unexpected, and learned:
Nick:
High: The food across Southern Vietnam
Low: long nights & early mornings of work
Unexpected: how easy driving the scooter was (might be my famous last words as I get on one for 3 hours tomorrow)
Learned: banh mi just means "bread".
MK
High: Night 1 Vespa food tour of Saigon.
Low: The underlying fear of injury when on vespas lol.
Unexpected: Having an outdoor bathroom at the eco lodge beach resort in Phu Quoc, which resulted in multiple surprise visits of our lizard friends at comprising times.
Learned: A lot about the Vietnam war and how to drive a moped.. oh and that the Vietnamese love their karaoke!
As always, thank you so much for following along. I keep thinking each week I'll learn how to cut it down, but thanks for sticking it out to the end regardless of how lengthy the posts are. I've been told that last week's post was obviously not my writing because it was missing....... a sense of...... yap? I think that sums it up perfectly.
Cheers! goodnight, good morning!
Love, Mary Kate & Nick
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