Well I made it to Vietnam in one piece! The flight was long but uneventful, thank goodness. We arrived at the airport and were greeted by a cheerful driver with a big WUSC sign. Our first sight of the city was quite something – we gaped at the traffic as our van weaved in and out of lanes, sometimes sharing one lane with another vehicle, all the while as motorbikes and regular bikes attempted suicidal darts between cars, lanes and sometimes sidewalks.
Saigon is a HUGE city. At night it looks a little like Times Square with billboards and lights everywhere. And the noise is amazing – honking non stop. After the first night at the Dong Do Hotel, we got the chance to walk around District 1, also known as the tourist district (I probably saw equal numbers of Western tourists and native Saigoners). There are some lovely buildings, such as the Opera House, and some very imposing ones, like the Presidential Palace. And despite the noise and traffic, all the Vietnamese seem quite laid-back and friendly.
The first challenge of the day (after ordering breakfast) was learning how to cross the street. As the Vietnamese don’t really seem to believe in traffic lights, they keep up a constant “flow”. So you really need to learn how to go with the flow! Cross the street if there is a little gap in the incoming traffic. Walk slowly but surely. Do NOT run or stop abruptly and you will make it safely to the other side!
I'll try to post some pictures of the city later. Tomorrow we are walking around some more. I may have a bargaining story to tell if I manage to complete a purchase in Vietnamese!
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