Dad and Sam in Viet Nam

When I told my father I was planning to move to Vietnam, his response wasn’t what you’d expect.  He didn’t say “Oh my god, that’s so far away,” or “Geez, why would you wanna live there?” or some quote from Forrest Gump.  He didn’t even lead with “I’m really going to miss you!”

He said, “Great! I’ve always wanted to visit Vietnam!”

I can always count on my dad to say just the right thing.

Of course I wasn’t surprised that he was already planning a trip out to see me in Vietnam.  He came to visit me in Taiwan and loved every minute. 

I arrived at the airport to pick him up around 10pm, more than a little drunk from a day of boozing that started at the all-you-can-drink Champagne brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel.  But Dad didn’t lecture me.  He hugged me and cracked open one of the 333s I picked up for the ride home from the airport.  And the next morning, while I slept off the bubbles, he waited patiently downstairs for breakfast.  What a guy.

The first day, I threw him in the deep end in with a ride on the back of my motorbike around Ho Chi Minh City.  We haggled at Ben Thanh Market and ate pho for lunch.

Pho!

No guided tour of Saigon would be complete without a trip to the Central Post Office, Notre Dam Cathedral, and Reunification Palace, so of course I dragged Dad along to all the major sights.  Exhausted but dealing with the jet lag like a trooper, Dad was up for a quick drink at my favorite little spot, The View rooftop bar.  So cheap, so lovely.

Drinks with a view

We ended the day with a family dinner, Vietnam style.  I roped in all the roommates and taxied over to Cuc Gach Quan for a feast of Vietnamese deliciousness. 

Viet-family dinner

The next day, we woke up early, grabbed a ca phe sua da and a banh mi, and headed to the airport.

Dad enjoying his first bites of Banh Mi

At the airport, we met our travel companion for the next few days, Lisa, my coworker at BIS.  We boarded our plane and set off for Hue, the old Imperial capital of Vietnam.  Without much of a plan, we headed out on foot to explore the city.  

Hue has quite an interesting history, but most people know of Hue from the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War.  We wandered around the streets near our hotel, ventured across the Perfume River, and walked up to the impressive Citadel. 

Streets of Hue

Pieces of wartime memorabilia

Perfume River
(it did not smell of perfume...)

Approaching the Citadel

Ngan Gate

The Citadel is surrounded by a 2m-thick brick wall and houses the Imperial City, historic halls and palaces, and many Hue residents.  We decided not to enter the Imperial Enclosure, but instead strolled along the perimeter of the 2.5km-long walls of the citadel-within-a-citadel.  

Imperial Enclosure walls and moat

Bridge

Citadel wall

Imperial Enclosure gate

Along the way, we saw the 37m-high Flag Tower, Vietnam’s tallest.  We stopped to snap shots of the Nine Holy Cannons, representing the four seasons and the five elements.  

Flag Tower

Four Seasons Cannons

In an attempt to conserve our energy for the upcoming action-packed days of travel, we took our sweet time circumambulating the Imperial Enclosure.  We stopped frequently for pictures and wished desperately for a coffee shop, to no avail!

Crack kills

More moat

Dad climbs up the wall hoping for coffee

Lily pads

After crossing back over the Perfume River, we beelined over to the bar district and settled in for a few refreshing local brews.

Boats on the Perfume River

When in Hue....

That night, after dinner, we went to bed early, to dream of sugarplum fairies and fully-automatic motorbikes.  An epic journey awaited us in the morning!

Settling In

When I arrived in Vietnam, after spending two weeks in Taiwan, I honestly wanted to turn right around and fly directly back to Taipei.  It. Was. Hot.  And I don’t mean “oh my, it’s summer time” hot.  I mean, “dear sweet baby Jesus, I’m going to melt into a puddle of sweat and die within the next 30 seconds, if I don’t suffocate first” hot.  

But I soldiered on.  I somehow managed to get my embarrassing amount of luggage into a cab (still can’t pack light), and made it to the house where I’d be staying for the next month.  The roommates at the house were great -- they were all friendly and included me in things right away, which was much-appreciated, as I didn’t know anyone in the country and didn’t start my course for another week.

After a few days of attempting to acclimate to the weather (without much luck), I ventured out on my own, bartered a ride on a xe om, and went on an adventure in Old Saigon.

Using the Lonely Planet’s Walking Tour as a guide, I strolled around the historic city for a few of the most sweltering hours of my life.  But as I wandered around the strange town, finding my way down tiny back alleys and streets that seemingly all have the same name, I began to appreciate Ho Chi Minh City, in all its chaotic glory.

I started at 23/9 Park and tried my hand at Frogger to cross over the roundabout to Ben Thanh Market.  Inside, the market was just what you’d expect an Asian market to be -- loud, hot, and full of cheap crap sold to you loudly at outrageous prices.  I wasn’t in the mood for bargaining, so I looked around a bit and moved on to continue my tour.

Hiding in the shade at 23/9 Park

Look both ways!

Inside Ben Thanh Market

Along the way, I took in some of the more famous sights in the old part of the city.  Reading the descriptions of the buildings and monuments I was seeing made me realize how little I know about Vietnam and its history.  Must study up.

Bitexco Financial Tower
Saigon Skydeck on the 48th floor

Municipal Theater (Opera House)

Statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of the People's Committee Building

Le Cong Kieu Street, lined with antique shops

Buu Dien, the Central Post Office

Mosaic of Uncle Ho inside the Post Office
He sees all.

Paris? No, silly!  The Notre Dame Cathedral is in Saigon!

St. Mary outside the Notre Dame

Power grid

I was too tired from depleted electrolytes to cross the street
for a better picture of the Reunification Palace

If the Labyrinth were in Ho Chi Minh City,
it'd be Turtle Lake

A few days later, I started my CELTA course to learn how to teach English to adults.  “But Samantha,” you say.  “You’re already a teacher!”  Yes, this is true.  But you know how much I love learning and spending money, so I took the course.  Actually, the course was much better than I was expecting.  I got a lot out of it, and you can never know TOO much about your profession, right?  Right??

Either way, I enjoyed the course and the people I met during the month-long workfest.  It was intense, but worth the effort.

Teachers doing what they do best!
Thanks for the photo, Abby :)

My camera was stolen in a drive-by-snatching robbery about half-way through the course, so please excuse my lack of photographic documentation of the last couple weeks.  Just be assured, a perfect balance was struck between lesson planning and drinking.  :)

Since the course ended, I’ve been busy applying for jobs and taking interviews.  I recently moved into a big house with a group of friends from the CELTA course.  And we’ve got one spare room for rent, so if you’re missing me terribly (as you all no doubt are) and are jealous of my fabulous life in Vietnam (again, no doubt), then pack your bags and hop on a plane!  I PROMISE you’ll learn to embrace the oppressive heat and humidity!

Please bring Peanut M&Ms.