A City on Wheels, Saigon
Posted by ANTTI LOUHI | | Posted On keskiviikko 27. huhtikuuta 2011
There's not much to report after leaving the island of Cat Ba. We decided to rest a couple of days after intense climbing in the Butterfly Valley and travelled more south to a coastal town called Hoi An. This place was recommended to us by a fellow climber in Yangshuo and we decided to check it out before leaving for Saigon.
Hoi An reminds me of Luang Prabang in Laos. This town is little bit bigger but still very similar. It's packed with great restaurants, art, friendly people and colonial architecture. Of course, nothing can beat the laid-back everyday atmosphere of Laos but Hoi An is a good alternative when it comes to lounging in riverside restaurants and enjoying double espressos in cosy coffee houses. If you're travelling along the coast of Vietnam, Hoi An is a good place to stop for a day or two to eat well and relax.
We are now in Saigon and staying here for two days. The streets and alleys of this city are in total chaos caused by millions of motorbikes driving around the town through day and night. The turmoil during the war has now changed to chaos but not without some added charm. Most of the attractions here are still somehow connected to the historical events of Vietnam and the 'American War'.
I wanted to experience the city from a Saigonese perspective and rented a motorbike for a day. It's probably the fastest way to get around in the city - or to the hospital if you lose your focus for a single second. Actually, driving around was quite easy after studying the traffic patterns for a while before hitting the streets. And this is not India, there are actually some sort of traffic rules if you want to follow them. I later discovered that westerners are not allowed to drive without a proper Vietnamese license, so I was lucky not to get caught by the angry-looking police officers standing in street corners.
Tomorrow we are leaving this city and continue our journey to Thailand. The final destination of our trip is a climbing paradise situated at the shores of the Andaman Sea. I'll post some updates if I manage to buy a prepaid sim card from Bangkok.
Hoi An street view.
Old war helmets are popular while driving a motorbike.
Why rush?
Riverside alleys by night.
If I ever buy a motorbike, it's going to be a Minsk.
These legendary bikes are still sold in Vietnam.
Hoi An is very close to the sea so we spent one day at the beach eating mangos.
Saigon was something else.
On guard.
District 1.
Apocalypse Now.
This is the proper way to fix broken wastewater pipes.
Vietnam is the place for fake products. Even fake Coca Cola is sold in street stalls. It's cheaper and refreshing enough to kill the thirst.
Good morning, Vietnam.
And greetings from Helsinki.
US Army Chinook.
Barefoot is better.
Hoi An reminds me of Luang Prabang in Laos. This town is little bit bigger but still very similar. It's packed with great restaurants, art, friendly people and colonial architecture. Of course, nothing can beat the laid-back everyday atmosphere of Laos but Hoi An is a good alternative when it comes to lounging in riverside restaurants and enjoying double espressos in cosy coffee houses. If you're travelling along the coast of Vietnam, Hoi An is a good place to stop for a day or two to eat well and relax.
We are now in Saigon and staying here for two days. The streets and alleys of this city are in total chaos caused by millions of motorbikes driving around the town through day and night. The turmoil during the war has now changed to chaos but not without some added charm. Most of the attractions here are still somehow connected to the historical events of Vietnam and the 'American War'.
I wanted to experience the city from a Saigonese perspective and rented a motorbike for a day. It's probably the fastest way to get around in the city - or to the hospital if you lose your focus for a single second. Actually, driving around was quite easy after studying the traffic patterns for a while before hitting the streets. And this is not India, there are actually some sort of traffic rules if you want to follow them. I later discovered that westerners are not allowed to drive without a proper Vietnamese license, so I was lucky not to get caught by the angry-looking police officers standing in street corners.
Tomorrow we are leaving this city and continue our journey to Thailand. The final destination of our trip is a climbing paradise situated at the shores of the Andaman Sea. I'll post some updates if I manage to buy a prepaid sim card from Bangkok.
Hoi An street view.
Old war helmets are popular while driving a motorbike.
Why rush?
Riverside alleys by night.
If I ever buy a motorbike, it's going to be a Minsk.
These legendary bikes are still sold in Vietnam.
Hoi An is very close to the sea so we spent one day at the beach eating mangos.
Saigon was something else.
On guard.
District 1.
Apocalypse Now.
This is the proper way to fix broken wastewater pipes.
Vietnam is the place for fake products. Even fake Coca Cola is sold in street stalls. It's cheaper and refreshing enough to kill the thirst.
Good morning, Vietnam.
And greetings from Helsinki.
US Army Chinook.
Barefoot is better.
Location:Saigon, Đề Thám,Vietnam
Tekstit
