Taking your first step into another country will always leave you in awe. Vietnam, however, has left me with an entirely different level of amazement.
In short, Vietnam was jaw-dropping, eye-opening, mind-blowing, heart-pumping, and every other bodily-related adjectives I could think of. Despite being an Asian, Vietnam, a country only 2,659.7 kilometres away, has made me realised that I was mistaken about everything I thought I knew about Asia.
Read also:
Cat Cat Village in Sapa, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh: Behind the Sound of Pollution
Prior to this trip, I have read about the experiences of other bloggers just so I know what to expect when I am there. It was surprising to come across a few blog posts entitled '
Giving Vietnam Another Chance', and there were just too many negative remarks about the country that I was scheduled to fly to in less than a week's time. In order to make sure that I was able to embrace Vietnam wholeheartedly, I reassured myself that these bloggers were merely unaccustomed to the Asian way of living, in light of where they are coming from (mostly Americans).
So with an eager (and slightly anxious) heart, I have stepped foot in Vietnam for the first time!
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Saigon city from above |
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Ho Chi Minh, the communist revolutionary leader of Vietnam |
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Ho Chi Minh city |
Vietnam is... different.
While the infrastructures of the buildings reminded me so much of my hometown Kluang, the people, however, behave in ways which are evidently different from us.
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Street vendor at Ho Chi Minh |
Vietnamese People are Hardworking
Remember that kid next door who would rather stay at home all day and remain unemployed just because he wasn't able to land his dream job? Or that girl you know from college who whined for hours on end about having to work more than what is supposedly required of her?
Vietnamese will make you feel so ashamed about your sloth and complacency. It could be selling masks by the streets, brewing coffee and tea for businessmen, or selling fruits at the back alleys of the temples - Vietnamese find contentment in making a living, however arduous they may seem to be.
Saying "there are a crazy amount of motorcyclists on the streets" will not be able to justify the incalculable number of motorcycles surging through the already complex road system in Vietnam. The city comes alive with the sight of streams after streams of motorcycles, the collective buzzing sounds from their engines, and the smell of burning fuel in the air.
If you do not see motorcycles on the roads, you're probably not in Ho Chi Minh.
I figured the only way you could see for yourself how crazy the traffic really is would be to show you a video (which will be uploaded soon).
NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS A STREET WITHOUT THE SUPERVISION OF A LOCAL. NEVER.
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Ben Thanh Market is a must-see when visiting Ho Chi Minh City |
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Bustling Ben Thanh Market |
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Local tea selections at Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh |
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You want it? They have it! (Head on to Ben Thanh Market for a selection of.... everything) |
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View from where I was sitting during a dinner cruise (the experience was an amazing!) |
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Language barrier and having to figure out the exact amount to pay without getting confused (too many zeros!) are probably the only problems encountered during the trip. |
This is only the introduction of the trip. There are just too many pictures and experiences to share and they are impossible to be summarized in just one blog post. Stay tuned for more!
Don't forget to share your travel & dining moments with us on Instagram by tagging @rollinggrace or #RollingGrace. Happy travelling!
Many Many Thanks for nice post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind information. I think it is helpful for every one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your useful information. It really helpful for every tourist travel to Vietnam
ReplyDeleteLook you have a great trip and many experience in Vietnam.
ReplyDelete