Ho Chi Minh City

On the outbound flight from Amsterdam to Ho Chi Minh City, I had a layover in Xiamen, China. For the 5 hours we could go to the waiting area for transfer flights, but at the security check, I still felt quite insecure, and all lighters were collected. Not too bad though 😄 When it was finally time to board the second flight and I managed to log into Wi-Fi, it was somewhat surprising that all social media platforms were blocked in China - only Snapchat worked 😄

The airport in Ho Chi Minh City is located in the middle of the city; when landing, you practically fly through the city.

Arriving is rarely easy; I was really grateful not to experience those first moments alone. We took a Grab, arrived, and then slept for a long time. The streets of Ho Chi Minh are absolutely full and chaotic, but everyone is careful, and somehow the crowd moves and it works. I have not seen such a number of scooters in such a small space before, so you first have to learn how to cross the street.

Buying food is also a challenge at first; communication works more or less with gestures or the translator, showing bills, typing into the phone or calculator.

The Saigon River elegantly winds through the city; we walked to some pretty spots in the center, rode the newly opened metro, and visited the museums about the Vietnam War and the Reunification Palace - very fascinating and also hard to watch.

We took a guided tour to the Mekong Delta and traveled by boat on the Mekong. The guide mentioned that this area had long been the poorest in the country, which is why tourism is so important there. The guide could tell us a bit about Vietnam, especially about the region. I didn’t know that there are so many minorities who speak their own languages and have their own culture. I also found out that the Vietnamese New Year is celebrated big at the end of January and has a strong impact on travel.

It was a big and bustling place, very interesting and initially a culture shock. The markets are very narrow and packed, and everyone selling something offers it to you enthusiastically.