Day 16 - Farewell to Hoi An, Arrival in Saigon

On my last day in Hoi An, I took an early morning farewell tour of the old town. On my way there, I stopped by Hon Sen on Hai Ban Trung Street to get a Banh Mi Chay. This vegetarian baguette is truly the best I've ever had - crispy bread, two types of tofu, lots of coriander, and delicious chili sauce. The older lady who runs this shop speaks surprisingly good English; enough for a simple conversation.

With the Banh Mi in hand, I sat by the still calm river and ate it with a hint of nostalgia in my heart. Hoi An has its own unique charm.

For my breakfast coffee, I went to Coffee Reachout in the old town. Here, people with hearing impairments work. You place your order using a pre-printed slip. There are also small note papers, pencils, and blocks with pre-printed phrases on the table to communicate with the staff. I ordered a coffee described with toffee and cashew notes and enjoyed the silence while doing some crossword puzzles.

Finally, I had to go back to the hotel to shower and pack my backpack. After checking out, I strolled around for a bit, picked up my sandals from the cobbler, and bought two lightweight cotton dresses.

A shuttle service brought me to Danang airport, from where I continued my journey to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

The descent to Saigon was impressive. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of this metropolis. As far as the eye could see, there were only 2-3 story houses. Every now and then, a high-rise building stood out. Only the Sai Gon River cuts through the sea of ​​houses in a serpentine pattern.

I took the bus to the city center, and I had to buy a separate ticket for my backpack. At 20 cents per bus ticket, I could afford the extra cost. Saigon is a crazy contrast to the Vietnamese cities I have seen so far. It reminds me a lot of Shanghai - the neon lights, the traffic, the smells. The hostel for my first night in Saigon is located in a side street of the party mile. Fortunately, you don't hear the noise of the revelers in the hostel itself. However, I fear the worst when I think of my roommates coming back from a night of partying. The party mile is nothing like anything I have seen before. Bars line up on both sides of the pedestrian zone. Although calling them bars is an understatement. They are more like open-air discos. Loud music emanates from the venues. Bright neon signs compete for the attention of passersby. "Usher" stand in front of the venues and try to persuade the passersby more or less insistently to visit their establishment. In one venue, three GoGoGirls dance in the floor-to-ceiling windows. A boy about 12 years old stands in the middle of the street spitting fire.

To escape this hustle and bustle, I sat on the rooftop bar of my hostel and reflected on the thoughts and impressions of today while enjoying a soft drink. Let's see what adventures the next few days in Saigon will bring.