9.2.2018 Vietnam

It's 1:20 am and we are on the night bus from Ho Chi Minh to Dalat. There are seven of us on this bus and everyone is sleeping - except for me. I don't know why I have to be wide awake. Well, I can watch over the driver's shoulder and make an entry at the same time. It's been a while since the last history lesson. I have to honestly say that I don't know the exact date today and I'm not sure if it's Wednesday or Thursday. I would say this state is called deep relaxation... after me the flood 😀

So, the last four days we were in Ho Chi Minh City. We stayed at Yen's Hotel in the center of the backpacker district, surrounded by bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, massage parlors, and nightclubs. There was also a dance club right next to our hotel. I have to say, it's something different to find sleep to hard bass tones and a vibrating mattress instead of cricket chirping. Anyway, Ho Chi Minh is a beautiful, bustling, and never-sleeping city. There are more motorcycles than cars, and if you don't have a motorcycle, you don't have a girlfriend, and definitely no job. The people here are very friendly and try to interact with foreigners. It's usually easiest for children. They laugh, wave, and say hello.

The city is still very influenced by the French colonial era in certain parts. Around the opera house is the shopping street with the really expensive stores, which we only admire from the outside. This street, unlike the rest of the city, is kept impeccably clean. However, we were more drawn to the winding alleyways with the locals. To the markets with the many small stalls where there are always new things to discover and you can't get enough of the sights. Of course, we also took a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels and visited the War Remnants Museum. Both are highly recommended, although you should have a good breakfast before the latter, as the photos can be hard to stomach.

Did I mention the day we spent six hours in front of the laptop planning our onward journey? It was a small disaster. You see, on February 16th the Vietnamese celebrate New Year - and right before and after that, nothing works. That means all trains, buses, and even some flights are completely booked or completely overpriced. The same goes for hotels. So, we sat there and had to think about where exactly we wanted to 'strand' during these festive days. We decided on Hoi An. However, we also wanted to explore Dalat and Phan Thiet before Hoi An. Finding accommodations was not a problem, but those damn means of transportation. It was hair-pulling! As soon as you found a suitable route connection, the website crashed at the latest during the payment attempt. We just wanted to buy a bus or train ticket, not a concert ticket for Justin Bieber!! With great difficulty and with the help of our hotel and a very nice lady at the train station counter, we finally managed to get the necessary tickets.

On the last evening, we treated ourselves to a five-course meal in the Sky Bar on the 50th floor, high above the city. It was a great experience and many great photos were taken.

Now it's 3:01 am and we are somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I'm still not tired. Luckily, I have my music with me, which I will enjoy now.

Good night and see you soon ❤