Vietnam. Final Thoughts.

31st March 2014. Lucky hotel, district 1,Saigon.

We are sitting in our hotel room at the Lucky Hotel Saigon for our last few hours here. The only thing lucky about this hotel is that we are lucky we did not have to sleep here. It's a bit of a dump,it stinks and the air con is crap. Luckily I only booked it for a night knowing we do not have to sleep here. We are just using it as a base before our flight just after midnight.

Although I have called this post "final thoughts" there can never be final thoughts of Vietnam. I will always remember our time here and have so many memories of this brilliant country.
From arrival at Hanoi Airport the drive into centre of Hanoi was hilarious. Watching the the crazy traffic, especially the motorbikes was to become a daily form of entertainment. There is nothing these people can not get on the back of a moped.

Not so secure. security guard.

The highlights are numerous. We have sailed in the Gulf of Tonkin at the glorious Halong bay. We have swam in the South China Sea, slept on the night trains, mixed with the tribes of the black Hmong. I have had my haircut in Hanoi and my throat cut in Hoi an. Well not quite, but the open cut razor that the Vietnamese lady used on me felt very close.

We have eaten street food Vietnamese style, Deb ate crocodile meat. We have seen coffee plantations and rice terraces that are pure genius and a result of Vietnamese engineuity.

We have taken a paddle boat along the Famous Mekong Delta, marvelled at the citadel in Hue. We
have traversed the longest over sea cable car in the world to the Fabulous Vinpearl and watched the
sharks swimming over our heads in the breathtaking aquarium.

Saigon  Baggies.

On a personal level I have fulfilled many of the things I wanted including the War museums of Hanoi and Saigon, also the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
Inside the regional market in Hue we were stared at like we were a couple of Martians. On many
occasions people have requested for us to have their photos taken with us.
Most of all from this amazing adventure I will remember the people of Vietnam. Where do I start? They are humble, hard working, resourceful, friendly, helpful and tough. So bloody tough.
Watching the road workers outside of Dalat made me realise why this country prevailed against the
might of the USA.

Their ability to work so hard in such archaic conditions puts us to shame with our
health and safety police making it impossible for our kids to grow up without any danger. The Vietnamese are proud, every street and most buildings fly the national flag.
But most of all the children and young adults are so refreshingly happy. They always smile, always wave and the students love to engage you in conversations to practice their English skills.
When you hear 15 year olds talking about how tourism is boosting their economy and being vital to their country's growth it shows a collective togetherness. The children's school day starts early and finish late. Their education is SO important to them.
 I hope this country doesn't change too much. There is no evidence of drugs or alcohol addiction, everyone works in whatever way it takes to earn a crust. People work or will work whenever there is money to be made. No nine til 5 here.


Finally, by the time we get home we have been in 10 hotels, 4 sleeper trains, 1 sleeper bus, 17 mini buses or coaches, 24 taxis, 3 motorbikes, 2 cable cars, 7 boats and 1 jeep. We have travelled 1650 miles on buses and trains between our locations in Vietnam.
I have taken around 9000 photos and can't wait to have a look at them and some of the video clips I took, but could not upload due to my laptop struggling the render the heavy files.
This blog has had 1148 page views so has been worthwhile doing. Thanks to all at home who have followed our trip including, Laura and Jason, Yvonne and Les, Aron and Jenni, Vicki and Taylor, Pamela and Donna, Pete Pauline and mom. And some of the lads from Royal Mail.

It's been a real adventure, a real eye opener. It's been funny, exhausting, exhilarating and relaxing all at the same time. Although it's another line ticked off my bucket list I would love to think we could return one day. It's been a real " dream journey".