Final Thoughts on Vietnam.

I can't believe it's been 10 days since my last update.  It's been a busy week finishing off Vietnam and traveling into Cambodia.

To be honest, I'm quite happy to have moved on from Vietnam.  In retrospect I didn't love it there.  At first I thought it was me and my attitude - you know adjusting to a "backpacker" lifestyle (which takes some getting used to!), being sick and aren't you supposed to love traveling to a foreign country taking in all that it has to offer?!  I thought I was feeling a bit like a spoiled brat but it turns out I just didn't really love it there overall.

Parting thoughts:

• Becoming one with the traffic!  You know you've been here too long when you walk into on-coming traffic with no hestitation. 
• Camel-toe socks - I don't get them at all.  Aethstetically unpleasing and I can't imagine that they are comfortable.
• The French infleunce makes this Vietnam really unique.  From the architecture to the food, it's an interesting and special fusion of cultures - French and Chinese. It might not have been good while it was happening but it really makes this part of the world quite special. I loved this aspect throughout Vietnam.
• The "Roach Coach" overnight bus from Hue to Mui Ne - I'm SOOOOOO glad I never have to do that again.
• Staying in a hotel within a maze of alley-ways in Saigon - this is what I pictured Vietnam to be like.
• The War Remnants Museum is absolutely astonishing.  While there are everyday reminders of the war from the affects of Agent Orange to army coloured clothing they wear, it's amazing that they seem to be past it so soon.
• Strange to see people wear clothing with USA logos etc. on them.
• It's crazy how toursity some places are but how totally unsafe they can be like: boarding boats - no proper docks or steps (you should have seen the one at the Cambodian border!  More on that later!), no preparation for things that could be harmful like snorkeling at Cham Island with massive rocks that you could easily cut your foot on - no wonder they didn't want us to jump in - they could have told us why, or going trekking which really meant climbing straight up the moutain and you should probably not do it if you don't have proper shoes... nope... just go for it!

Overall, I didn't find the people particularly friendly, they are very aggressive and some quite rude particularly in the north (although I guess you get that anywhere in the world),  it's ridiculously polluted, specially in Hanoi and Saigon (HCMC), the traffic is too much in the big cities.  Would I come back here?  Probably not, but if was to it would be to Hoi An.  It's quite lovely there.  I did learn alot about their history and culture.  Am I glad I went?   For sure.

More soon... with pictures too
xoxo