So we have arrived and all is well.
First impressions of Viet Nam is that it is a lot like Malaysia, only cleaner.
The airport was quiet.
We were met by a taxi, pre arranged on-line by Vassi: a man with a computer generated 'Welcome Vas Pergat' sign welcomed us to the country. His white Kia was parked across the road, and soon wound its way out of Ho Chi Min City: horn honking, dodging motor bikes and bicycles. We worked our way around traffic circles, through construction zones and past tall buildings, eventually making our way on to the shop lined highway of country side Vietnam.
I could have been on the outskirts of KL making my way to Kuala Selangor, or Sabak Bernam - but without the Palm Oil orchards.
After four hours we got off the inland highway and made our way along a narrow ocean road: in the tourist district, Hu Mei.. near Phan Theit.
The hotels are small, and spread out. I imagine resort areas in Mexico were like this at one time.. not the over developed mega complexes that litter the coast of Jalisco and the Baja today. There are only about 20 little thatched-roofed A-frames here in our complex... They are built on a slope, looking down at the ocean. Not easy to get to, but everyone of them with an amazing view of the China Sea: with its white capped waves and fishing boats of all shapes and sizes.
It is windy, but warm. The breeze is cooling, and keeps the mosquitoes away. There are few bugs.. not a lot of wild life of any sort. I almost miss the noisy birds of Mataranka.. the mornings there are so noisy.. even the frogs get into it. Here, it is the waves that fill the air.
The pool is big, clean, and looks out over the sea. It sits beside the spa, which offers a sauna, pedicures, manicures, massages, hair treatments, yoga sessions.. you name it! I've tried most of them already.
The beach is long and lonely and we trudge along the white sand each morning.. checking out what's in the rubbish that has washed out. I have a couple of nice shells and a fisherman's hat.
I had heard the food in Viet Nam is the best part of being here.. but we have just one restaurant close by and it is not the best. But then again, it is not the worst. Besides.. we have discovered Saigon Lager, an amazing Bia.. (Beer.. The Vietnamese write it the way Aussie's say it!) and the area is surrounded by Dragon Fruit orchards, there are lots of nuts, watermelon and papaya so..
As I said.. we Have Arrived! and.. all is well.
First impressions of Viet Nam is that it is a lot like Malaysia, only cleaner.
The airport was quiet.
We were met by a taxi, pre arranged on-line by Vassi: a man with a computer generated 'Welcome Vas Pergat' sign welcomed us to the country. His white Kia was parked across the road, and soon wound its way out of Ho Chi Min City: horn honking, dodging motor bikes and bicycles. We worked our way around traffic circles, through construction zones and past tall buildings, eventually making our way on to the shop lined highway of country side Vietnam.
I could have been on the outskirts of KL making my way to Kuala Selangor, or Sabak Bernam - but without the Palm Oil orchards.
After four hours we got off the inland highway and made our way along a narrow ocean road: in the tourist district, Hu Mei.. near Phan Theit.
The hotels are small, and spread out. I imagine resort areas in Mexico were like this at one time.. not the over developed mega complexes that litter the coast of Jalisco and the Baja today. There are only about 20 little thatched-roofed A-frames here in our complex... They are built on a slope, looking down at the ocean. Not easy to get to, but everyone of them with an amazing view of the China Sea: with its white capped waves and fishing boats of all shapes and sizes.
It is windy, but warm. The breeze is cooling, and keeps the mosquitoes away. There are few bugs.. not a lot of wild life of any sort. I almost miss the noisy birds of Mataranka.. the mornings there are so noisy.. even the frogs get into it. Here, it is the waves that fill the air.
The pool is big, clean, and looks out over the sea. It sits beside the spa, which offers a sauna, pedicures, manicures, massages, hair treatments, yoga sessions.. you name it! I've tried most of them already.
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| Fishing boats in Phan Thiet |
I had heard the food in Viet Nam is the best part of being here.. but we have just one restaurant close by and it is not the best. But then again, it is not the worst. Besides.. we have discovered Saigon Lager, an amazing Bia.. (Beer.. The Vietnamese write it the way Aussie's say it!) and the area is surrounded by Dragon Fruit orchards, there are lots of nuts, watermelon and papaya so..
As I said.. we Have Arrived! and.. all is well.
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