After The Dawn Breaks

This is the last episode of my Vietnam trip. We got back from Sapa around 5am early in the morning and our bus left for Halong Bay at around 9am. At first, we were supposed to share the tour with others, but since their flight delay, we got the whole bus, and the whole boat to ourselve.

Our first lunch on board

Deck chairs where we spent our night looking at thousands of stars. Some of them even witnessed shooting stars.

We also got to visit one of the biggest caves at Halong Bay. It was so cooling inside!

After visiting the cave, we also did Kayaking. Yeap, my second time of kayak. It was not so bad after all! We also swam in the sea, of cause with the life jacket on.

We spent a night at Halong Bay, and just after we reached back Hanoi we have to leave for the airport. But sadly, our flight delays for a couple of hous and we only got to be back in Sinagpore at 4am.

Us at Changi Airport, budget terminal. First time ever at budget terminal.

Our train to Sapa was at 10pm, if I remember correctly. It was raining heavily and caused flooding everywhere before our departure a few hours. When Jenney called and told us that there were flooding and traffic jam everywhere, I thought that we might not be able to to Sapa. However, just an hour or so before the departure time, the traffic got better and we managed to go to the train station on time.

As we were walking to find our cabin, Qianhua were telling us that our train ride this time would be very nice. We didnt believe her although she showed us the picture on the train ticket because it can be deceiving. But as we look at through the window into the cabin, illuminated lamp and very nice beds await us. Yet, it was not our cabin. we always mentally prepared for the worse and pray for the best as we walked to find our cabin. Yes!!! We were so elated to see our cabin. It was the best train ride during my trip to Vietnam.

At the train station. Finding our cabin

Our cozies and nice train ride!

We reached Lao Cai Station early in the morning. I was told that we were so close to China. If I remember correctly, it was only 15km away from the border. Sadly we could cross to China since time was not on our side. Anyway, we were taken by a bus to Sapa. Sapa is a highland and the climate there is very cold!!! But I love the whether there.

Our breakfast at the hotel where we only use their facility to bath. We didnt get the chance to stay in that hotel. I wished we were! Look like we were eating in the sky. hahha

After our breakfast, we went trekking to the village to see the tribe people and our homestay at night too. There was 2 way, a short and a long one. Well, as I was with sporty friends, they choose a long way. Sigh! I had no choice but to follow them. Yes I vomitted, became like a merlion. lolz. But well, I only vomitted on the first day, the second day was fine for me.

The view from the top is awesome. And yes, we trekked up and down the path. The path was not so bad on the first day, but it was very bad on the second day as it was raining at dawn. The path became muddy, a few of us got stuck in the mud for a minute or 2. Another slided down for a meter or two. But I guess it was memorable!

After we came back from the trekking the following day, we had a few hours for bathing, and also exploring Sapa town before heading back to Hanoi.  Sapa town is also influenced by the French architecture, according to an architecture student, William

The train ride from Hue to Hanoi was the longest. It was about 12 hours, if I remember correctly. So what we did on the train was sleep, play cards, sleep, listen to musics, read book, eat, whatever that we could prevent ourself from dying of boredom. lolz.

Anyway, I was so gald when we reached Hanoi cause I would be able to see Jenney. Well, at first we intended to stay at this hotel at the old quarter, but then we decided not to instead as it was quite costly as we only used it to put our big bags and besides we were running out of cash as its our last stop. In fact we were running of Dongs. lolz.

Well, yeap, so we bought the tour to Sapa from Vega Travel, and they are nice enough to let us use their bathroom and room to store our big bags as we would be going trekking at Sapa. Initially we thought that we could not go to Halong Bay, as time is not on our side. But well, we manage to squeeze Halong Bay inside.

So yeap, we only had 1 afternoon to tour around Hanoi. We didnt have the chance to go to the Ho Chi Minh musuem. So I think I will have to go to Hanoi again to explore more in the future.

This is where we unpacked and packed our stuff! Open area!!! No privacy! But they are kind enough to let us use one of their rooms to store our big bags.

At one of the lake in Hanoi. We all were so tant! Well, we were supposed to cross the bridge and go to the temple there, but we enede up plaing Bridge at the bridge under the tree. lolz. This photo is taken just before we leave for post office on that day.

Well, Jenny came and met up with us at the post office. And she brought us to eat at this roadside shop which is famous of eel noodle. After that we went motorbiking. Initially she wanted to bring us to try the famous steamboat and the famous draught beer. But sadly, it was raining heavily. Yes, I was completely soaked, so does my white-turned-brown bag. I had to bring that wet bag with me to Sapa

At the Ho Chi Minh musuem where we couldnt go in

Dinner after we were soaked.

Our train to Hue was terrible. Although it was only a few hours away, but its almost unbearable. We were sitting at the back of the cabin and very near to the toilet. The pungent smell of the urine made me unable to catch a good nap. I was so relief after we reached our stop which is Hue, the old city of Vietnam.

Our breakfast. Look at how dark I was by the time I reached Hue.

Ready for the next destination!

The most touching moment in Hue was when this little boy gave me a water lily. He was fishing at a spot where there was not so many fish, so I told him to go to another spot. He didnt really look at him but he just keep looking at me. While we were leaving, he used sign language telling us not to tell anyone (that’s how I decipher as he placed his index finger at his mouth). So I was already walking towards our cyclo, while he went to pluck a fresh water lily from the lake. Then he used another sign language to ask me to come back so that he could give the flower to me. Well, at first I thought it was meant for either Eileen or Qianhua, as i was already quite far away from him. Anyway, I thought that part was quite touching! I then gave him a fan that I just bought in exchange! Dr Joe was saying its an exchange between the Cambodian and Vietnam.

Long live the frienship between Cambodia and Vietnam!

Hue city, modeling from Forbidden City in China

At the entrance

Well, didnt really take much photos in the inside though. The place is huge and we had little time, so we didnt really tour around the whole city. Oh if you ever go to Hue, Hue noodle is the best!!! So does its sugar cane juice! A must try food!

This time the train ride was one of the longest amongst all. We had hard sleeper and its at the third level. Well, I should have taken it for you guys to see. The ceiling was so low until I have to crawl on my bed. It was difficult in drinking water as well. But luckily that I could manage to sleep on the train.

At Da Nang, we checked into this Minh Travel Hotel. It is knwon as the $3 hotel and is meant for the backpacker. I recommend you guys NOT to stay at that hotel. The room is so small and stuffy. Yeap, I remember we didnt have a good sleep. Qianhua and I shared a room and we had to left our door open in order to sleep. Well, actually we only had a few hours of sleep as our train to Hue was at 4am.

We went motorbiking from Da Nang to My Son, known as the old Champa city. After My Son, we continue biking to Marble Mountain after which we headed to China beach for dinner. Well, at the start of our journey, we initially rent 4 bikes and a guide to guide as the road. But since Qianhua skated across the road and fell down as the bike was so strong for her, we decided to take only 3 bikes instead. So that means I have to had someone behind me at all times. It was the first time that I ride a bike for 70km and till my hands got numb. Such a great experience!

Seeing My Son just reminds me of our temples in Cambodia, especially Angkor Wat!

The 5 of us at marble mountain! Look like some boy band huh?

At the marble mountain, I was accused of wanting to pluck their fruits! I just wanted to see and had no intention of plucking it. I was very freajk out after that!

At the China Beach where we initially wanted to go down and a good bath as we were sweating the whole day. But then after seeing swamp of people, we decided just to sat by the sea and had our dinner. Well, it was not a proper dinner though, just junk food while playing bridge. Yes, we played bridge until we were so sians of it. (Sians is a singlish word, means very tired or very bored).

The trip at Da Nang went very well until the very last part. As we were going back, it was already dark and we could hardly see each other’s bikes. Yes, we lost each other at the run-about. Luckily, William, Qianhua and me stayed close together. So we lost Eileen with the guide and Dr Joe. After that we called Eileen and asked the guide to come and fetch us to the hotel. He refused to do so and asked us to ask around to find our way back. We were damn pissed off. Luckily we met this Australian lady who is working there and she told us the way. She said its also happened to her friends. We were almost finding our way back when that irresponsible tour guide came and find us.

Well, our day at Da Nang was spoiled because of the irresponsible tour guide and the room at Minh Travel hotel! But well, I must say it was also another experience! Enjoyed it though it didnt went well!

Our train left the station at 11pm and reached at our first stop, Nha Trang at around 530am, if I remember correctly. This was our first time taking the reunification train in Vietnam. We were not so lucky enought to have a soft sleeper ticket, but we got a soft seater instead. The ride was not so uncomfortable, so I managed to catch some sleep. 

The ride to Nha Trang was not so bad, and I managed to watch the sunrise on the train, while some of them were still sleeping. For your information, Nha Trang is famous for its beach. This year, Miss Universe will be at Nha Trang, according to the big poster that I saw along the road.

After we got out of the train, we walked to find a hotel room just to put our stuff so that we could go to the beach. So we went to this hotel as suggested by the lonely planet book. The hotel room was good and to me it was one of the nicest amongst of all the hotel we stayed. Well, we didnt really stayed though. We just put our bags there as our train would leave around 6pm. We had about 12 hours at Nha Trang to enjoy ourself.

“All Hail Queen Vattey!

Note the dog she’s got under her deckchair, her pillow, plugged-in music, the packet of jackfruit chips in hand, her lady-in-waiting coming to visit with more snacks, and her maid in the background, SLACKING” - Eileen

Well, after resting, William, Qianhua, Eileen and me decided to go kayaking while Dr Joe stayed behind to watch our valuable. Yeap, my first time of kayaking! So Eileen and Qianhua took the singles, and William and me took the double. It was a great experience, I must say! My kayake was lacking, so the water gradually came in and we gradually sinking. William and I didnt know at all, until Qianhua pointed that out. I was so scared and worried. So Quianhua told me to get into the water while they perform the T-drill to get the water out of the kayake. Well, once I am in the water, I have no more fear. I dont know why. Maybe because I am no longer afraid of falling into the water. Of cause I had my lifevest on me!

Well, we did the T-drill somewhere quite far from the shore. But as we are almost done, we realised that we are quite near to the shore already. lolz. But well, I must say, it was very fun and I know how to kayake now

It was our last day in Saigon. Our train would depart for Nha Trang at 11pm, so we have ample of time to explore Saigon itself. At first, our plan was to visit 3 musuem in the morning, but it ended up only 2 as the other was closed due to death of the ex-president. In fact, we only managed to get into one of the musuem which the War Remnants Musuem.

We spent about an hour or so there. And while waiting for Duong to come and meet us, William and I started to play the slapping game. We played so hard till my hands were all red. After I stopped playing, Dr Joe took my turn and I must say he was very good. He managed to help me take revenge. Hahhah

So after Duong arrived, we went to the biggest church in Saigon which was influenced by the French during the colonization. In fact, it is known as another Cathedrale de Notre Dame. Since Duong only brought one helmet and I wanted to motorbiking there, he let me have his bike and ride to the cathedral alone while the rest and him walked there. I was on the right track and quite close to the cathedral when I decided to stop and wait for them.

However, the policemen asked me not to stop there as there were some ceremoney for the deceased ex-president. So I had no choice but to keep riding and eventually I lost my orientation. Well, I must say I was quite panic as I was alone riding the bike without liscence in a foreign land. To make it worst, not all the Vietnamese can speak English, so it was quite hard for me to ask for the direction. My bag was with William too. But thanks god! My phone was with me!!! So I managed to call William and talked to Duong. So yeap, he asked me to find any local and the local talk to him. Yeap, that was how I safely managed to find my way back to the Cathedral.

Yeap, so I stopped and waited for them at the post office. Their post office is very grand, I must say. Most of the impotatnt buildings are great influenced by the French.

In front of the post office with someone’s bike. Duong went to park his bike.

The inside look of the post office. Quite nice, I must say!

William, Me and Duong infront of the Cathedral

Since the rest wanted to learn motorbiking, so we rented 3 bikes and learn how to motorbiking in the afternoon. Only me and Duong know how to ride, we taught them for about an hour or so, after which we ride to the Ben Thanh market and to a restaurant have our last dinner at Saigon.

Our last dinner at Saigon. Before we left, Duong recommend us not to forget to try the draught beer and the steamboat along the road side at Hanoi. It was not to be very famous!

Since Eileen ordered beer. Well, she tried all different type of local beers in Vietnam. I think she tried 7 types of it, if I counted correctly. Anyway she preferred not to ride and let William had her bike. The bike first gear was so unexpectedly strong and since he only had just known how to ride for about a few hour ago, he skated across the street towards a car packing the other side of the road Seeing him like that, I was like “Oh my god!” But luckily, there were no bikes or cars at that time and he managed to stop before banging into that statonary car. Yeap. It was very lucky!

On the way back, I was caught by the Vietnamese policemen as I was trying to beat the traffic light. Well, according to my motorbiking skill, I would have gotten out without a problem. But since Qian Hua was stuck in the middle of the road junction, I decided to beat the traffic light. Yeap. I had Eilleen behind me on the motorbike when the police caught us.

At first he asked us for our IC in Vietnamese, I assume as I cant understand what he was trying to say. We told him that we didnt understand Vietnamese in English. And a minute later, he asked us if we speak English. I wanted to laugh when I first heard his question as all the while we had been talking in English. He asked as for our IC and passport, but we didnt have as it was kept by the hotel. He was quite angry and Im not sure if he was cursing and swearing at us. But at the end, he let us go without paying any fine. How lucky we were!

So after the dinner, we went back to the hotel, bath and pack our stuff and get ready for our new destination which is Nha Trang.

Us with Mdm Cuc staffs

We spent our third day at the Cu Chi Tunnel, whereby a lot of American soldier died during the war. The tunnel was small and was only able to accomodiate the small size asian like us. The big size western would be having a hard time moving in the tunnel. The design of the tunnel was also very complicated and also unbelievable.

At the stop over along the way to Cu Chi Tunnel

At Cao Dai Temple, a temple whereby all the religion fuse together and have a common god Cao Dai.

Inside of the Cao Dai Temple. They were having some ritual ceremony which I didnt know what that was supposed to represent.

That how small the tunnel is!

The design of the tunnel! The tour guide say no architects could have design it! I wonder who thought of that.

At night, William’s friend, Duong was free and managed to bring us to the night market and to one of the famous pub called Le fenetre Soleil which is located near the market. I had spring rolls and milk shake there

It was so coincident that during our stay in Ho Chi Minh, Joanne, our common friend also was there with her friend. So we decided to bought a boat tour along the Mekong Delta together with her.

Testing the honey water in one of the islands

Taking a small boat along the canal 

Family picture! except the sneak. Hahhah
William, Eileen, Qian Hua, Dr Joe, Me and Joanne

Our lunch After which we went for cycling around the island. We cycled for about 2 hours plus and we were the last group to board on the boat as we were having a hard time finding our way back. lolz

At one of the stop over places

Our dinner. The journey of finding the best Pho begins

After the dinner, we decided to go to a few pubs. The rest ordered beers, and I ordered mineral water. I cant take much alcohol content. I woul always get rashes after drinking. Good reason of not drinking, right? Anyway, I didnt want to order milk shake after hearing William’s story in Cambodia. Appearently, William, Eileen and Joe went to Heart of Darkness in Cambodia, and Wiliam asked for milk. Then one of the waitresses there asked him “Are you a baby?” Hahah Then this has becomes our joke during the whole trip.

William and my mineral water, Eileen and her San Migueal

Anyway, that’s how we spent our second day

I left for Vietnam from Singapore on the 11th June 2008 by Jetstar asia. Only Qian Hua went with me from Singapore as William, Eileen and Dr Joe went there from Phnom Penh. They went to Siem Reap, continued to Phnom Penh before meeting us at Ho Chi Minh.

Ho Chi Minh is very much like Phnom Penh, but it is much more crowded than Phnom Penh during its peak hours. There are shop houses along the road and more motorbikes than cars on the road. I was told that there are quite a number of Cambodian living in Ho Chi Minh. So I tried asking the locals if they know how to speak Khmer. But, out of about 3 or 4 people, there was only one who knows how to speak Khmer. Her Khmer was not fantastic, but its good for me to understand what she wanted to say, and I also could comprehend what she was trying to say too.

We stayed in this hotel called Madam Cuc. There are a few brenches in the old quarter. The one that we stayed was Madam Cuc 64, which was looked after by Madam Ha. I must say the service there is very good. Out of the hotels that my friends and I stayed during our backpacking in Vietnam, this one is the best. So I recommend you guys to stay there if you happen to travel to Ho Chi Minh.

We stayed in Ho Chi Minh for 4 days and 3 nights before leaving for Nha Trang. We touched down at Ho Chi Minh at around 5pm already. So on our first day, we only hang around the old quater where our hotel is.

Our hotel neighbourhood

Our first dinner in Ho Chi Minh
Eileen, Qian Hua, Me, Joe and William