Vietnam, Cheap And Fun Saigon Airport Transportation

 

 

As travelers that make plans on the go, we surf the web as we enjoy spring rolls and beer at an airport restaurant.

 

 

 

We are still in need of accommodations for the next few nights in Saigon and end up booking a room online at Tan Hai Long Hotel And Spa located at District 1 near Ben Thanh Market. Tan Hai location makes it ideal for us to get there from the airport, we think.

In search of transportation to our hotel, we leave the airport building close to 6pm. An almost not surprising light rain is falling as we bargain with a few taxi cab drivers for a reasonable fare into town.

I do not know if it is because of the rain or because they could tell we are foreigners despite my best “Sin Cho” but the prices are double what we expected. It is time to at least explore other options.

Not far from the taxi stand we spot a local parked bus and head that way. We are waved off as we approach the bus driver and we soon realize that “Ralph Camden” is done with passengers for the day. The last direct bus from the airport to Ben Thanh Market stops at 6pm.

 

 

All is not lost as another bus soon pulls into the airport and we get to again practice our best “Sin Cho”.

Fortunately, this bus driver is more accommodating and gives us a good plan to get to Ben Thanh.

 

 

Using his best English, he tells us he will take us outside of the airport for about US$0.50 to another bus stop where we can transfer to a direct Ben Thanh Market bus. So far, what a deal compared to a US$25 inflated taxi cab fare.

 

 

 

 

The rain has picked up pace as we leave the bus at a stop somewhere along a busy highway that makes us feel like we are still in Hanoi minus one or two beep, beeps. It is not long before our connecting bus arrives and we are enjoying the scenery of Saigon at night like locals.

We do stand out on the bus and get a few curious stares as more local passengers board the bus. However, we also manage to get a smile or two probably for our courage or insanity to ride the bus which hopefully is not known here as “The Flying Coffin” like in Hanoi.

 

 

It does not seem like very long although it has been at least 40 minutes before our bus comes to a final stop.

 

 

 

We are at the Ben Thanh Bus Station. Not quite sure where our hotel is from here as Ben Thanh Market is a huge square complex, we set out in search of Tan Hai Long.

As luck would have it, leaving the bus station staring down at us like a huge sore thumb is a lighted sign. However, there is only one of many small problems between us and it. Beep, beep, beep, we must now navigate across a busy intersection to get to our destination.

It is a good thing we had a lot of practice in Hanoi if not we may not have made it across the street to Tan Hai Long Hotel in one piece. All in all a great experience from the airport to our hotel for US$0.75 per person, a grand total of US$1.50.

 

 

Checking in at Tan Hai Long we receive a welcome drink, breakfast coupons and a nice room for a very reasonable price.

Leaving our backpacks behind, it is time to check out the Ben Thanh Night Market.

 

 

 

Vietnam, Welcome To Saigon

 

A forty minute drive from our hotel, The Rising Dragon and we arrive back at the Hanoi Airport. In about two hours we will be heading south to Saigon, Ho Chi Minh International Airport.

As we wait to board our Jetstar flight we enjoy most of our lunch from the local airport restaurant. It is difficult to go wrong with a selection of noodle soup or fried rice but your beverage choice may be another thing.

 

 

How bad can a drink from Wonderfarm be?

Well if it is a Winter Melon Tea, you might want to think twice unless you like drinking acetone.

 

 

Luckily, you can always find a Coke about anywhere in the world. Today, I am happy for the first time to use one as a chaser.

Surviving my battle with Wonderfarm, we are soon en route to a destination in Vietnam I am really looking forward to. As we begin our initial approach into Ho Chi Minh City, thousands of feet below us is a green landscape with brown rivers in almost all directions.

 

 

Arriving Ho Chi Minh City

 

Closer to landing the ground becomes densely covered with tightly squeezed building that tells much about the population below us.

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One hour and forty five minutes after leaving Hanoi, we arrive in Saigon.

We are ready to explore more of country that so far has been a touching and moving experience.

 

 

I am told, “The heat is on in Saigon.”

 

 

Vietnam, Hanoi Prison

 

 

For me, a visit to Hanoi Prison is just as important as seeing Halong Bay when visiting Hanoi City. Even as a naturalized American it is tough but worthwhile to face one of the scars on our nation's foreign and political policies gone wrong.

 

 

However, what I find interesting is how little is mentioned of the French when it comes to the atrocities and injustice committed here.

 

 

 

At least my visit to the Hanoi Prison sheds some light on their sins here before the Americans were drawn into the conflict.

For all the political prisoners here, men and women, life was tough. From wearing neck and leg cuffs to existing on tough buffalo meat and potatoes, here was about some of the toughest prison conditions you could ever imagine.

 

 

In attempting a protest back in 1908 by poisoning kitchen food, some prisoners suffered the worst fate at the hands of French justice through the use of the guillotine.

 

 

 

 

 

Beheaded Prisoners

 

 

 

By the time Americans like now Senator John McCain were held prisoners here, the conditions became more humane.

 

 

 

Many were given reasonable medical care and American prisoners were even allowed to play basket and volleyball.

Despite the dark side of its history, there are also a few good stories about the Hanoi Prison. At one point taking advantage of a weakness in the building some prisoners were able to escape through the sewer system.

 

 

 

Sewer Escape Route

 

 

An amazing highlight for me, a former Florida US House Of Representative, Pete Peterson became the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. He was held as political prisoner here for six years.

 

 

On the grounds on the Hanoi Prison now stands a deserving memorial to all the political prisoners that were held there. It should serve as a reminder to all that we should strive to never let this type of history repeat itself anywhere on the planet.

 

 

 

Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

 

Based on the information from our hotel front desk employee, we leave the Rising Dragon to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We arrive at Quan Ba Dinh Square around 10:30am and follow signs that require us to put our bags into a locker prior to entering the mausoleum which already has a huge line.

 

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

 

In the confusion of stowing our bags we return to the line area to see most of the crowd gone and workers in the process of disassembling an awning set up for those waiting in line. A bit to our dismay, we discover daily entry to the mausoleum ends at 11am.

Despite our disappointment, we watch with others as the Honor Guard performs their closing ceremonies. It is a rigid and almost solemn process as maybe it should be.

 

At Quan Ba Dinh Square is also the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Here, for about US$2.50 you can learn more about the life of Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam's revolutionary struggle.

 

 

With limited time we bypass the museum and head to our next stop, Hoa Lo Prison.

 

 

Vietnam, Hanoi At Night

 

Back from Halong Bay, we make a short stop at our hotel the Rising Dragon which interestingly is the former name of Hanoi City then we are off on another adventure.

 

 

 

For those that live here what we are about to do is hardly an adventure but all a part of everyday life here on a Friday night.

However, we find it somewhat of a challenge to walk the streets of Hanoi at night as the main streets are flowing with a continuous stream of beep... beep.. beep traffic.

Our outing is an immediate success as we get to meet one of the youngest residents here. He is just curious and does not say a word as we try our best Vietnamese greeting, sin cho. His mother and her friends are more interactive as they do their best to try and communicate with us in our native language, English. It is a nice encounter and a great way to begin the evening.

 

 

Our next challenge comes in trying to cross a street where it seems like we are at a Daytona Beach bike rally. Even as we are standing at a pedestrian crossing, we quickly figure out that no one is going to stop and allow us to freely cross the street.

 

 

Ben and I decide it's time to get a little crazy and do it like the locals. We enter the stream of scooters and just keep walking. Beep.. beep.. beep and with a little and skill we survive. We watch from the other side as the ladies build up the courage and attempt the same thing. We all find it hysterical and the experience gives us a good laugh.

 

 

After all of that, we hope an earlier recommendation has landed us at a good place to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting on the sidewalk at a mom and pop restaurant we order up.

Big bowls of soup along with a chicken and seafood stir fry with lots and lots of self added peppers and the adventure so far has been worth it.

 

 

 

Next we are crossing the streets again this time as seasoned professionals. We are headed to another common happening in Southeast Asia, the night market. Here we sample some fruits that we are still not sure what they were. I think they tasted like a pickled green mango.

Our stop here is more for the experience than it is to really buy anything. However, for real shoppers I am sure there are ton of bargains to be found.

On the quieter side of town we take a stroll along the edge of a huge city lake where our night almost ends on a sour note. We stop and listen to probably the worst street performer violinist that I have ever heard.

However, his attempts at creating beautiful music did remind me of a time I tried to play the saxophone in my dorm room at college. I think I scared the hell out of my next door roommates as they quickly came over inquiring whether or not a herd of wild elephant had broken into my room.

 

 

Vietnam, Leaving Halong Bay

 

 

Back from kayaking, we leave floating fruit vendors behind as we sail away to begin a journey that will return us to the point we started from earlier in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gray skies are gone, replaced with an abundance of sunshine that allows us to see much of the same landscape now in a different light.

Juan our tour guide who is “Happy” probably because he is not a eunuch lends me a souvenir for ten minutes. It is a VN$200,000 note that has a picture of Incense Island on it which we can see not too far from us.

 

We again pass the symbol of Halong Bay, “The Kissing Rocks” and odd puttering boats as we return to the harbor.

With ease we are back safely docked and a spectacular day of visiting Halong Bay comes to an end.

 

 

 

Vietnam, Kayaking At Halong Bay

 

For an additional $5 to the regular price of our tour kayaking is available at Halong Bay. As we have never been kayaking before we have a feeling the extra $10 is going to be worth the investment.

 

From a floating dock we slide into a tandem kayak and we are off for our first experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although we have done whitewater rafting and canoed many times, this is still a new and unique experience especially here in Halong Bay.

Whatever happens I know it will be a memorable adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ben and Jadin are almost professionals at this from living in the land of ten thousand lakes. We follow their lead as they paddle towards an earlier recommended course. Soon we are inside of what seems like a crater where a group on a boat for hire is having way too much fun

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The scenery is awesome as we just float along the calm waters and hear laughter echo off the surrounding and amazing landscape.

 

 

 

 

We watch as female boat operators with skill and rhythmic precision navigate their craft with paying passengers along the same route that we are traveling.

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually, we safely make it back to the dock. I breathe a silent sigh of relief that we did not encounter any snakes in the water.

 

 

 

 

Someone onboard is known to have seriously freaked out the last time we went canoeing and encountered a slivering swimmer.

 

 

Vietnam, Dong Thien Cung – Heaven Cave

 

As a part of our day trip to Halong Bay we make a stop at Dong Thien Cung also known as Heaven Cave. Gathered around we are given a bit of the history of the area before we begin another climb up a set of stairs to the entrance of the cave.

 

My first impression is an astonishing one as the formations in the cave are nicely highlighted with bright and colorful lights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stalactites and stalagmites have never looked any better

 

 

Further into the cave a hole in the side of the cave sends a beam of sunlight inside like a Jedi light saber.

 

 

 

 

This hole plays an important role in the cave because it also allows water into the cave which helps to shape the formations here that are made up of 80% calcium carbonate.

As if the caves themselves are not fascinating enough, we are then told about some of the activities that have occurred here.Things that I thought were only fiction in Hollywood movies like Indiana Jones.

Monkeys captured and their brains eaten by the local men while they are still alive. And for the sake of equality the bones are then made into a black tar like soup for the women to enjoy after a cooking process that takes a few days.

This ritual of sorts is done as a medical process as it was believed to make your health better.

 

 

If dining on a monkey does not suite your taste then a few dongs at the next stop might just make your wishes come true.

Others have already left theirs behind and so far I don't see anyone eating soup.

 

   

Like most of these types of caves, the formations can sometimes present some interesting images.

 

We use our imagination to see a lion with a huge mane.

Then it is Romeo with his nose and big belly trying to serenade Juliet.

 

 

 

Romeo also has a horse nearby and since he rides it instead of walking his belly is becoming bigger and bigger. Keep that up and soon he is going to become a “Happy Buddha”.

 

 

I am for sure that one of the last formations I see is a part of Dolly Parton.

It is no stretch of the imagination that the formation comes from working it 9 to 5.

 

 

 

 

 

Canada, Churchill Tundra Lounge & Restaurant

 

My visit to any place on the planet would not be complete unless I have at least a sampling of the local food and beer.

 

In Churchill one place to do that is at the Tundra Lounge & Restaurant.

Here from Bison to Elk and Caribou you can sample some of the local culinary delights.

 

 

 

 

My choice a Bison Burger with yam fries and a Standard Lager. I am told that Standard Larger although it is labeled like a Budweiser was here first. It definitely taste better than Budweiser and maybe “This Larger And A Bison Burger Might Just Be Right For You.”

 

I make two quick stops before hopping a taxi to the airport.

One at Great White Bear gift shop to say goodbye to Sheila, who is unfortunately gone for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

Two is at Gypsy's so I can take a part of Churchill home with me.

However, I doubt this souvenir will make it through 10,000 feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cinnamon fry is gone long before the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is turned off.

 

Thanks, Churchill, Great White Bear, Gypsy’s, Tundra and The Eskimo Museum for a great time.