Traveling has brought in me a sense of caring and sharing. It has widened my knowledge. I have always wanted to stand on historical monuments, laze on the sands of beautiful islands and mingle with people of different races and cultures to know them close, closer and closest. We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open...With this in mind I feel like sharing the good, bad and ugly side of my travels...HAPPY READING…..
The first thing to cross someone's mind when they think about Vietnam is the Vietnam War. Today the country is fast transforming like a bud blooming into a beautiful flower. Many tourists, flock to Vietnam to see a different country with no traces of war scars. I chose to visit Vietnam because of its deep-rooted culture, traditions and customs.
There are over 2 million motorcycles teeming through the streets and they are an attraction in their own right. Totally mesmerizing to watch, they buzz about their business, inches apart; streaming down avenues, weaving and wending, their way across the town.
They perform hair’s breadth maneuvers at every cross road. Young women wearing peaked helmets sit straight-backed at the traffic lights. Families ride pillion- four or more plus baby.
Wardrobe passes by, sound of chickens and other animals being carried on motorcycles add to the sound of the traffic.
The blasting of horns and the screech of brakes is constant, but it is fascinating.The unique motorbike culture of Vietnam and its incredible feats of transportation are an everyday occurrence.
Crossing the street is an art here. If you wait for the traffic to clear, you will have to wait the whole day. So, pick the moment, step off the pavement and cross slowly at a steady pace until you reach the other side.
Don’t step back or look back. Focus your eyes forward and move. This is the trick. However, if you are lucky, you won't have to wait long before one of the city's tourist police will come to your aid, with a traffic whistle and an upheld palm.
Ho Chi Minh City is truly a mecca for shopping enthusiasts! Everything from handicrafts to imitation branded clothes and shoes are available at a fraction of what it would cost overseas!
As tourism has increased over time in Ho Chi Minh City, so has the establishment of trendy boutiques that cater to the tourist crowd.
Vietnamese handicrafts are very unique and intricate. Vietnam is especially famous for lacquer ware and coconut dinnerware.
Think of shopping everything under one roof? The right place is Ben Thanh market in the centre of the city.
Not only the market but its surrounding streets too are one of the city’s liveliest areas. Everything that’s commonly eaten, worn or used by the Vietnamese is piled high:
vegetables, dried fruit, meats, spices, scorpions in alcohol, sweets, tobacco, clothing, one-day suits, wristwatches, jewelry, hardware and more spill forth from a profusion of stalls.
Souvenir items can be found in equal abundance. Vendors are determined and prices usually higher than elsewhere, so bargain vigorously.
I also took the opportunity to see how the people live and do on the banks of the great Mekong River.
It was an eye-opening journey enjoying the sights and sounds of the Majestic Mekong. I enjoyed the whole journey capturing the rare scenes and feasting my eyes to the colourful atmosphere.
I was in fact in Ho Chie Minh on Christmas Eve and I was able to see the city drowned in colourful illumination. I had a wonderful time in Vietnam and I hope to visit this beautiful country again probably making my way to the places I have not been there.
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