Ho Chi Minh City

Tuesday November 28, 2017

We were awakened by LOUD music at 6am, just a short time before we arrived at Saigon station. It felt really warm as we disembarked! We waited until 8am before going to the freight office, as instructed....and were fobbed off a couple of times before Ed stared at them sternly, and sure enough the bikes appeared!!

The ride to the main budget traveller area was easy, but somewhat traumatic for cyclists of a nervous disposition (ie me!). So. Many. Mopeds. Finding the hotels I'd shortlisted then proved completely impossible, thanks to the teeny tiny lanes. It would actually have been better to leave Ed somewhere with the bikes, and head in alone. We ended up checking out a random place (which turned out to be a few doors down from one I'd shortlisted but never mind!!). It's called Thuan Duc and is great - simple room that is fairly small but perfectly fine, and has AIRCON. Bikes in the lobby, clean, nice people - 280,000 dong. And it's smack bang in the middle of 'party zone' which we aren't interested in, but lots of amenities nonetheless!

We felt pretty rubbish all day, so didn't do much other than lounge in our room and pop out for meals. Funny how long journeys make you feel jet lagged, even when you haven't changed time zone!

Lunch was at Green Bamboo on the main strip - nice place with loads of veggie options.
Dinner was at Ngoc Tho, not sure if it was fully veggie but it had a whole menu. Very tasty.