What to do in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in a short time.

When I left Cambodia, my next country on the list was Vietnam. I had to fly to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) this time because I did not have time to cross over land and luckily enough the flights in this region are cheaper than those offered in Africa.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived were the bikes! I have never seen so many motorbikes in one place, but luckily enough I made it to my hostel on an uber bike which is actually the cheapest mode of transport. It was wonderful to be in a new place. I was ready for sightseeing.

Traffic jam in Ho Chi Minh City.

My uber bike.

First off I experienced the War Remnants Museum in Saigon. This historical institution enables you to see what Vietnam was like during colonial times, the big war with the Americans and the aftermath. It was extremely powerful and emotional, and quite refreshing to hear a perspective that you don’t see in Hollywood movies. However, between the enormous loss of life it was also sad and heavy to process everything. After about two hours in the museum, I moved on to the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's cathedral in the old town. It was beautiful and serene.

The sad truth.

One of the fighter tanks used in the war.

Saigon Notra- Dame Basilica 

Don't forget to visit the Ho Chi Minh City post office which was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century. The architecture is beautiful and so is the decor of this building. You will get good deals or small gifts like fridge magnets, postcards, key rings etc. My first day in Vietnam was the last day on the calendar. It was fun although New Year’s Eve is not a big deal in this part of the world but the party happened on Bui Vien street, party central in Saigon. Make sure to check it out if you enjoy the night life. It’s full of bars and live shows.

The City Post Office.

Having some drinks on Bui Vien street.

The next morning I left the city and commuted one hour to see the Cu Chi  tunnels which are extensive underground passageways used by Viet Congs during warfare. Numbering in thousands of miles, these hidden roads were multipurpose. They housed troops, transported communications and supplies, served as a means for executing booby traps, and gave the Viet Cong the ability to mount surprise attacks. This is quite a popular tourist attraction and should not be missed by those looking for history. If you’re not claustrophobic and are a petite size, check it out. Make your way through them. It’s unimaginable what these soldiers experienced. The passageways are dark and dank, but should not be missed regardless if you choose to go underground or not.

On the way to the tunnel

Getting out a tunnel.

Disguised tunnel used as a trap.

I enjoyed the night markets in Asia and the ones in Ho Chi Minh City are not to pass up! Stroll around for some cheap street food and shop for clothes and gifts. I recommend the Ben Thanh market in District One, one of the earliest surviving structures of Ho Chi Minh City and a popular tourist spot for those searching for local handcrafts, textile souvenirs and local cuisine.

Variety of fruits on the street.

Coloured street rice.

Stalls  in Beh Thanh market.

I wanted to leave the south of Vietnam at once, so I decided  to go to visit the Cai Be floating markets on the Tien river. This a hub for transporting agricultural goods and sea food from the Mekong river to the rest of Vietnam. We got on a boat very early in the morning and that proved to be the best time to see the floating boats carrying out business. We later got off to a small village where we learned real Asian cuisine by making rice noodles from scratch.

Right after our floating market tour.

A boat with potatoes on Tien river.

Home made rice noodles.

Because of my limited time in the country, I had to take a flight the next day to Da Nang. This will be another blog for next time. 

From Phnom Penh to Kampot.

I left Banlung on a night bus which took forever to reach the Capital because of many unending stops. I arrived around 6 am on a rainy day and I was to look for my hostel. After refreshing, it was time to go wandering around the city.

Main roundabout in Phnom Penh.

Outside Wat Pho temple

First thing I visited was the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This site was a former high school transformed into a prison from 1975-1979 under the Khmer Rouge Regime. In 1975, 2 million people were evacuated from Phnom Penh to do agricultural work in the villages and were introduced to Maoist and Marxist-Leninist ideology. The desire was to transform the country into a rural, classless society in which there were no rich, no poor, and no exploitation amongst the population. To achieve this, money was abolished along with free markets, private property, foreign clothing styles and religious practices. Schools, churches, Pagodas, universities , shops were shut or turned into prisons. The former penitentiary turned museum was the most important in the country, with 14, 000 prisoners during operation with only 12 surviving at the end of the genocide.

I also visited the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields where a huge number of people were executed. There are 20, 000 mass graves in which over 1.7M people killed during a four year period. When you walk through the fields, you can see some remains of the dead. The rain washes corpses to the surface with some clothes being visible from the ground in torture sites. By the end of this horror, Cambodia’s population was trimmed from 8 to nearly 6 million.

Tuol sleng genocide museum.

Killing tree where kids were executed in the killing field.

After having such a heavy day with sad history, I decided to go find something lighter to raise my spirits. I went to the Russian main market which literally sells everything. I bought a couple of souvenirs and some clothes. Later on I met some friends where we enjoyed a nice and cozy Japanese bar.

Chilling by the river.

Wat Pho Temple

Views of the city over Mekong river

My last day in the city was spent sightseeing some of the renowned spots. I visited the Wat Pho temple, a peaceful and serene spot with breathtaking history. The Independence Monument is lotus-shaped and was built to commemorate Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953. It’s located in a round-about, so be careful about crossing to take photos as it’s extremely busy. I walked outside the Royal Palace but did not pay to enter as I had already seen the Grand Palace in Bangkok. When you travel on a budget, you have to be discerning with your expenses.

Public work out near the Mekong River.

My final moments were spent strolling alongside the Mekong River. The vibe here is really nice because there is a lot going on. There’s cafes, restaurants, bars, as well as people exercising with music in a public space. I just sat in one of the benches by the river as I read a bit and people watched. It was a nice way to end my last day in the capital.

Duran roundabout at night.

A street in Kampot.

Famous bridge in Kampot from the old city to the new one.

My final moments were spent strolling alongside the Mekong River. The vibe here is really nice because there is a lot going on. There’s cafes, restaurants, bars, as well as people exercising with music in a public space. I just sat in one of the benches by the river as I read a bit and people watched. It was a nice way to end my last day in the capital.

My last stop in Cambodia was Kampot. This is a very charming and quaint town with a touch of French colonial influence. It is very easy to walk around and the sunset by the river is so amazing. Its claim to fame is a high quality pepper and fish sauce which they export.

On my first day in Kampot, I arrived in the afternoon and checked into my hostel and proceeded with what I like to do most, walk around. There is a street food place which is very cheap. I had a quick lunch and then went on to sightsee. One side of the river has a great deal of colonial architecture surrounded by a number of delightful cafes and shops. After looking around I went by the river to chill and enjoy the sunset. Night time was for checking out the night market. Nearby was a big durian shaped round about which looks nice at night with light. I ate some food at the market and then walked around but most of the clothes sold here were more modern than the usual markets I was used to. Before I went to bed, I booked a day tour at the Bokor Mountain National Park for the following day.

Outside one of the coffee shops.

Coffee shop.

Sunset in Kampot upon Mekong River

We had a lot to see in just one day! It was very foggy in the morning, even when we soared above the clouds. The view of Kampot from the top was like a painting. Then we proceeded to discover Bokor Hill Station, a luxurious mountain top resort constructed in the early 1900’s which now serves as ghostly remnants of the past. There were a number of abandoned French colonial ruins as well as a big welcoming Buddha and a church which belonged to the King. During the rainy season a waterfall is located nearby with a towering pagoda that provides an extensive view of Mother Nature’s beauty.

Sitting in one of the former french colonial buildings.

Former french  ruins.

The abandoned former French Bokor hotel and Casino.

Above the clouds from the Pagoda.

The view of Vietnam over the lake.

We wrapped up the day looking for fireflies on the river but I think my expectations were too high. Only saw a small number of them but it was still special. Don’t forget the mosquito repellent for the boat ride. That was a wrap up for me in this town but there is more to see like majestic caves, a day tour to Kep, beautiful beaches, salt fields and bike rides if you fancy a leisurely stroll on two wheels.

Banlung - an off the beaten path gem.

If you’re in Cambodia and looking for a gorgeous, quaint, and relatively tourist- free location, have I got the place for you! Located in the Ratanakiri province in the northeastern part of the country, the capital of Banlung offers a welcome respite. There’s peace, a crater lake, and lovely sunsets.

Oh boy what sunsets! After chilling by the pool at the hostel I took in the sights from the bar. Later I took a walk in the small town (population 18k) to find something to eat for dinner but it was quite a challenge because English was not happening with menus strictly in Cambodian. I did my best by pointing to what others had on their plates and decided to let my eyes make the decision.

Gorgeous sunset.

The next day my travel mates and I decided to rent bikes for a sight-seeing adventure. It was a challenging ride with unpaved roads on dirt paths. We visited a Buddhist temple which revealed a great view from the top of the hill. From there, the spectacular Katieng Waterfall. It’s gorgeous as you experience the top of the flow with water flying down. You can also dip your feet in and it’s ideal for Instagram snaps.

Right before our adventure began.

At the temple grounds.

The view from the temple.

Katieng Waterfall.

Cha Ong was another beautiful waterfall that does allow swimming for a hot day. Bonus—a swinging bridge is nearby to take in a better view of the sights. The place is very green here with tress to keep you cool in the shade.

Cha Ong Waterfall.

The bridge above the river.

Right after lunch we went to visit the famous Lake Yeak Laom crater lake. Everything about it is gorgeous! So serene and beautiful. It occupies a 4, 000 year old volcanic crater with clear and pure water. We did swim here and took our time which was relaxing. There was a swinging rope used to dive in the lake which people seemed to be enjoying.

Lake Yeakom Laom.

Fun time.

My travel mates and I.

Taking in the view.

The next morning we went on a two day trek in the Ratanakiri jungle. It was a fabulous time, the guide was really enthusiastic. What a shame though seeing the lack of preservation to this ancient site—many distinguished and vintage redwoods were being chopped for the sake of housing. While discovering I had the pleasure of meeting some ants who got too personal and injected a stinging liquid in my skin. It hurt for a bit but wasn’t itchy. It seemed like my 'welcome to the jungle!' We trekked for about five hours and a lot was experienced on this day. We drank water from a piece of wood (called a water tree I believe). We stopped by the stream of water to have a packed lunch while we relaxed and sampled some wild bush seeds and sweet sugar cane. It felt great to breathe some fresh air. We continued on our way with the sounds of machines destroying nature from a distance.

Break during the trek.

Beautiful trees in the nature.

Having a drink from a piece of wood.

Upon reaching our destination for the evening we hung our hammocks and gazed upon the moonlight hovering over the redwoods. There was a stream of water to swim nearby or take a relaxing bath. Our guide made a fire while we brought some firewood. Our meal consisted of bamboo stick rice, chicken and veggies  that our guide had retrieved during the trek topped off with a glass of rice wine. The meal was placed on a fire and rotated from time to time to make sure it was evenly cooked.

Our view at the campsite.

Perfect for a good swim.

Hammocks hung for the night.

Our rice being cooked.

The guide scooping out the rice.

After dinner it was suggested we go hunt frogs which would later be served. We were in shock! He captured 7 of them and I saw the eighth one. Even though he asked me to catch it, I could not bring myself to do it. The frogs were placed in a bottle and sprinkled with salt. Our guide shook the contents and I wondered if the salt had killed them. He then got them out of the bottle, cleaned the insides, washed them and then they were deep fried to sleep with salt. Voila! Ready to eat. I was really nervous about trying them, I had to close my eyes, but wow! Delicious! We all ended up having a second frog. Sorry Kermit, but you were yummy.

Frogs being fried.

Frog ready to eat.

To eat the frog or not.

After breakfast, it was yet another day of trekking back to the starting point using another route. We came across beautiful views of the greenery that we didn’t see earlier. We ate some wild bananas on the way. These are interesting because they have big seeds in them. We made sure to take breaks whenever we could while we enjoyed mother nature. After about 6 hours, we made it back to the starting point and had some lunch. I highly recommend the tour, you learn so much!

Having a break on our way back.

Wild banana.

Our favourite cook.

Seeing how far I had come.

Banlung is not the easiest place to get to, but it’s well worth the wait. Enjoy mother nature in this beautiful Province of Ratanakiri.