The Life of Brad

Off to Vietnam. Part 1 of my time was spent in the South in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang for a wonderful experience being a real foreigner not meeting many Canadians. A few days in the largest city in the South, Ho Chi Minh, for some history and wild night life and then 10 days in the Russian heavy Nha Trang enjoying beach life, scuba, delicious food and comfortable hotels all at unbelievable prices!

Day 1-2, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Siagon). Took vietjet out of Changi around 5pm for $150 CAD. As soon as I got on the plane I knew I was going to stay longer in Vietnam than the original loose plan of 2 weeks. Over all Ho Chi Minh was a great introduction to the country with great restaurants, night life, history and modernization. Friendly people too! Oh and fyi when I say motorbike, I mean small motorbike or scooter!

Cool uniforms

Tired by excited!

Singapore airport looking normal for a second

Masked up duckman!

Incredible sky

Loads of shipping boats

Flying in to Ho Chi Minh City...

Grabbed a Grab Cab for the first time on the trip for $6 all the way from the airport to town...oh i'm going to like Vietnam...cheap cheap cheap (once I got through immigration)!

Ok, this part sucked...50 min

I was surprised cab went down
tiny ally with all motorbikes

Right in the heart of the action

$20 for room, priv. bathroom w/ AC.

Similar to Bangkok Khao San road party street. Pretty loud and lots of "working girls" so doubtful many locals here.

Tight streets in the centre

This park is right behind the crazy zone

Lots of motorbikes

A sad, but mandatory visit to the War Museum. I still can't believe no one went to jail in the USA for their war crimes against Vietnam. You can still find many health issues in many people to this day living in the Agent Orange poisoned country. Note that this prison was first used by the French that suppressed the Vietnamese people then used for Communist North prisoners of the South Vietnamese during the war.

Special thanks to Yen for joining me for the museum and most of the afternoon. We met in the street while I was on my way and he simply said "Can I practice my English with you today?" A very sweet young man.

French influence for sure

Agent Orange...

Horrible conditions

Independence Palace

Famous Central Post Office

Learning to cross the street with my new buddy.

Looks like a good time

loaded up

Huge Market

Great day with Yen

Delicious!!!

Day 3-12, Nha Trang (or as I like to call it, Little Russia) which is a larger beach town in the South of Vietnam and sounded perfect to me. Decided to take the bus because it was so close to where I stayed, but what I didn't know was we had to take a shuttle to the far West Bus Station then drive on the big bus for 1+ hours just to get back to where I was and then Eastward. Good to be laying down though on this "sleeper bus" during the day.

Tight but comfy and I did manage to sleep a lot even though I chose the day bus in order to see the landscape. Train would have been my choice if I was to do it again for the 9 hour trip.

No shoes on bus, so we used
these at the bathroom stops

Lots of goodies on the road

Riding around all of Ho Chi Minh City making a scenic tour laying on my back.

Industrial site

No idea with my allergies can
I handle this...?

Green farming areas and towns

More big industry

Made it, well one more shuttle to town

Arrived late and ran into these two wild guys, Tony (Aus) and George (Rus) that I had a few drinks with until sunrise...Entertaining.

Sun City Hotel for $13 CAD a night

Wild guys

Tony and George

Lovely morning, time for bed...

Nice little roof tour of Sun City Hotel.

Let's eat, walk around and just relax for 10 days in Nha Trang.

Food way better than
restaurant looked

very nice promenade

beachfront bars and restaurant

Always amazed by country's
handling of electricity

$0.75 in the hotel mini fridge!

Night market

Last Call bar which I was told
was the only spot in town...NOT!

Moto taxi taking a siesta

First Vietnamese massage

Love the painting, but in a
massage room?

A little conversation review of the massage experience at Her Spa which I was connected to by Lap the owner of a few studios in Nha Trang who I met on the bus from Ho Chi Minh City.

It was really good actually

Big sizes for first worlders.

Mango!!!!!!!!!!

Looking south along the beach

Very good choice Alex!

New Russian buddy, Alex, St Petersberg

Lame Last Call bar

Bored workers working hard

Oh yeah!

Dried seafood

Whoa, scorpion in a bottle!

Little walk along the beach front

Found 6 v 6 volley ball. 11 Russians and me.
I did well enough to get invited back

Beach rules

Love me some Tuan's!

The city looks big, but it's all hotels

2% withdrawal fee

Checked out the big market

Perfect job for narcoleptic

Ripping around town on the back of a scooter

An offering table to the higher powers

Lunch menu dedicated to
Russian food

Shifted South down the beach to be closer to volley ball and try a different part of town closer to different bars and restaurants. Like Tuan's and Nha bar.