Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

After all the years of hearing about Vietnam, studying it in highschool and with my dad, here we are in HCMC! After an excellent 1.5 hour flight with Jetstar, we arrived and went through immigration with all of our paperwork: visa forms, applications, photos. In the end, they took two of my papers, none of Papa's and still issued us all visas, returning some of our photos. A bit confusing but anyway, we are here and have just had a good sleep at the Mini Saigon Hotel #5 and a nice breakfast on its rooftop cafe with views of the city in the sunshine. Lots of mopeds! We are in a quaint, old part but you can see modern skyscrapers in the distance.

Today we will take a bus for two hours to My Tho, the gateway to the Mekong Delta and couchsurf (homestay) with a university student named, Tien, and her family...if all goes to plan. Hopefully try the famous noodles from her city! Tomorrow we will try to head to Can Tho and Rach Gia and the following day, a hydrofoil over to Phu Quoc island where we will stay in a bungalow on the beach, then a homestay called "Freedomland" in the jungle and enjoy 3 separate day trips which include diving and snorkeling.

I am writing a lot in advance because I don't know what internet access will be like after this modern hotel which has free computer use. I will try to post some photos as we go along. Excited to be here and ready to head on our way to the bus station. Hope everyone who reads is doing well and enjoying their own excitement in life! Cheerio!

Gramma and Grampa: kids so excited for your arrival in Hanoi!