Vietnam Chronicles: I ♥ Saigon

Do you have any idea how to spend a million in one day? Oh, as surprisingly good as lottery winners, seven friends, my sister and I became instant millionaires in Vietnam. Staying there for four days, I would say that the trip was worth everything we planned for ─ money, time and effort.

This is the local currency here, the Vietnam Dong.

With a basic conversion of VND 21,000 is to one US dollar, this makes their money twice a thousand lesser than Philippine peso. If you have VND 500,000 then this equals PHP 1,000 in home currency. The value of Vietnam dong is not that powerful as peso is. Commodities are sold at really cheaper price there. In fact, it’s been a concealed truth that many buy various goods there for reselling at local market.

Now, let me walk you through the package tours we availed at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Day 1 City Tour at USD6 per pax

- War Remnants Museum: This is a poignant display of the futility of war.
- The Reunification Palace: This is one of the most important buildings in the city.
- Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture.
- Cholon, including the Thien Hau Pagoda: Cholon actually means Big Market - a claim that is well justified as Vietnam’s largest market, the Binh Tay is situated here.
- Ben Thanh Market: This bustling market is very popular with tourists, primarily due to its central location. It has a wide selection of goods ranging from fake Nike shoes to beautiful silk Ao Dais.

Day 2 Mekong Delta Adventure at USD10 per pax

Travel to the city of My Tho, a 2.5-hour journey, by air-conditioned mini-coach. A former naval base, My Tho is now a bustling port city in the Mekong Delta. The area is the final destination of the Mekong River that winds its way from Tibet, China, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and finally Vietnam. An incredibly fertile region, its prime industry is food production, producing approximately half of Vietnam's total agricultural output. Life for villagers in the area revolves around the rivers and canals that make up the delta, people are more likely to transport by river than by road.

Upon arrival into My Tho we boarded a private boat for a cruise on the Mekong River. On the boat ride our guide whose name is Duc took us to visit an island with lush tropical gardens where we tasted some tropical fruits. Moving to another island in the Mekong Delta, we were introduced to coconut candy business. We visited local villages in the area and learn more about the traditional lifestyles, culture and customs of people who call the Delta their home.

Last perk on the trip was the canoe ride to allow us to get deeper into the smaller canals of the Delta. Would you believe this made me broke in tears? My crazy imagination made me see crocodiles at the banks of the river! I trembled and worried so much about our safety, considering we have no choice but take a ride to reach the other end of the delta. In the end, I successfully conquered my dilemma with the very support of my friends and Duc (although I have doubts if he knew about the crying scene!).

Day 3 Discovering the Cu Chi Tunnels at USD9 per pax

The Vietnamese preserved their history well. Although most spots are more like of what we have in Corregidor, I would say that the drama these people had in the time past is no lesser than what our heroes have experienced. The tunnels in the middle of a (then) virgin jungle led me to thinking about the awful situation of the locals under the earth. Air, food and water were scarce and the tunnels were infested with ants, poisonous centipedes, scorpions, spiders and vermin. But they badly needed to live that way to escape from death. I don’t know much of their old time stories but I am sure they fought for justice and independence too as a nation. Every drop of blood was worth it all after the Vietcongs have succeeded the war over the American troops.

Everything we had in Vietnam was but a priceless experience that I want to share with my family. I promise to revisit the country in the future and explore all the nature, thrills and adventures we cannot find elsewhere.

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