Thursday - 24 March 2005 - Andrew "I.C.E." Lee and Jane "Real" Diehl                                          [Main]

Today, we were expecting to go to a floating market and drive back to HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) and get back to our hotels by 4:30. We thought floating markets would be floating houses connected by boarding planks off in rural Vietnam. We thought the bus ride back to HCMC would only take about 3 hours.

Vietnam is a much different experience than what we expected. As much as it is nice to think of Vietnam as a country full of rice patties and bustling modern cities, the uncontrolled growth and industrialization of the country is actually much different from the postcards we tried to send. We also thought there would be stamps at a post office. Vietnam is a much different experience than what we expected.

Heading out of HCMC, you would expect a gradual shift from the urban areas to a rural lifestyle, one filled with fewer cars, fewer people, less pollution. However, it's difficult to tell where HCMC begins and where it ends. The city we stayed in last night was the biggest in southern Vietnam, but I could not even tell when we left HCMC.

The hotel was a unique experience as well. We were definitely not expecting a shortage of shower stalls and bed sheets. However, there was an abundance of mosquito nets and geckos. Also, there was an interesting canned beverage in our rooms called Bird Nest!  Its ingredients: water, sugar, white fungus, and birds nest. It was not until later that Mr Dang explained what that all meant.

The floating markets were little boats with bamboo sticks to advertise the wares of the people selling them. The Mekong Delta is in the middle of a city, with gas stations on the side of the river. The rapid growth of a changing third world country is obvious. The cities are crowded and so was the river. The large array of boats marketing their goods was overwhelming. The market we went to today was larger than yesterdays and was more going to a grocer than going to a village market. It was the Costco of the Mekong Delta.

Our bus ride back to HCMC took about five hours and, as usual, it was filled with the interesting sights of Vietnam; the 2 lane highway car passing, the auto accidents, the ridiculous 80's rock that our bus driver loves. Looking out at rice patties listening to Journey makes one wonder about the rapid change of pace for Vietnam.

Back in the city, we shopped. Again. Bargaining is getting more natural as Lauren's Vietnamese improves and we started to think about the consequences our friendly bargaining has on the people. While we argue over fifty cents, US dollars, for them it is not in terms of number, but probably more in food. We don't know the point at which our bargaining becomes selfish. We should be more responsible with the Dang Discount.

Shopping is hard work. So is washing clothes in the bathtub. We made our own mini Mekong Delta in Arlen and Kendra's room. I hope our clothes dry before tomorrow or our bags might carry the smell of the Mekong as well. It's getting late, so we've got to go now. Tomorrow we're going to an orphanage and taking the children to the beach, so check again tomorrow. Chà o.