Vietnam- Ha Tien, Phu Quoc, Can Tho, Vinh Long

So Monday morning arrives on the 3rd of December, our visa runs out for Cambodia and starts in Vietnam. We have a bit of a lazy morning until we check out at 12. The reality of how heavy our bags are and having to carry them for 3 months is starting to kick in. 5 months of all my belongings fitted into a rucksack that weighs 25kg, ouch.

We check out and walk the 5/10 minutes to the bus stop where they are going to collect us at 4 o’clock. We ask if we can leave our bags there which we could luckily so we headed out to get some lunch. A couple of hours later and lots of chatting we had chance to grab a desert before we caught the bus. I had banoffee pie and ice cream. The bus arrived a little after 4 to take us to the boarder, by a man that knew little English.

The journey to the boarder which took about 45 mins was uneventful until he dropped us right at the boarder told us to get our bags by gesturing then drove off with us still being around 20 minutes drive to our destination. All the while the Vietnamese boarder control officials where shouting at us to hurry up and move onto passport and visa control. We passed through with no issues having already secured a 3 month visa before arrival. However, after passing through the boarder we had the slight problem of how we were going to get to the hotel with no Vietnamese money. After 10 minutes a minibus turns up and tells us to get in. What the company had failed to tell us what that we would be getting another bus at the boarder. We eventually arrived at our hotel, left our stuff and went to find food, we settled on vegetable noodles which were very nice!

The next day we got a ferry to Phu Quoc island. The ferry left at 1:45 so we headed out to get brunch. We each ordered eggs and sausage with bread. What turned up was eggs sausage a bit of fish in a tomato sauce. Tasty but interesting…

We then got to Phu Quoc around 2 hours later. We found a minibus that would take us to our hostel. However it dropped us off about a 10 minute walk from the property. This would of been ok if it wasn’t for our baggage and 30° + sweltering heat. When we got to the hostel (very sweaty) the owner was so lovely and welcoming, and what’s better, we each had a king size bed for the small price of $7 a night. That night we ventured out for some lunch and caught up on the diaries. The next day we hired motorbikes but with a small catch, only one turned up, so here’s to two people on a motorbike. Tash drove this day as I had never carried a passenger before. So I jump on the back and we go to explore the island. After getting slightly lost and ending up in the harbour. We eventually ended up at our destination, we went to the old Vietnamese prison which documented the terrors that happened there during the war.

We then headed to Bai Sao beach, this beach was on the other side of the island from where we were staying. We didn’t stay long though as we wanted to head to the pagoda. The pagoda was a stunning place which was so peaceful.

We then took a trip to the night market, here we experienced our first lot of street food. It was so tasty, we had a hot dog, Vietnamese pizza and some spring rolls. Oh and some ice cream to finish, yum.

The next day was the turn for me to drive. So Tash hopped on the back and off we went. It was strange at first but I then got used to it, to the point where I forgot she was there. We headed to the Suoi Tranh waterfall. The waterfall was pretty and peaceful, it wasn’t flowing very much but we did decide to come in dry season! We walked to the top and had a very refreshing swim.

After this we went to the beach it was a beautiful afternoon, it was definitely strange seeing a Christmas tree on the beach. We watched the sunset and of course the cloud that covered it!

When we got back to the hostel we had booked a cooking class. We learnt how to make fresh spring rolls. We had prawns, squid, and pork with lettuce, cucumber and sauce to dip it in, it was very tasty.

The next day we left the island to head to Can Tho (home of the floating markets). We caught the ferry to Rach Gia, a place we had planned to spend the night but decided to have an extra night on the island. From Rach Gia we caught a bus to Can Tho, not before a man tried to rip us off for a bus ticket. Research beforehand does really pay off. On Saturday the 8th we ventured to watch the sunset over the city and to find a boat tour for the next day to visit the floating markets. We headed to sky bar, got a cocktail and watched the sunset.

We then went to find a boat tour. We had read about hiring a boat from one of the local people rather than going on a guided tour with other tourists. So we headed to find one. We found someone who was half the price of a tourist boat but still lovely. We had to hand over half of the money up front which you could be wary about due to scamming. However it is part of trust on both sides. She made us take a photo with her. In which we definitely look like giants!

We then headed to get some street food. We got a sugar can drink, Vietnamese pizza and a crepe all of which was delicious.

Sunday morning we got up at 4:10am to be at the river front for 5am for our trip to Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets. We went with Rob who we met a night earlier who had lots of tips to tell us about the North of Vietnam. We arrived and was greeted by our driver who must of only been around 13 but knew the waters so well. It was still pitch black when we started to head to Cai Rang and we arrived there a little before dusk. Rash and Rob wanted a coffee so we told the driver and within minutes two boats had attached themselves to our boat and made the coffee. We drove around the market, the boats had poles with their products hanging on the end so you know what they are selling.

We then headed to a place that make rice noodle. It was great to see the process and how they use everything to make something work. They use the rice husks for the fire.

We then got to see the sunset on the way to Phong Dien. It was so beautiful. I liked Phong Dien market better, although it was small it seemed a lot more friendly. We also got part of a Mekong Delta tour with our trip as we got to go down all the canals, we also stopped off midway for lunch. It was a lovely morning.

On the way back the sun came out and I got a little burnt…oops.

On Monday we headed to Vinh Long , we caught a local bus to Vinh Long, with the motto of squash as many people on as possible. When we arrived we let our Home Stay which is on the island of An Bình in Vinh Long know we were here. They organised transport which involved a motorbike (there is no cars on the island due to the roads being so small) and a ferry. The motorbikes turned up and I hauled myself and my 25kg backpack on the back. We get to the car ferry and my driver insists on putting my backpack in between him and the handlebars. How we didn’t fall off was crazy, I praise his skill. I arrived at the Home Stay unscathed and went to the riverside to watch the sunset.

We spent the next day relaxing, eating, swimming, sunbathing and drinking. On Wednesday we had booked a place to stay in Vinh Long on the mainland. We said our goodbyes to Rob and then hopped on the motorbikes to go back. This time a little less traumatic.

When we arrived at the hotel we asked at reception if we could find anywhere to do a tour of the coconut candy making and the fruit orchards. She obviously called a friend because the next thing we are doing is going to a boat ready to do the tour. Our driver was lovely and so happy, he did his best to chat in English to us and explain things.

We first went to the candy making place. We got to see rice corn being made, happy juice (which is rice wine) and the coconut candy being made. The first was the rice corn, which he explained as a magic trick and the sand is ready to pop the popcorn at 170°.

We had a great guide who told us lots of information, especially about the rice wine. We particularly focused on the snake wine, which he said isn’t ready until 7 months as the snake venom can be deadly. He said only men can drink it because is makes them happy, the kind of excited happy. We got to taste a banana one the mixture is about 50% alcohol. It definitely burnt my throat!

We then also got to see the coconut candy.

Next we went to a honey farm, Tash held a comb with bees on but I kindly declined. I still have a slight phobia of wasps and bees ever since I walked into a wasp nest 7 years previously.

We then headed down the canal and the driver wanted to take a picture of us on the boat.

Along this canal was the fruit orchard. We got to eat lots of Rambutan a yummy fruit that looks a bit like a lychee. I wasn’t particularly keen on the other fruits as they like to eat a lot of fruit that isn’t quite ripe yet. However the orchard was great. The owner went round and got us some rambutan off the trees.

We also saw a Jack fruit of the tree which was huge. The Jackfruit isn’t very nice, it literally smells like a garage truck and tastes not much better.

After this boat trip we headed to the night market and tried to get food slightly unsuccessfully. I ended up getting a Bánh mì (a Vietnamese style sandwich). This was tasty, it was beef wrapped in seaweed. We then headed back to the hotel. We were going to head to Ho Chi Minh city the next day.

So far we’ve had a great adventure and we have only done a little snippet of the country. By the end of January we should be the furthest north of Vietnam.

Until next time!