We started the day with great intentions of cultural enrichment. After sleeping in and a late breakfast we hit the footpath and braved the traffic. The traffic is busy, with a lot of scooters, but it is not too bad crossing the streets. There are traffic lights controlling most of the intersections we needed to cross. They do drive on the right hand side of the road and still turn right on a red light, but with your wits about you it is not too bad. Certainly a lot better than getting around Hanoi.
Clare scored the first con by being trapped by a seller letting her carry his coconuts. Photos were taken, and money exchanged. The coconut juice was nice and refreshing, so not all was lost.
We also discovered we had walked in the wrong direction the night before and there are some nice looking restaurants and bars nearby.
By the time we reached the war museum it was 11 o'clock and it was time for their siesta, so we headed to the cathedral to find that was also closed. The Post Office was over the road and open. It is an impressive building with interesting architecture.
While we were walking, Linda took a tumble in front of the traffic as she stepped off the footpath. We helped her up, she was quite sore, but walked it off like a trooper.
We then kept walking and found ourselves in a shopping centre. That was the afternoon gone. We shopped, tried a Fanny ice cream (as recommended by my nieces) and a Japanese Mochi Sweet. It was like a cold steamed bun with a sweet centre. Different, but nice.
We had to get home as we had our XO scooter street food tour. Our guides met us in front of the hotel. They were 4 young ladies who were to drive us around and look after us all night. They drove through the streets and the peak hour traffic. It was fun and they chatted to us as we went along.
We met up with the rest of the group, there were 15 of us in total, plus a guide each, a tour leader and 4 body guards. Our first meal was a beef noodle dish. We were told to add a little chilli sauce. I added too much; my lips were numb by the time we finished. "Sexy lips" according to my guide!
We then rode through the streets for about an hour. It was fantastic being in the traffic. It looks so chaotic when you are on the footpath, but it seems to flow nicely.
Our next stop and we were on little chairs, sitting with the guides, who cooked some goat over hot coals for us. This was followed by some squid, some prawns with chilli salt and frogs. The frog was skin on and skin off. The skin on was actually tastier. Clare is allergic to shellfish so they brought her a dish of broken rice and beef.
Beers were included and then we had a shot of banana wine, which was a bit like a whiskey - strong. We played a chopstick game in teams with our guides. Clare and I beat the other girls. Champions!
Back on the scooters and a long drive through the streets. The ride was fantastic and definitely a highlight of the night. We stopped off in district 7 to have a look. It is clean with large streets, underground power and grass you can sit on. Most of the grass in Ho Chi Minh is not for sitting or playing on, but for beauty. This district is full of expats, mostly Korean.
Back onto the scooters we went to district 4, the worst area for criminal activity. The body guards were more vigilant here.
More beer, more food. We started with quail, then onto blue swimmer crab, followed by scallops with lemongrass and clams. Clare was well fed with non seafood options. She has some lovely little pancakes, spring rolls and a pork roll, Next they brought out a balat, which is a duck fetus egg. We passed, but my guide ate it. It was yuck, yuck, yuck.
Onto desert and a surprise in the coconut shell for Judy and a coffee caramel.
We hopped back on to the scooters and headed back to our hotel. This was such a fantastic night, lots of laughs, good food, great company and an exhilarating ride through the streets of Saigon. The guides were a lot of fun and made sure we were looked after. Linda's guide even let her sing - very generous!
2025-02-11