Vietnam Post Number Tam

Since I was expecting to fly out on Friday afternoon, I had to rush to see a few things before going to the airport.  It was a 30 minute walk to see the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, but the viewing portion was closed, his body goes to Russia every year for maintenance, I guess he didn't come back yet.  There are a few other museums in the area, but by the time I got over there I needed to head back to make it to the airport.  After getting to the airport I noticed that my flight was not on the departure list.  Hmmm.  I showed my ticket to a gate agent and then things got bad.  There is no flight to Vientiane on Fridays (I believe it exists in the summer only, never got a straight answer).  After an hour of asking different people before finding someone who actually gave a shit, I was 'assured' that I would be on the next flight Saturday morning.  I had no confidence that this was the case, but I thanked the Vietnam Airlines manager for helping me.  I didn't want to go back to Hanoi, so I found a hotel close to the airport, it was probably the most depressing hotel I have ever been at.  It was really, really bad.  Had dinner in the 'cafe' next to about 6 Vietnamese guys who were all chain smoking.  After a crappy sleep, headed back to the airport.  My fear was the agent would have no idea what I was talking about when I gave my ticket that was for the prior day, and I was right.  They said I wasn't on the ticket.  I begged them to call the manager from the previous day (he gave me his cell number) and after a quick call I was given a ticket and felt hugely relieved.  Kind of scary that a personal call to someone would all of sudden get me on a flight.  A short flight later, arrived in Vientiane and went through the slowest immigration process of all time.  It took them at least 90 minutes to process one small plane full of people (40? 50?).  What I like the most is that visas are different prices for different countries.  For some reason, Canadians pay the most - $42.  The U.S. is $35, and South America is free.  Weird.  Met Matt and Senoe after this long delay and had to check in for the next flight leaving for Hoiesay two hours later.

Vietnam Post Number Bay

Got back on the bus and headed to the boats.  The British girls threw a fit because they didn't feel the seat space was adequate for them so the tour operator had to find some volunteers to go on motorbikes behind the bus.  To say these tours are not organized well is an understatement.  Waited around for the boats and then went back, much quicker this time since there were no stops.  With no place to stay I got out at the same stop as the British girls and got a room at the same hotel (good deal, only $15/night, includes breakfast, free Internet).  Stayed pretty much in the same area that night, spent a fair amount of time at a bar called 'Hair of the Dog'.  A bartender who spoke decent English talked to me a fair amount, she intended on going to New York at some point, but I couldn't decipher what for.  The table next to me seemed to going through some issues - some guy owed an African dude with a French accent money and he wanted it now.  Fun to eavesdrop on that.  Had some tasty Pho that the bartender went next door to get me, sweet delivery service.

Vietnam Post Number Sau

Got up early and had to check out of the hotel since the Halong Bay trip was an overnight tour.  The bus ride was a few hours, and the space on the seats was absolutely ridiculous.  I couldn't expand my hand between my seat and the back of the seat in front of me.  Of course the bathroom break was at a stop where people were making plaster lions, Buddhas, etc.  There is no way anyone could have purchased anything and gotten it on the bus, so Pringles were the most popular item as usual.  Eventually reached the bay and saw dozens of junks waiting for tour buses.  We got on one and we were given a bland lunch.  Some Brit girls and Aussie boys invited me to eat with them since I was alone.  They were nice.  There was a stop at one of the bigger islands (there are 400ish in the bay) to look at a cave that had a bunch of tacky colored lights in it.  Got back on the boat, went by a floating village (pretty interesting, little homes just floating around, the water is extremely calm in the area).  Ended up at Cat Ba island, the largest of the bunch, and then it was a 40 minute bus ride to the hotels.  I was at a different hotel then the others so it was kind of a bummer since I didn't know anyone.  Wasn't feeling well, so I skipped dinner and watched the Mod Squad.  Not good.  Went to a bar a floor above my room and it was horrible.  Super loud music, nobody there, nothing to do.  Went for a walk outside and that wasn't much better.  Lots of crappy stalls selling junk lit up by fluorescent lights - no beach to speak of, it was pretty dissapointing.  Went to bed shortly thereafter.

Vietnam Post Number Nam

Flew to Hanoi on Tuesday.  There was no food on the plane, but the legroom was amazing, it was like sitting in a limo.  Maybe that is why they can't afford to give food out.  Upon arriving in Hanoi, got a taxi and went to the hotel.  The trip was pretty long, and it gave an immediate impression on the differences between HCMC and Hanoi.  It seems more grim and Chinese in Hanoi - people spit more, it was cooler so they were all wearing coats, possibly more pale(?) due to the weather difference making them appear more Chinese.  Where I was staying the streets were more narrow and it had an older feel, some buildings seemed more colonial/French.  I didn't do too much that day, arranged a trip to Halong Bay for the following day and just hung around the neighborhood.  Had a really good sandwich - pork skewers with chili sauce on a baguette for about 50 cents.  Was in bed fairly early since the bus for the tour was leaving early the next day.  Stomach still not doing well.