No matter how much room we had on the plane, it had been hard to sleep at all. Arrived in Bangkok in early morning smog and to long slow security queues, for further two hours of flying to transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (old Saigon). People were grumpy from tiredness and some tense from missing the tight connection on previous trips.
By HCMC, tropical heat hit us & rooms not yet ready – had to do impromptu shedding of UK layers + leave cluster of cases & bags in 5 star hotel lobby ... To keep us awake a short orientation walk, but it proved hard to focus.
Striking variety of dress and status very obvious
Glorious interlude when could absorb quiet swimming pool atmosphere surrounded by old balconies festooned with greenery.
Bliss of relaxation
The final test for this long day involved an evening meal cooked on a brazier next to us, and eaten on small plastic stools. This was amongst street markets by jam-packed roads – the real deal for many Vietnamese, & what a contrast with the hotel!
After dinner, we were taken on an unusual non-tourist route: down the second-hand street!
