Day 106 – Bavet, Cambodia – 1:02 PM

My four weeks in Vietnam have officially come to a close.  I just crossed through the border checkpoint between Vietnam and Cambodia on a bus I boarded this morning in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam.  The seven-hour journey is almost half over and in short order I will be arriving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The five days I spent in HCMC were a relaxing break from my whirlwind eight-day motorcycle excursion.  After sitting on a motorcycle for over 800 miles and moving from city to city on a daily basis, I was ready to put my feet up and unwind prior to departing for Cambodia.  I arrived in HCMC last Friday and checked into Thanh, a boarding house just off the backpacker concentrated area of Bui Vien Street.  My room included a queen-sized bed, cable television and air conditioning.  It also featured a deck that overlooked an alleyway that opened up to the main strip that housed numerous bars and restaurants.  By night, neon signs illuminated and the road filled with pedestrians, motorbikes, taxis and locals looking to selling items to tourists and backpackers.

I woke on Saturday morning and slowly pulled myself out of bed.  I threw open the curtains and bright sunshine flooded my room.  I pulled out a street map and scanned for points of interest.  From other backpackers, I heard the War Remnants Museum was a moving, must see attraction.  The museum was close to the Notre-Dame Basilica and the often-photographed Saigon Post Office. I wanted to mail a couple items back to the States before departing for Cambodia.  I walked the twenty minutes from my accommodation to the post office.  The blazing sun and 90 degree temperatures brought sweat to my face and shirt.  I stepped into the post office and took off my backpack.  The ceiling fans felt refreshing after walking in the midday heat.  I maneuvered through the appropriate lines and completed the necessary paperwork to mail a package back home.  So far, I have attempted to mail a monthly package back to the states with paperwork I accumulate and items I bought or no longer need in my pack.

From the post office, I meandered past the Notre-Dame Basilica.  I hoped to walk inside and photograph the décor but the gates were pulled across the entryways.  I continued in a northwesterly direction and soon arrived at the ticket window outside the War Remnants Museum.  I paid the $0.66 USD entry fee and crossed through the gate.  American aircraft lined the far wall while artillery apparatus dotted the remaining open spaces. I stood in awe at the size of the howitzers that lobbed artillery at enemy positions and the aircraft that delivered both personal and bombs into war zones.

I walked through the entrance doors and the next three hours passed in a blur.  The exhibits touched on every aspect of the Vietnam War.  Sections were devoted to the worlds response to the Vietnam War, the tactical movements of various units, the side effects of Agent Orange and the photographers embedded with each side.  Each exhibit displayed pictures, first hand accounts and pieces of equipment.  Although the propaganda was tilted in one direction, the information on display was very moving and would make even the most war-hawkish individual step back from their aggressive way of thinking.  I walked through the hallways and exhibits until the public address system informed all museumgoers that closing time was approaching.  I exited into the courtyard and through the gate I entered hours earlier. I took the long way back to my hotel to explore more of the city and digest what I just experienced.

Over the recent weeks I have uploaded photographs from Vietnam onto Facebook.  Rob, an old friend from high school, messaged me and said he lived in HCMC and would like to meet up if our schedules afforded.  I messaged him the dates I was going to be in town and we planned to convene over beers after he returned from a short holiday out of town.  He returned Sunday evening and we agreed to grab a couple of beers on Monday night.  We started at a bar near my accommodation.  He asked if I wanted to stay in that area or visit a couple local places outside the backpacker enclave.  I could not escape the backpacker scene quick enough and we soon hailed a taxi to an outlying area of the city.  We passed numerous bars and restaurants and Rob explained that HCMC has an over abundance of restaurants that will fulfill any craving.

Our next stop was Phatty’s.  We walked inside and Rob introduced me to a couple ex-pats that frequent the establishment.  We ordered a round and began chatting about our backgrounds.  They were curious about my travel itinerary and of course, my opinion on the political climate in America.  Whenever someone realizes I am from America, the conversation always turns to the upcoming Presidential election later this year.  I always try to steer the conversation in another direction.

After two beers at Phatty’s, we moved onto a couple of other local bars and pubs.  Over beers, Rob and I reminisced about our years in high school refusing to believe it has been almost ten years since graduation.  We discussed classmates and teachers and shared memorable stories about each.  It was great to catch up with a friend I have not seen in years.  I cannot thank him enough for showing me around HCMC and giving me a night away from the popular backpacker haunts.  We parted ways agreeing to keep in touch and vowing to let the other know when I returned to Vietnam or Rob back to New England.

Much like Australia, my four weeks in Vietnam passed in a blur.  I experienced my first bout of culture shock in the moments after my arrival in Hanoi.  I quickly grew accustomed to the fast paced city life and it benefitted me greatly as the days and weeks progressed.  I completed an exhilarating 100 mile motorbike journey from Hue to Hoi An and later became a passenger on a much longer and more fulfilling 8-day trek from Nha Trang to HCMC.  I interacted with locals, met fellow travelers and learned so much about Vietnamese culture and customs. However, my most valued memory from Vietnam is the New Years dinner that Binh and I shared with a local family in Loc An.  Their generosity and kindness exemplified the mindset I encountered in so many Vietnamese.  I was only there for a month but I accumulated a wealth of memories that left an indelible mark and will stay with me forever.