Same Same, but Different!

Trip Start Jun 05, 2006

Trip End Jul 15, 2007

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Flag of Vietnam Ho Chi Man City (Saigon), Vietnam
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Unfortunately most people associate the word "Vietnam" with a foreign war. True it was a war, and it is also a country! Here is my top 5 first thoughts and impressions about Vietnam.

1. Alphabet soup......
Not many Vietnamese people seem to speak English? But luckily for me Vietnamese use the Latin/English alphabet. So I can at least match street signs to a map. I cannot say the words but I can ask directions by pointing at a map.
Ex. of a street name in Saigon - Nguyen thi minh Khai

2. Motorbike madness......
The roads here are complete madness! I was told about the motorbike madness before I got here, but I still was not prepared for what I had in store. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before. The roads are littered with thousands upon thousands of bikes. Crossing the street here is the most dangerous things I have done so for on this trip. They give a new definition to the term "Ridden Dirty." In the space that 2 cars would occupy on the road, they fit between 8-10 bikes/motorbikes. The last few days I have been eyeing a vintage Vespa that someone is renting for $5 a day. I really wanted to ride it, but I decided that it would be against my best interest, with my recent driving history and all.

3. "Buggers" and "Rockets"......
Since I have been here in Nam I have been pulling the funkiest creation out of my nose? I guess it has something to do with the congested roads, and billion people everywhere. When it comes to "bugger removal" I am more of a "picker." I have noticed that the Vietnamese people prefer "snot rockets?" I think "snot rockets" are really gross! I saw a really pretty Vietnamese girl blow a "snot rocket" yesterday. I do not think I have ever been so turned off, so quickly by a pretty girl in my entire life.

4. "Dongs" and "Members"......
The Vietnamese unit of currency is the Vietnamese Dong. Every time I here someone say the word "Dong" it makes me laugh! I cannot help it? I sometime affectionately refer to "my member" as "my dong!"

5. Doggie Dog World......
THEY EAT DOG HERE!!!! I am compiling a list (with pictures) of funky things that Asians eat right now for an upcoming entry. But Dog? They have entire restaurants dedicated to dog meat. If you ever find yourself in a Vietnamese restaurant and you are not keen on dog meat, you should avoid any restaurant that has the word "thit cay" on the menu as an option. It's not pork chops!

Lassie - It's what's for dinner! ~Johnny Nomad

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