Leaving Thailand was sad but exciting as we head to new experiences in Vietnam. We spent just an evening and a day in Ho Chi Minh City before hopping to the island of Phu Quoc. First of all, traffic in HCMC is bananas. So many motorbikes, so many people, so much honking! Our cab driver from the airport informed us that the honking is not aggressive as it is for us back home. It's more of communication saying, "Hi, I'm right here beside you, don't come too much this way." Crossing the streets is a daunting task at first but there really is an understanding of: you go ahead and walk, and we'll move around you. No one is going to stop traffic for you, so you better just move with it. District 1 along backpackers row is crazy busy. The streets are swarmed with markets, food stalls, vendors, people, and businesses spilling all over every sidewalk and motorbikes riding right onto those sidewalks wherever they see space. Taking a walk is a single file effort weaving through the chaos. Our first stop was for our first bowl of Pho and showing off our selfie skills. 

The War Remnants Museum was top on our list to see and it was powerful. Until the 90's it was known as "Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes" as in the Southern Vietnamese and all others who fought against the North were seen as controlled by the US. Lots of sobering facts and pictures along with live music at the door played by people with deformities caused by Agent Orange. Really intense. 

We spent the rest of the day walking through the markets and local parks. We were entertained by a man selling coconuts, watched badminton matches and a kind of badminton played with your feet. And yes we are giants here. 

This city is bustling, the locals are out doing their daily routine and even in the backpacking district, we are the minority. Obviously locals capitalize on the foreigners but it feels like we're really mixed in and not just watching a show put on for us. We ate our way through the evening, I think we had four dinners just because there was so much we wanted to try! We ended with this sweet delicious sugarcane drink, where the cane is pushed through a press many times, and combined with juice from a calamansi (think sour mandarin orange) and poured over ice. It's SO good!! 

Next stop, Phu Quoc! 

Look Kris they have Princess Palms!