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An Unspoiled Vacation

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2004-09-14 10:36:19

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It was relatively hot and humid at the end of January for my stroll in Ho Chi Minh City (even the natives call it Saigon). Outside the Municipal Theatre, built in 1899, a newlywed couple was having their pictures taken. Rex Hotel, once a garage in the 1960's, turned into a beautiful four-star hotel. Later that night, the hotel lit up for Tet Festival (New Years) that was coming up. The boys buzzed around on their motorcycles on this warm, drizzly Saturday night hoping to run out of gas. Or so the tour guide said. If the floods of motorcycles were all cars the streets would be jammed. The traffic lights and lines on the road are merely there for decorations. No one abides by them. I found myself in the middle of the road and all of a sudden loads of traffic came my way. I just stood there and let the traffic go around me.
I'm fortunate to have experienced Nha Trang before tourism spoils this popular seaside resort, forecasted to be another Cancun. We had the boat to ourselves on the day cruise. Shaped like a silkworm, Tam Island is a quiet, picture perfect get-away-from-it-all. But who knows how it'll be five years from now.

Cruising closer to Temple Island the clutter of colourful fishing boats came to view. I couldn't believe my ears when told the 1.5 sq. km. island could be destroyed in 10 years to make way for condos.

Progress has not made life easier for many Vietnamese. While driving about the countryside I saw people washing clothes in the river, workers bent over in rice fields under the glaring sun, women both young and old carry heavy baskets suspended on sticks across their shoulders and farmers sowing rice seeds with water buffalo.

There are 67,000 M'Nong people remaining inVietnam. The women are head of the household and children take their name. The people of the M'Nong village of Jun invited us to their Tet Eve festival (similar to New Year's Eve) celebrating with food, drink and ...