Vietnam has been an experience. Some parts and adventures have been amazing while others have been nothing short of uncomfortable/difficult. The people vary and the culture shock is a little more difficult b/c of it.
In Thailand and Laos we were obviously foreigners but felt comfortable for the most part. In Vietnam while some towns/people are great, you always have to keep your guard up and it seems impossible to ask advice or even take a cab. It seems most tourist or backpackers have been scammed at least a couple times by cab drivers so far, including ourselves. Although i think it added to the experience and made us enjoy Hoi An and Nha Trang more than we would have.
The night train between Hoi An and Nha Trang was probably the most uncomfortable sleeping arrangement we've had so far, or as Matt put it, probably in his entire life. So we're doing it again tonight on our way to Ho Chi Min, another 9 hours. We bought the hard sleeper ticket to Nha Trang, which was considered first class, and we ended up sharing a cabin with 5 other Vietnamese(it was supposed to be 4 but they snuck an extra one in) sleeping on tiny bunk beds that were 3 high, with no mattress. Pics above of matt and I, my bunk ended maybe a foot past my knees. I'll try and take a pic of the bunk room tonight on the next train. Although we're in a soft sleeper tonight, so there should only be 4 of us in the room. It makes me wish for the green line back in boston.
Unfortunately other than the train theres not a lot to update. Our new suits took about 3 days to complete and we've spent the past 2 days relaxing and sitting on the beach which you can see from our hotel room in the pic above.
After the train tonight we'll jump on a bus over to Cambodia just in time. Its there New Year celebration this weekend. Updates to follow and until then Happy New Year. Wish us luck on the soft sleeper tonight.
-Alex
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