The one about Vietnam - Thailand

Last week I went on a solo trip, to two nearby countries, Vietnam and Thailand. The Vietnam trip was actually planned since last year – I bought cheap ticket during last year’s budget airline promo. Then I added Thailand to my itinerary, just because I missed my Thai friends and haven’t met them ever since we left UK.

It’s also my first time travelling solo to non English speaking country. Well I’ve travelled solo to Singapore before, but that doesn’t count, does it?

Now let me tell you my story.. 

Day 1 – Ho Chi Minh.

I arrived at around 7 PM, went straight to my hostel in Pham Ngu Lao street.  The street is a popular backpackers destination located in the city centre. My hostel, Saigon Backpackers Hostel, is located in an alley, but still easy to find. It’s a small but clean and neat hostel, with very friendly hotel staff. I came across this hostel when I was browsing hostels in Agoda.com, and when I got there, the place looks exactly like in the pictures. Nice!

I went out and meet my Couchsurfing friend Kiendung straight after I put my luggage and freshen up. He and his friend, Thien, took me for a Pho dinner then a little sightseeing around city centre with their motorbikes. They said that motorbikes are the fastest and most convenient way to get around Ho Chi Minh! (which is sort of true.. I saw motorbikes everywhere….)

Day 2 – Ho Chi Minh.

Woke up early, had a shower and ate breakfast at the hostel. Btw, my hostel room rate did include free breakfast! I got to choose between Vietnamese noodle and Vietnamese bread (Sort of baguette). I chose the bread.

Okay so afterwards I went to join a half-day trip to Cu Chi tunnel, located about 2 hour drive from Ho Chi Minh’s city centre. Cu Chi tunnel was built during the Vietnam war, the rest you can check in Wikipedia :) anyway… I didn’t really like it. It was awesome, really, but I guess it’s just not for me. I got chills listening to the tour guide explaining us how the deathly trap, made by the Viet, worked. I guess I’m not the war-enthusiastic type. But I did try to walk through the tunnel (a 100m replica – made for tourists, the original was too small for us to walk through), so it was quite an experience!

After I got back from the trip, I spent some time around Pham Ngu Lao street, it’s a busy area with lots of tourists, similar to Kuta road in Bali. Then I met Quyen at night, for dinner (another Pho dinner! Yay!) and a walk in the town centre. She was my classmate back in UK, so it was good to catch up with her. 

Day 3 – Ho Chi Minh.

Last day in Ho Chi Minh! I went for a walk to Ben Thanh market, stopped by at the city park to have a rest and just enjoy the green, then I met some local college students. They were really nice! At Ben Thanh market, I met Thu, another Couchsurfing friend. She then took me for a walk to War Remnant Museum, and just sightseeing around. We chatted during our walk, she told me how does living in Ho Chi Minh feels like.

After meeting her, I went back to my hostel and just relax before leaving to the airport for Bangkok. At the hostel I met Lidya, a fellow Indonesian who stayed in the same room as I was. She’s very free spirited and fun to be with, we decided to had lunch together before we parted, as she was going to Da Lat and me to Bangkok. It turns out that her house in Jakarta is quite near my house, so after she’s back on her backpacking trip we might meet again in Jakarta :)

Day 1 – Bangkok.

I arrived at Bangkok at around 8. Pa picked me up and took me to her apartment. After I unpacked a bit and got freshen up, we went for dinner near her house with her friend. We had Thai food and it was delicious! Then on our way back to her apartment, we drove passed a crowded alley, full of lights. I asked her friend about that alley, and he told me that it’s called Soi Cowboy. Yeah, it was that kind of alley. Ever watched Hangover 2? The alley full of bars and sexy girls / lady boys?  Exactly that kind. So we stopped by and had a walk through the alley, just for the experience and some pics hahahaha. Surprisingly weird, the lady boys were reaaaally pretty. :| (and just so you know.. I spent no more than 10 minutes in that alley. True. )

Day 2 – Bangkok.

Today’s the day! Well the whole Bangkok trip idea was to meet my beloved Thai friends from Bournemouth, to have some sort of reunion.. :)

 We started the day early, Me and Pa met up with P’Pooh and Mukkie, and went for a boat ride to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho Temple.  The Palace was just amazing! It was very hot, though, but the decoration, and everything.. was just breathtakingly beautiful. Then we went to Wat Pho Temple to see the giant Buddha Statue. Oh btw, prepare 400 baht for Grand Palace’s entrance fee and another 100 baht for Wat Pho’s entrance fee.  I kinda forgot how much did I pay for the boat ride.. I think it was 80 baht.

In the afternoon we met the others, Susie and Penny for lunch by the river. Another Thai food, but I wasn’t complaining at all, as the food were delish. I didn’t know what we ordered, my Thai friends just ordered everything for us, hahaha all I know was finishing the yummy food :D After some happy eating/ catch up time, we went back to city centre to just hang out at this Tea House in Sukhumvit area. The name’s Agalico.It was very nicee.. all white decoration with a very nice garden, surprisingly cheap!

After tea time, Penny and Mukkie went home, leaving Me, Pa, Susie and P’Pooh. Us girls went for a Thai Massage session at Health Land ( Best two hours in the trip.. heaven!), then together with P’Pooh went for a walk in Ekamai area, stopped for a bubble tea drink in a small café.

I had sooo much fun that day! It was so good to catch up with old close friends, and Bangkok was just awesome. I love the city, it’s a good mixture between Jakarta and Singapore.. love it! 

Day 3 – Bangkok.

My last day of the trip! Also, super quick shopping time.. lol.

Pa took a day off and took me to Platinum Mall, as I wanted to buy some souvenirs. Platinum Mall is very recommended for those who wants a dose of Bangkok cheap shopping. Cute outfits (even bikinis!) can be found from only 150baht. I also bought some souvenirs there.. fridge magnets, keychain and such. Surprisingly, nothing for myself! Not even a T-shirt! Hahaha where did my shopping appetite go?

Anyway, after Platinum World we also went to Central (I actually forgot the name of the mall.. but it’s nearby). Did some sightseeing before finally rushing to the airport. Had lunch there with Pa, then off me go, Goodbye Bangkok.

So.. that’s it. The end of my short getaway. My solo trip, and I can say that I loved it! The trip to me was about meeting people.. and share experiences with them. I will write again about my stories with the people I met during the trip, later when I got more time :)