arriving in Vietnam (1/30/09)

Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, referred to hereon as HCMC) was a bit of culture shock, if you can imagine that. Each place has a different vibe and set of rules. One may begin by feeling anxious and out of place, but a sense of stability and familiarity quickly sets in. Jason almost caused a complete scene when a pushy taxi driver put his hands on our bags before we confirmed that he was our chosen driver. The taxi / tuk tuk drivers in general are about as dog eat dog as any profession you will encounter.

However, arriving in central HCMC was a huge treat. We were initially bummed out to learn that Tet, Vietnamese new year, was just days before our arrival. Luckily, they celebrate in style by having a week long party. So we arrived in HCMC to a true Friday night party! Here are several pictures from that evening.