Mien Nam

So I must admit: the South was as ridiculously spectacular as everyone kept telling me it would be. The food was amazing, the people were amazing, and the places were amazing. If only we could have spent more time there. I'm thinking maybe a month in Central Vietnam and a month in the South.

The streets of Saigon

I did feel quite silly however visiting Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels exactly the way our readings the previous week described as designed to tell a particular narrative. I enjoyed myself regardless, but it was weird hearing our tour guides and seeing the tour routes that I knew were designed to peak the interests of specifically Western foreign tourists. I'm not sure how the village homestay would fit into that category so that could have been one of our more "authentic" experiences. The Apocalypse Now bar in Saigon that was mentioned in the readings also, was not exactly how the readings described it anymore, and though the music was very good I was still uncomfortable with how many foreigners were interacting with some of the Vietnamese women there. The rest of my Saigon experience was amazing. We explored many parts of the city, but could not get to much of it. I want to go back after the program is over and see more before I leave this wonderful country.

Anh Kuoi (aka greatest tour guide ever) taking us along the Mekong River

My favorite parts of the trip were our experiences along the Mekong Delta and in the Mekong River. Fishing in the traditional style, with us helping by throwing logs out of a net, floating to the fish markets and along the river, discovering trees that go on for hundreds of meters, and exploring bird sanctuaries on boats through water covered in algae. I had heard many things about the beautifully fertile Mekong River and it was amazing to be able to see and dip myself into it. It was really tragic to hear about the rising water level and have Anh Kuoi describe how in 20 years a third of the land will be underwater. How that will affect the dynamics of people living there I do not now know.  I also loved the Cao Dai temple we visited which was a uniquely Vietnamese experience. Sooo interesting that it encompassed Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, and so many other religions into one.  It was beautiful to see so many religions which  clash so often brought together to be combined into something so moving.  It was equally as interesting to see the diaspora of Cham Muslims tucked-away on the Mekong River.  A cultural island in the midst of a larger typically Vietnamese community.
We finished our trip with a visit to Phu Quoc, a tropical island which lies close to both Vietnam and Cambodia. This was paradise. We traveled up and down the island sampling the famous pepper and eating dishes with their famous nuoc mum. The beaches were beautiful and clean with crystal clear waters. A wonderful way to end a wonderful trip. I love the South and the Mekong Delta.