Vietnam adventures

Vietnam!

The land of pho, motorbikes, and the never-ending sound of beep beep that reminds me way too much of Cairo. We’ve been here for almost two weeks, and our home base has been the buzzing, chaotic, borderline overstimulating Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, depending on whether you're chatting with a local)

The first thing you notice in Saigon? The scooters. Thousands of them, maybe even millions, everywhere, moving in what can only be described as a symphony of chaos. Crossing the street in Vietnam is super easy. You can do it anywhere, anytime, no one really cares. Exactly like Cairo.

The War Remnants Museum

Next up, we decided to lighten the mood by visiting the War Remnants Museum (hint: sarcasm). If you’re ever in the mood to have your soul crushed while simultaneously learning about history, this is the place for you. The exhibits are powerful, horrifying, and thought provoking. By the end of it, we were emotionally drained and questioning humanity in general. Highly recommend. But do bring your own fan and oxygen tank. I think cheap entry tickets equals no AC. We literally could not finish the whole museum. You couldn't breath..

Cu Chi tunnels

We decided to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, because nothing screams "fun travel activity" like voluntarily crawling through a claustrophobic hole in the ground.

These tunnels, built by the Viet Cong during the war, are impressive feats of engineering and endurance. But honestly, the only thing I was engineering was an escape route back to fresh air. How people lived down there for years without screaming, "Nope, not for me," is beyond comprehension.

Luckily I am tall enough that I could not make the whole 100 meter tunnel. The tunnel gets more narrow the further you go. I did exit the tunnel after 20 meters. Laura managed to crawl till the end. 

The Markets

Markets in Vietnam are quite different from Thailand or another country for that matter. Not a very pleasant experience. We learned that some Vietnamese are perhaps not used to tourist yet. Sure, the people are super nice. But, at the markets it feels like they only see you as walking dollar bills. 

Now, I do realise that of course you, as a salesperson want to make a sale. But the way they treat you in these markets are terrible. As soon as you even dare to look in the other direction than their products. They will use very disgusting language. Do not use microphone translator inside the markets. Better not knowing what they are saying to you.

The Food: Banh Mi, Pho, and Everything in Between

If there’s one thing that never let us down in Vietnam, it was the food. Forget fancy restaurants, some of the best meals we had were on tiny plastic stools, surrounded by the hum of motorbikes and sizzling woks.

Banh mi was an instant favorite. A crispy baguette stuffed with pate, fresh herbs, pickled veggies, and whatever protein you choose, it’s simple but ridiculously flavorful.

And then there’s pho. A bowl of pure comfort, packed with fragrant broth, tender slices of beef or chicken, and fresh herbs. We quickly learned that pho isn't just food in Vietnam, it’s a ritual. The balance of flavors, the customization with lime and chili, the slurping, every bowl was an experience. 

Saigon versus other cities

Vietnam was a destination we had eagerly anticipated, yet our first impression of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) left us caught somewhere between fascination and frustration.

Still, the contrast to other cities we’ve loved is striking. Bangkok has its chaos, but it feels more organized, more playful. Kuala Lumpur balances its hustle with green spaces and gleaming infrastructure. Dubai dazzles with its futuristic sheen, and Cairo’s history takes center stage, grounding its rough edges in a sense of timelessness. Saigon, on the other hand, feels like it’s still finding its balance, a city in motion, defined by its relentless pace and raw authenticity.

It’s not what we expected, both for better and for worse. Saigon challenges you, demands your attention, and leaves you wondering whether you love it or are simply trying to survive it. Either way, it’s an experience, and one we’ll remember long after we’ve moved on.

Vietnam has left its mark on us 

Much like the relentless beeping of its motorbikes. It’s a place that forces you to adapt, to move with the current rather than against it. Whether we loved it or simply endured it, one thing’s for sure, we won’t forget it.

But as the saying goes, onto the next adventure! With our bags packed and our minds still buzzing from the chaos of Saigon, we’re setting our sights on Indonesia. First stop, Bali. Let’s see if the island of gods offers a much needed contrast, perhaps a slower pace, a bit of zen, and maybe even a beach sunset or two. Or, knowing us, we’ll find ourselves in some unexpected adventure.

Either way, here we go!

And of course.. some photos from Vietnam!

Rooftop garden

One is alive

a tree and a church

One random morning, Tomi smiled.

There are soo many cafes in Saigon