Nha Trang, Saigon and the end of Vietnam

Travelling throughout Vietnam is really easy. For one, you can pretty much book a ticket anywhere on almost any type of transportation. At many of the "cafes" in Vietnam, you can book a ticket, rent a room, and grab dinner all in one place. Plus there are a variety of options when traversing Vietnam. The cheapest and one of the easiest ways to travel is by using the Open Bus ticket. For a measley $30, you can travel from Hanoi to Saigon or vice versa (Roughly 1700 km or 1020 miles) and you can stop in six cities in between, not too shabby. The buses are full size buses and although they aren't the most comfortable of rides, you just can't beat the price. (I think $30 on a greyhound bus will only get you to Bakersfield and who wants to go to Bakersfield).

After taking an overnight bus from Hoi An, I arrived in Nha Trang. Nha Trang is roughly the halfway point between Hanoi and Saigon and it is a mid-size city with great beaches. When I arrived, I was greated with hot weather and clear blue skies. It's a hard life but someone has to live it. I liked Nha Trang not only because of the weather and the beaches but because it has something for everyone - nice beaches and warm sea water, a plethora of bars and clubs to visit and a variety of places to eat seafood, local food and different ethnic foods. I spent my days chillin' on the beach and the nights visiting different restuarants and bars. I also took a day tour of some of the islands just off the coast of Nha Trang. Not a bad way to spend a couple of days in Vietnam.

Next up was Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon. I arrived after an overnight bus from Nha Trang and the weather was hot and humid. My stay in Saigon was very short, just two days but while I was there I visited the War Remnant Museum formerly named the American War Crimes museum and Cu Chi Tunnels which are about 50 km outside of Saigon. The War Remnants Museum had a lot of interesting pictures of the Vietnam war and it had an interesting exhibit about the effects of Agent Orange, Napalm and chemicals that were used during the war. The Cu Chi tunnels were a maze of tunnels that were built during the war. The tunnels ran for miles and had different levels and size rooms throughout them. They were an amazing work. Of course, two days in Saigon is not enough time to experience the city, but I will be heading back to Saigon in early May to meet up with my old roommate and just hang out.