Comments on: Meet an Expert: Saigon http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:16:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Hal Amen http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3771 Hal Amen Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:23:56 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3771 Wow Carlo, that sounds bad. My wife and I hit up Dalat and the coast from Saigon to Hue in 2006 and didn't encounter any of this. We were on bikes though--by definition more independent. Wow Carlo, that sounds bad. My wife and I hit up Dalat and the coast from Saigon to Hue in 2006 and didn’t encounter any of this. We were on bikes though–by definition more independent.

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]]> By: Carlo http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3769 Carlo Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:44:38 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3769 To start it's not just my experience, I've talked to many, many travelers who've experienced the same thing. For an independent traveler it's tough. If you are happy going with the flow, then I'm sure it's a much more pleasurable experience. In a nutshell, it was near impossible to get off the tourist track. Trying to do things on your own is extremely difficult. We were constantly lied to and ripped off - which is nothing new I know, but the level of it was some something we never experienced before. We had just been through Russia and around China with no real issues. In Hanoi we were evicted from a hotel because we refused to buy package tours through them (after this, for each hotel we stayed in we made clear that we were not buying any tours through them). We were promised things in Sapa that were reneged. Local buses, even when they had signs clearly posted for price, were trying to charge us 5 times the price. Etc, etc. All the way to Saigon. Once we hit the Mekong Delta it was much different. We pretty much did everything independently and had a much easier and relaxed time. Until then it felt like we were fighting against the current. We eventually just succumbed and let ourselves be swept up in it, which apparently is the only way to keep your sanity there. To start it’s not just my experience, I’ve talked to many, many travelers who’ve experienced the same thing. For an independent traveler it’s tough. If you are happy going with the flow, then I’m sure it’s a much more pleasurable experience.

In a nutshell, it was near impossible to get off the tourist track. Trying to do things on your own is extremely difficult. We were constantly lied to and ripped off – which is nothing new I know, but the level of it was some something we never experienced before. We had just been through Russia and around China with no real issues.

In Hanoi we were evicted from a hotel because we refused to buy package tours through them (after this, for each hotel we stayed in we made clear that we were not buying any tours through them). We were promised things in Sapa that were reneged.

Local buses, even when they had signs clearly posted for price, were trying to charge us 5 times the price. Etc, etc. All the way to Saigon.

Once we hit the Mekong Delta it was much different. We pretty much did everything independently and had a much easier and relaxed time.

Until then it felt like we were fighting against the current. We eventually just succumbed and let ourselves be swept up in it, which apparently is the only way to keep your sanity there.

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]]> By: joshywashington http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3761 joshywashington Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:17:32 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3761 I am interested to hear your take on Vietnam Carlo... what was your experience? I am interested to hear your take on Vietnam Carlo… what was your experience?

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]]> By: Carlo Alcos http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3728 Carlo Alcos Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:05:45 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3728 I have a somewhat different take on Vietnam! But I think it must be different if you actually live there. I have a somewhat different take on Vietnam! But I think it must be different if you actually live there.

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]]> By: joshywashington http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3727 joshywashington Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:43:09 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3727 Hal you make me blush you 'ol devil! Geez, reading this I can almost smell the Pho! Thanks for the blessed write up Hal. Vietnam has a way of seeping into your pores, it stays with you. I find myself thinking of my time in Saigon, the smells, chaotic streets, the friends and frantic days spent blogging. Anybody who expresses interest in teaching English I always say go for it. I just showed up, no plans and planted myself in Saigon for six months. Builds character ;) peace Hal you make me blush you ‘ol devil!
Geez, reading this I can almost smell the Pho!
Thanks for the blessed write up Hal.
Vietnam has a way of seeping into your pores, it stays with you. I find myself thinking of my time in Saigon, the smells, chaotic streets, the friends and frantic days spent blogging.

Anybody who expresses interest in teaching English I always say go for it.
I just showed up, no plans and planted myself in Saigon for six months.

Builds character ;)
peace

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]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadortrips.com/meet-an-expert-saigon/comment-page-1#comment-3719 Hal Amen Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:22:21 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=3010#comment-3719 Your recent piece on the Notebook was amazing, Josh. I hope you'll share more narratives from Southeast Asia soon. Your recent piece on the Notebook was amazing, Josh. I hope you’ll share more narratives from Southeast Asia soon.

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