More Reasons to Love Vietnam

We’ve made our way to Thailand but there are a few last thoughts on Vietnam that we want to squeeze in.

1. In Vietnam, we’re fat.  Both Gully and I have repeatedly had the shameful experience of being laughed out of the store when we ask for an item of clothing in our size.  Or the shameful experience of watching the shopkeepers dig for ten minutes through their storerooms of clothing for one pair of jeans in our size, and usually the jeans are circa 1992 (the last time they had a fat customer).  Or for me, the shameful experience of digging through the size 26 jeans, looking for a bigger size, only to realize that I was looking through the men’s jeans and I was still too fat for them.

2. In Vietnam, every day is Christmas day.  Without fail, every hotel we stayed at was festively decorated with Santas, tinsel, ‘Merry Christmas!’ signs, mistletoe, etc etc.  Many bars and restaurants too.  What’s up with that?  It’s April! Someone please explain this one to me.

3. In Vietnam, stray dogs are few and far between.  All our avid blog readers will know that we love to talk about stray animals in our blog.  It’s a passion.  So why aren’t there any stray dogs here?  We think it’s because they eat them.  I say good riddance.

4. In Vietnam, they are looking for good ESL teachers.  Check out this picture of our impromptu English class in Hanoi.  We were just sitting in the park on a Sunday afternoon, minding our own business, when we got accosted by hordes of eager university students, practically begging to try out their English skills on us.  They were particularly happy that we spoke ‘American’ instead of ‘British’, because they wanted American accents.

Gully & Elise's Class of 2011!!!

Vietnamese lady selling street wares

Gully selling street wares

So on to Thailand.  We stopped long enough at the Bangkok airport to grab a McD’s burger, then headed straight for the islands.  There we met up with a couple of my friends, kicked back with a cocktail or two and relaxed in the warm tropical breezes.  What a welcome change after the frantic pace of Hanoi.
-E

 

Another country, another motorbike

Thai island sunset

Thai island after sunset