The breakfast was egg, toast bread with butter and jam, and coffee/tea. Woke up late this morning and we missed to sun rise but never minded. It was nice curling up in the air-conditioned room where outside was hot and humid but glad it was like that rather than raining as it could hamper the trip due to poor visibility.

That morning was just cruising around for more sightseeing. We bade goodbye to the Vietnamese family and the doctor as they left for a stay on the beach which was part of the 3-day package. The rest of us stayed on our boat waiting for other people to come on board before headed back to harbour. That was the end of our trip. Therefore, for those who has not much time, 1-day trip is recommended because the following day doesn’t really have much activity other than sight seeing.

Before going back to Saigon, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the harbour and that place was hot. To matter worse, the generator wasn’t working while we were having lunch, so there was no electricity. I’ve never sweated so much while eating before. We had a typical Chinese-ish lunch but the conversation at the table was interesting. For example, we get to know that Tom and Kim sold their bike and car, and quited their jobs to travel – for a whopping one year continuously! If they were still talking at the end of their travel, they would get married. Then there was the French guy about his life and travel. It was nice to get to know them and we took a picture for remembrance.

We were then cramped, with all our luggage, into a van for the journey back to Saigon. I had more conversation with Kim about things in general. She was nice to talk to. Most people including myself slept on the way back. Upon arrival, we got down near Dong Xuan market area. Jesse bought a belt. We wanted to shop more but the shops were already closing at 5pm. So we wandered aimlessly around, occasionally stopping for a cold drink and snack. At one corner we had a bread stick (RM0.80 one) that looked simple but quite delicious. Then at the other corner, we stumbled into the best kebab I ever tasted. We sat down and ate 1-kg of lychee (RM2 – 3 per kg) before wandering the crowded market area with bags on our back. We continued to walk about, mindless of destination because we couldn’t go back to Ha’s place yet as she was still at her aunt’s place. She asked to wait for cue to go home and we obeyed. Anyhow, through this way, we actually get to experience the city and the hawker food, including the dessert (see picture). When we reached a park in the city, the sky was already darkening. Albeit tired and dirty, we had each other for company – chatting, joking and playing ‘chi ku pak’. After what felt like 10 years homeless in a foreign land, finally we were allowed to go back, yea!!

We were introduced to Ha’s cousin, who was back from the States doing her internship. We clicked almost instantly and the way she talked showed maturity and intelligence. She said fast food made her fat and she’s getting fatter, when it clearly wasn’t. Sigh, what’s wrong with Vietnamese girls? But then again, girls are always like that, right?? Kelvin was most manly to push the bike for her all the way to the junction, where we hailed for taxi. There we parted ways as we were going for night market, and she had to finish her report. Sad that we didn’t take a picture for remembrance. Wuwuwu~

Da came to join us as the night market. How nice it was to see him again, and we’re glad that our ‘pasar malam’ outing gave them a chance to see each other. They were quick into their own sweet world so we asked them not to worry about us and we walked separately. The night market was so long that it seemed endless. We bought more things, then it was closing time before we managed to see the end. We met up with the sweet couple and went for supper at a stall – beef noodle (again). It was nice nevertheless but again we were sweating while eating. Seating place by the stall was low because we sat on stool. Da insisted to foot the bill for us, again. After that, we left for home and they had a teary goodbye. Nah just joking, they just embraced and said goodbyes.

What surprised us when we got back was a bunch of goodies for us. Earlier, her mum and Lynh went and bought us each two packets of tea and cashew nuts, and 3-kg of lychee. And they wouldn’t accept us paying for them, saying it was a gift to bring home. So generous of them. We felt bad but grateful. We kept pushing money to Ha, but she just wouldn’t take it except for the flight expense. That night, we all chatted in the room way into the wee hours. That’s when we got to know her more, and liked her even more.