The first thing that gathered our intention was how foggy it was outside or was it smog? Through scientific research, by none other than investigative journalist Siemen, we were informed that the air quality here was sixteen times worse than the acceptable limit. The smog wasn’t the only thing pressing down on us. The heat hit us hard and within moments, sweaters were flying through the air.
We were surprised by the chaos at the customs. The queues were enormous, resulting in the group scattering out to pick the quickest queue through customs. Siemen, using his journalist instincts, was the first the clear immigration. Together, we went looking for our baggage. After he decided to retrieve a shirt form his suitcase, he struggled to open it. He discovered he had the wrong black suitcase, luckily for him the one that was identical was still there and did belong to him.
After regrouping at the Burger King, our adventure truly began. We navigated through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City in a fleet of taxis, the drivers honking their way through a sea of scooters. By the time we checked into the hotel the group split up, with everyone setting out to explore.
I joined a group determined to visit the Independence palace. Its architecture did not really stood out to any of us. From there, we walked towards Asia’s version of the Notre Dame Cathedral. However, a minor hiccup appeared, our self-appointed tour guide, Peer. Did not tell any of us that the cathedral would be in scaffolding. He redeemed itself by leading us to a lively street food market.
Back at the hotel, the evening’s plans were announced: dinner at 6:45 PM sharp. Caj proposed a surprising choice of selecting a vegetarian restaurant. Upon arrival, we were politely directed to the upper floor. Regardless, the vibe was positive and filled with laughter. Guus delivered a piece of wisdom: “Roommates shouldn’t eat the same dish, since there is only one toilet in a room.” We even spotted some wildlife crawling into the neighbour’s kitchen. Straight after dinner, everyone went to bed.
And so ended our first day in Vietnam, filled with heat, chaos, laughter and adventure.