With this very long holiday, me and my other two colleagues decided to take advantage of this opportunity and visit Vietnam. We left Phnom Penh on Saturday at around 7:30 AM and as expected almost all of the people in Phnom Penh are going to their homeland which cause a heavy traffic in all roads.
Crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam needs to cross Mekong river. The road going to the port wherein a barge is waiting to carry our bus across the river was insanely flooded by buses, cars, motors, travelers, vendors, back packers and everything else. Based on my estimate, it took us 6 long hours of traffic jam in a 10 kilometer route. An original 6 hrs travel from Phnom Penh City to Ho Chi Minh City became a half day, yes, a crazy 12 1/2 hours travel. We arrived in a our final destination at 8:00PM.
Being a lover of long trip, the whole 12 1/2 hours for me was exciting and an adventure. It was my first time to travel this route so everything I see still amazes me. Inside the bus and hearing multi languages spoken by different races added up to my excitement.
About 1 hour after crosssing the Mekong river, I find the towns we are passing by greener and seems cleaner. I am a big fan of green fields or lets just say a fan of natural landscapes. For I know Gods magical hands has a lot to say on this.
We arrived in Bavet City, the Cambodian border before 5 o'clock in the afternoon. As usual, I was in awe to see the area sprouted by big hotels and big casinos. How on earth a thirld world country has the capacity to spend in this kind of luxury. I easily came back to my senses and realized that reality bites. In this thirld world country,same as my home, the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. Survival of the fittest is a common attitude.
We need to stop again in Moc Bai, the Vietnam border to also do some paperworks with the immigration. One thing made me smile to realize that it is indeed convenient for us to travel across Southeast Asia. Thank you for the ASEAN.
After Moc Bai, it gave me goosebumps, to see that the bus is passing by Tay Ninh province. This is the province where I work before. The last time I was here was almost more than 3 years ago. I kept on looking on signages and awaiting to see TRANG BANG INDUSTRIAL PARK, wherein D&F Vietnam (my first company out of the country)is located.
After seeing Trang Bang Industrial Park and passing by the bridge in-front of Cuchi Catholic Church, it brought back to me beautiful memories. Vietnam is the first country I ever traveled. Good and bad memories were still memories that I will treasure. It helps me to grow as a person and helps me to be what I am now.
Seeing the Maxi Mark department store brings back to me my weekends in Vietnam. It is funny to recall that my grocery list includes, Colgate's toothpaste and tootbrush, VinaCafe 3-in-1 coffee, unpopular perfumes and never to forget the dried jackfruit/bananas which I stock in my cabinet and bring home to Philippines as pasalubong.
I am definitely back now in Vietnam. My stay will be short but it will be worthy for sure. It struck me to realize that after 3 years, the progress is very much visible. Ho Chi Minh city is at its best and still growing. Ho Chi Minh City is now cleaner, richer and brighter. Peoples lifestyle is also growing with its nations economy. Never forget to mention that the discipline amongs its citizens has been maintained and even improved a lot. See those motorcyles? Either in the city or in the provinces, everyone is wearing a helmet which you cannot see 3 years ago.
One thing is clear to me, I LOVE TO BE BACK IN VIETNAM ^_^
1 comment:
Ill add this on my list...hehe! hingi ko sayo travel tips next time..
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