So, we have completed the first leg of our trip, and tomorrow morning we leave for Cambodia on a bus that should take more than 8 hours.
Today, we spent most of the day wandering around the downtown area. There are streets full of shops selling Vietnamese handicrafts, and though most sell a lot of the same, we found a few selling unique items which evoke the diverse traditions of this ancient country. We also bought a pile of pirated DVDs.
We also found a camera repairman, who instantly identified the problem, and offered to replace the dying chip with a new one for $90. Expensive, but worth it when compared to the option of finishing our trip without a camera, or buying an entirely new one.
I think both of us have really enjoyed this country. The food is fantastic, and despite the frusturations inherent in travel anywhere, travelling has been relatively effortless.
Vietnam is a difficult country to make close contact with the population. Our interaction has mostly been limited to those with whom we've conducted business - either at stores, hotels, or cafes. It would be stretching it to say that our experience is that the Vietnamese are especially friendly, or at least more friendly than those of any other country. As in most places, there are those who are warm and welcoming, and those who can't be bothered by your presence, and make sure you know that.
However, for us, this has been mainly a time of relaxation. For both us, after two years of working in an international organization in Uzbekistan, we just needed time to decompress, and wandering around cities and lying on beaches without any responsibilities or schedules has fit the bill.
Tomorrow we leave for Cambodia, and will be spending one night in the capital Phnom Penh before embarking to Angkor.
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