Let's go to Saigon - January 28, 2018

We planned well preparing for our flight today. Our guide told us that we would be picked up at 11:30 am for our 13:40 flight. The hotel staff advised us the driver and guide would arrive at 11:15 am. Everyone has a copy of our agenda for the entire trip. They know every detail of every day.

We were packed and ready to leave by 10:45 am. Stan was watching TV. I decided to peruse our agenda to remind me of all that might be going on for the next few days. I happened to come across a copy of our Vietnam Airways tickets. OH MY GOD! Somehow the guide and the hotel staff fixated on the arrival time of our flight in Saigon, not the departure time. Our flight was leaving Da Nang at 12:15! The drive to the airport from Hoi An takes an hour! We called the front desk to seek help. They came to get our luggage but didn't know what to do. They were just going to send us to the airport. They made calls and reported, yes, we confirmed your flight is at 12:15! That WE KNEW!

They said they tried to call the travel agency but got no answer. I gave them Phia's number and asked them to call him for me. I was only a little agitated, especially since they kept saying, "yes, your flight is at 12:15." Once they reached Phia, all **** broke loose!

They got a car and guide to the hotel in minutes and we left the hotel at 11:40. Again remember, our flight was scheduled to depart at 12:15! The boss must have told our driver his hair was on fire! Our ride was crazier than a carnival thrill-ride. The driver used the horn the whole way. He swerved in and out of heavy automobile, big truck and motorbike traffic. He passed cars using the left lane, facing oncoming motorbikes and cars. He passed cars on the right. He went off-road at times. I thought surely we would smash into something. It was very unnerving. Stan and I just sat there in the back seat, seatbelts buckled and saying nothing; just holding on. We made it to the airport at 11:55. A travel agent representative was waiting for us. He had already checked us in for our flight and printed our checked-baggage tags. He grabbed one bag and literally ran with it to the luggage counter. By the time that bag was on the conveyor belt, we caught up with him and loaded the other bag. He breathed a big, vocal sigh of relief and said good bye! An airline employee rushed us to security. We put our stuff in bins and took off our shoes and passed through. We literally ran bare-footed to our gate just as they were announcing final call for passengers. We made the flight. Stan put on his belt and shoes on the airplane. Between the stress, frustration, aggravation and fear, we were toasted.

An hour and a half later we were in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Another guide, Sinh, and driver picked us up at the airport and drove us through the city to our hotel. Saigon is the most developed city in Viet Nam. It is the country's commercial center; it is modern and progressive, All that is to say is has grown as best it can under Communist government. We did mini-city tour by car and stopped at Thien Hau (we are growing tired of temples) built in the early 19th century to honor the Goddess of the Sea. She helps fishermen and sailors.

It appears that capitalism is very much alive here. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) is actually a very beautiful city with tall buildings overlooking the Saigon River and street-side vibrant restaurants and exclusive, expensive shops. But recall, we are in the city center where one sees the biggest and best. We are looking forward to seeing more.

Our hotel is fabulous! It's over 100 years old but recently renovated floor to ceiling. It is grand, magnificent and staffed to please. I think it is quite possibly the best and most beautiful hotel we have ever visited.

We rested for a bit . . . I wrote about yesterday's experience in Hoi An. Then we grabbed a taxi to a huge computer store that had been recommended to us as one which might be able to repair our computer. Stan took the device in and I waited in the taxi, thinking he'd be right back. His stay in the store took a little longer than expected. I think I sat in the taxi may 10-15 minutes. When he returned to the taxi, he returned with the laptop --- fully repaired. They did it on the spot! Wow!

The taxi driver whisked (that's a joke! . . . traffic was wild) back to the Hotel Majestic Saigon. We took a short walk, bought ourselves a bottle of wine and ordered room service. Enough! Enough for today!