August 26, 2004

On the road...

Mom, chi Mai-Anh, chi Linh, Moon, and I took a tour from Saigon to Nha Trang then through to Da Lat. There were four other families on the tour with us, so the tour company "Van Hoa Viet" piled us into a 25-seat van. For the money that we paid, the 5 days/4 nights trip was rather well organized. They booked hotels for everyone for two nights in Nha Trang, and two nights in Da Lat. Meals were at different restaurants and/or hotel restaurants. It was nice not having to clean or cook.

There isn't anything as disconcerting as being swallowed by a sea of street vendors who want to sell their products. On the road to Da Lat, we had to pass through Deo Quan Muc and stopped at a rest area at the top of the mountain. Even before we got off the tour bus, there were at least four vendors blocking the door, shoving chips and gum and sodas and candies in our faces, begging us to buy. When we decline and walk away, they follow us around. As we took pictures, the kids would say, "Definitely Americans," nodding their heads like none is the wiser for knowing that we're not locals.

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