Prior Experience

My previous trips to Vietnam happened 16 and 12 years ago. On my first trip, I was 17 years old. I could go into details about my experience (but I'll save myself from repeating all of the embarrassing details of a teenager). I do remember stepping off the plane and getting hit by the humidity and heat, and a very distinct smell that I've grown to associate with the country. I do miss this smell.

It was July of 1996 when I first arrived to Sa`i Go`n. I was shocked & surprised by the poverty and unprepared to see the stark contrasts between rich and poor, side-by-side. And the religiousness of both the country and my family. I spent four weeks traveling with my family (American and Vietnamese) from Saigon to Rat Gia, to Da Lat and back to Saigon. At the beginning of that trip, I wanted to go home after just a week. By the end of it, I could have easily stayed another month. The food was amazing, among my favorite dishes were a caramelized pork dish called thịt kho eaten at a tiny road-side restaurant on the way from Saigon to Da Lat and another called Ba'nh Xe`o in Saigon.

Four years later, I returned to Saigon, with my sister and two friends. We spent two weeks in Nha Trang and two weeks in Saigon. We did some charity/volunteer work with the indigenous folks in the mountains by Nha Trang and then my sister and I spent two weeks with my family in Saigon. I developed a taste for soda chanh (lemon soda) and also was introduced to an amazing dish call Banh Trang Phoi Xuong (thin sheets of rice dried over bones, used to wrap vermicelli noodles, boiled pork, herbs & dipped with an aromatic fish sauce).

The experiences from both trips were so memorable, though I'm sure my memory of them has changed over time. This time, I'll keep this blog to help me organize my memories & experiences.

I'm curious to see what it'll be like as an adult female, traveling in Vietnam. Partly by myself, partly with family, partly with friends, and mostly with Rob. A different perspective, a different experience. 16 years after my first trip, I'm sure I won't be able to recognize any of the places I've visited before. And I'm eager to try some of the dishes from my last trip as well as a few more dishes that are my favorites even here in the states.