DAY 13 Southeast Asia: Wonders of Cambodia, Vietnam & the Mekong
Today marked our final day with the Emerald tour group, and it unfolded at a slower, more reflective pace. We woke early to get ready and enjoy breakfast at the hotel, an experience in itself. It was the most elaborate hotel breakfast I’ve ever seen, offering everything imaginable for both American and Asian tastes.
After breakfast, Chris decided to walk to Mass at Basilica of Our Lady of Saigon (also known as Notre Dame Cathedral). It is about ten minutes away from our hotel. I chose to join the planned city overview excursion, which included stops at the cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and the Reunification Presidential Palace, also known as Independence Palace (formerly known as the South Vietnamese Palace). Though it was a bus tour, we got off at each destination to explore.
We began at Notre Dame Cathedral, but due to ongoing exterior construction, we couldn’t go inside. From there, we walked to a nearby street vendor for traditional Vietnamese coffee, a cold brew made with condensed milk, coffee and ice. I passed this time, but it looked wonderful and will definitely be on the list for tomorrow. We strolled through the city’s colonial quarter and saw the Opera House among other sites noting how the French influenced a lot the city’s design and architecture since it was a colony and part of French Indochina from the late 1880s until 1954.
Next, we visited the historic post office, where we browsed and shopped. I picked up a fan for $3, which quickly proved essential as the temperature climbed. By about 8:30 a.m., we were back on the bus, heading to the palace. There, we learned more about the Vietnam War, the evacuations and the political history of the country, including the site where the last of the resistance was evacuated. Images of the building were seen around the world on April 30, 1975, when tanks stormed the gates as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese. It was sobering and informative, adding another layer to everything we’d seen and learned.
We returned to the hotel around 11:30 a.m. and rested briefly before heading out for lunch. Just a few blocks away, we stumbled upon a restaurant another couple had recommended. We shared a margarita pizza, Chris enjoyed a smoothie, and I sipped a berry iced tea. It was simple, satisfying, and just what we needed.
Back at the hotel, I took a nap while Chris relaxed, and later we headed to the pool. I swam a few laps and read my book, savoring the quiet and the chance to slow down after so many full days.
In the evening, we met the tour group one last time for a farewell dinner at a local Vietnamese restaurant. Once again, we were treated to a beautiful six-course meal. Everything was delicious, but the sea bass stood out, and Chris’s coffee with marshmallow, which tasted like hot cocoa, was a surprising favorite.
We lingered over our final moments together before returning to our room just after 9 p.m. The day ended quietly, watching a Jurassic Park movie.
Special thanks to Dream Vacations Lay Vacations and Chris Lay for arranging this trip. They did a fantastic job and we highly recommend them! https://www.facebook.com/LayTravelGroup/
More to come as we explore Ho Chi Minh City on our own over the next seven days and attend our friend Nhi’s wedding!
Day 13 PHOTOS: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XwjtwYZfUEd6PHks9