Good Morning!

[Thai]

Good Morning, from Vietnam!!

Hey all, i am currently vacationing in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon; former capital of South VN--the "good" side). I am also taking a tour of Hanoi (capital of VN).

Moderators: thanks for keeping the site running smoothly!

Have a good day,
Thai.

Damn, i miss my 4runner and M3.

 

[Wai]

:hello:
Have fun over there in Vietnam. Take some pictures and post it here. I've never been there before and am curious to see how it looks like.

Pics of pretty girls too if possible.

 

[HiluxSurfBMX]

Sweet!! Have fun!
I'll post some pics of my new truck as soon as I get the truck back!! Damn A/C!!

 

[peter78]

Wow, Vietnam. When you get back write a little about it to us.. Such as, do they have electricity, cars, a middle class, anything. I must admit I know nothing aobut it since the mid-70's. Take it easy over there.

 

[Wai]

Such as, do they have electricity, cars, a middle class, anything.

You made it sound like US is the only place that has TV and flush toilets?

Having lived in Asia for yrs, and still go back for vacation every now and then, I must say that the US is actually the one falling behind.

I'm not saying Vietnam is highly developed. I haven't been there myself, but at least give them some credits for having electricity. :

 

[peter78]

I'm not saying Vietnam is highly developed. I haven't been there myself, but at least give them some credits for having electricity. :

I remember when the USSR fell and a bunch of us at work were invited over there. When you get outside of Moscow, the electricity was on for a couple hours in the morning and then turned off for about 10 hours. Restaurants, meat markets had to do without electricity. Food was simply left out at room temperature. There were no restrooms or stores on the way to the towns. The bush on the left was the womens, oh yes bring toilet paper. That was 15 years ago, I wonder if it had gotten better or worse.

I know at the end of South Vietnam, people were ordered to leave the cities. I am serious, do they have electricity, never take anything for granted.

 

[Thai]

Hey all,

To answer a few questions:

1. Yes, there is electricity. Thus, i am able to visit this forum from Hanoi and Saigon.

2. In big cities of VN, there are plenty of scooters & motorcycles. In addition, there's a significant amount of SUVs (new & old Land Cruisers, older Pajero, and a few others that do not make it to USA).

3. Most of the SUVs have 3-row of seating...from what i can see, all of them have it! It's big down here...i guess to stuff in as much people as possible in the overcrowded streets of VN.

4. No 4runners seen! This is very surprising, and i am not sure why. Maybe the new Prado (aka GX470; thus 4runner's sibling; remeber that the 4runner is a US product only) hasn't made it down here. The older 4runners do not have 3rd row seating...thus, maybe less desirable????

Cost does not appear to be the problem as to why i didn't see any Prado. Most Land Cruisers are of the new body style (LC100). However, a few of them have solid front axle (like the prior generation). Most have the 4.5L 6-cylinder model (like the prior generation). I saw one TLC with the new V8. It's interesting how other nations get so much variety in their models.

5. There are plenty of Toyotas, including Camrys and Corrolla and other variants. Daewoo and Hyundais are plentiful.

6. Motorcycles/scooters rule VN streets. Driving is crazy down here...people cutting off others. But, no one is angry...it's part of driving in VN's overcrowded streets! No middle finger.

7. In the smaller parts of VN, high pressure water, hot water, and electricity are a bit harder to come by.

8. No central A/C. Most are portal units, even in the fancy hotels.

9. There are plenty of outside markets...no A/C. Most markets are outside.

10. There are also regular restaurants with A/C.

11. Toilet paper is everywhere and plentiful. Quality is another question however.

12. As with most 2nd and 3rd world nations, the rich gets richer and the poorer gets poorer. So, there's a big gap between the rich and poor. Middle class is a small group.

Hope this answers some questions.

Have a good day from Hanoi...will be back to the "good" side tomorrow (aka Saigon),
Thai.

 

[saigon1965]

Hey Thai,

It's been three years since I've been back home, how is the weather? Did you get a chance to visit Halong Bay? How did you like the huge international airport in Hanoi? I just got a call from a cousin of mine in Saigon on thursday, he is using voice over internet to call us, and man is it cheap for him. Anyways, I miss home, have a great time in Saigon and be careful.

 

[Thai]

Saigon,

Yup, i visited the bay. It's beautiful...my brother took some pics...will post them when i get back.

The Hanoi airport is much better than the Saigon's. It is 1-2 years old i think. It's very nice.

Weather is about as good as it gets in Saigon...still a little bit hot during the day in Saigon. However, in Hanoi, it's perfect during the day and a bit chilly at night.

Sa Pa was just cold! But, it's scenery is just breathtaking!

Thai.

 

[jharris2]

Gee, while you're on vacation, your moderator is in Sydney and Singapore!!

 

[saigon1965]

Thai,

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time there, I use to live in Saigon near Cho Lon on the street's name now is 3 thang 2 before 1975 it was name Tran Quoc Toan. Things happen over there so fast and changes so fast. By chance were you in Saigon when the US Navy ship was in port? I read some reports here that our Navy boys were having a good ole time there with all the girls. Anyways, enough of my reminiscent. Take care.

 

[Thai]

Saigon, i came after the US Navy ship. I have been in VN for about a week.

John, welcome to Asia! At least, we still have Peter and Mike to hold up the forum while we're overseas!

Have a good day.

 

[jharris2]

John, welcome to Asia! At least, we still have Peter and Mike to hold up the forum while we're overseas!

Glad to be here, although my trip is for work.

Sydney is a nice place, and the people have all been very friendly. Would probably be a good place to vacation, except it's 24 hours travel time from home, plus 17 hours time change. Leave Friday afternoon, arrive Sunday morning...where did Saturday go?

Singapore will be a good experience, too. Trying to make sure not to catch SARS while there, though.

 

[Thai]

Correction: i saw two Toyota Prado the past two days in VN. One of them was indeed the new GX-lookalike. It is the same inside as the Lexus GX (same console, 3-row seating, leather; but no Mark Levinson nor navigation; center console had a pseudo-aluminum trim). The only difference was that it had the 4runner's new 4.0L V6 engine, instead of the V8 (as seen in all Lexus GX models). It also had Dunlop tires.