Thursday & Friday

Erin decided to hit up the morning yoga class, so mom and I met her for breakfast after it was over.  The weather was beautiful, high 70s and sunny, so we decided we would spend our day lounging on our deck/by our pool.  It is so nice and quiet – the only sounds being the fishing boats that may go by (which really makes you feel you are in Vietnam).  Having the two villas will the pool in between is really a special splurge so we each took dips in the pool.  It was cold and the weather isn’t very hot, but it felt so nice to cool off!  And, a pool over water is pretty sweet! We decided to order rooms service because why not eat in our sweet dining room!  Can’t beat the view! 

We spent the whole day lounging and relaxing, it was so peaceful!  Prior to our spa appointment, Erin thought it would be a good idea to eat some ice-cream, because there is nothing worse than being hungry during a massage (see why we bring her places!!!) Such a great idea!  After ice-cream by the pool, we headed off to the spa for a lovely time of some R&R. 

After our spa treatments we walked back to the restaurant for dinner before calling it a night.  When leaving the restaurant we went back to the little bike parking area, only to find there was only one bike (number 3, Mom’s).  We have no idea what happened but figured Erin and I would walk back and call the front desk, but about 10 feet away was a worker who didn’t really speak English but had some bikes in another parking area and motioned for us to have them.  They write your room number on the front (like a white board) and neither of these had numbers on them, but we were happy to have bikes back!

After a good night sleep we have reached our last full day in Vietnam.  We knew it was going to be cloudy and rainy, so had planned to lounge around.  Erin and I took our bikes to get some breakfast (we thought Mom was still sleeping) and then we got a text from her that she was on her way, as it started DOWNPOURING.  

However, because she is awesome and packs everything you could possible need, she showed up unscathed!  

We enjoyed some breakfast before heading back to our room to relax a bit more (there is a roof over some of the front desk so even if it’s raining we can still sit out) and pack up.  We were able to get a late check out which was very nice, and then headed to the restaurant for a late lunch before getting a ride back to the airport. 

We booked a brand new airport hotel for our overnight before heading back home.  I think the hotel is only a year old, as in years past we would have to venture back into the city to find a decent place to stay.  It was so nice to be close and not have to sit in more traffic, noise, etc.

Erin came with me to the pharmacy, as my sinuses have really been bothering me.  The pharmacist didn’t really speak English, but I think (hope!!) I got my point across.  One thing I really like that they do here is instead of giving you a bottle or packet of meds (which may expire before you use them) they just cut out the number of pills you need!  So, I left with 4 different types of pills, all for $1.10!  What a steal!  Fingers crossed they help ease some sinus pressure for the long trip home.

Mom and Erin had gotten glasses (Erin for Scott) and they weren’t going to be ready until Thursday, but since we weren’t back in the city until Friday night – they weren’t sure when they were going to pick them up.  They closed at 7 and we landed at 6:45pm.  The original plan was for them to go in Saturday morning before our flight home, but after Mom thought about it she realized it was going to be pretty crazy to do that.  With the Tet Holiday there is concern about traffic AND it would be at least an hour there and back.  She was able to call and email them and they said they would be able to bring the glasses to the hotel around 8:30pm on Friday night.  It was so nice of them to do that to ease the burden of trying to get them on Saturday!  With glasses in hand, we had a nice dinner (mostly Italian of course) before calling it a night!  We started the 24 hour journey (more for Erin) back home tomorrow!  It has been SUCH a wonderful trip and so special to share it with my favorite ladies, but I think we are all ready to come home <3

Wednesday

We got up for breakfast and finished packing.  I stopped at the front desk to try to explain what we needed to do, which was get a big cab (we have received multiple comments on how much luggage we have) to take us to Nicole’s, wait for us (this part was very important) for my dress fitting, and then continue to bring us to the domestic airport terminal.  You never really know what is going to get lost in translation, sometimes I think I have an awesome conversation and we are on the same page, and it turns out completely different.  I felt confident that the hotel reception understood our plan, so at 9am we were there (with our luggage) and a minivan taxi pulled up. 

The Wilson girls leaving Saigon!

I wish I had a picture of the five, yes FIVE, Vietnamese men loading up our bags.  There was the taxi driver, the man at the hotel who calls the taxi, the bell man, the security man, and another sucker they asked to help (I literally have no idea who he was).  Alas, we were off to Nicole’s for my shell of a dress fitting.  I had no idea what to expect, as I have never tried on a wedding dress shell.  I was hoping it would be somewhat similar to what I had asked for, as I wasn’t really sure what I would do if it was nothing like what I wanted.  It was about a 20 minute drive and I felt confident the taxi understood we wanted him to wait (the not paying him yet might have helped, too) and in we went to Nicole’s to meet with Ni, the same woman who met with us last Friday.  She had a little curtain that she pulled around in the back so I could try on the dress! 

Erin & Mom nervous about seeing the dress!

I actually asked Dan if he wanted to see pictures (if you don’t already know, I don’t care about a lot of the traditional aspects of a wedding, and we will be doing a first look, but alas, Dan must have some tradition in him as he doesn’t want to see.  So, neither can you!)

However, it was so fun!  I panicked a little because the neckline wasn’t exactly what I had asked for.  Now, I would be perfectly happy with whatever I ended up with, but I figured I should provide some decent feedback, especially because Erin and Mom knew what I was looking for. 

Me & Ni!

However, Ni was quick to explain that it was just because it was the first layer, and showed me a picture of what it would look like when finished with additional layers and lace – perfect!  I paid for half the dress my first appointment and then at this appointment I paid for the remaining half of the dress and the cost for it to be shipped to the US.  She said that they are closed next week for Tet, and then it’ll take about 2 weeks for them to do all the final sewing, and then about a week for it to ship!  So exciting!  We have been communicating via WhatsApp as it’s free for us to text each other so before we boarded our flight I texted her just again to say thank you, and her response was so cute! 

 We joked about how she must have been stressed telling her friends/family about work and these three Americans who brought in pictures and were drawing sketches, etc. so hopefully she can rest easy now!

Our cab was waiting and we were on our way to the airport!  We were spoiled to have business class so check in was easy in our own private line.  We learned the first year that flying economy within Vietnam really limits your carry on and checked baggage (both in number of items and weight).  After doing the math of the extra money for the weight and number of our bags, we realized it was often cheaper (and more fun) to book a business class seat so now we live the good life.  The domestic terminal in Ho Chi Minh has actually improved SO MUCH, but it use to be incredibly crowded and hot with limited seating while waiting for a flight, so business also gets you a lounge.  We checked into the lounge, which wasn’t much, but gave us a more relaxed place to sit and wait.  Our flight was a bit delayed, but again, with business it was so nice to skip the line to get on the plane! 

The business class section had 8 seats total and they were just larger than the economy ones.  It was probably one of the oldest plans I have ever been on – it was pretty gross!  But luckily a pretty quick flight (just over an hour) and we landed in Hue.  The airport in Hue is teeny tiny – we were the only plane there!  We got our bags and were greeted by our driver.  It already felt cooler than in the big city!

It was about a 30 minute drive from the airport to the hotel where relaxation could begin!  We sat in the reception and were treated to a warm facecloth and some tea while they checked us in.  Mom and I stayed here 4 years ago and loved it (staying in an overwater bungalow was on my bucket list and this was one of the only places in the world where we could afford it).  Since it is also on Erin’s bucket list we thought it would be a good place to come back!  We are REALLY splurging this year (thanks Mom & Dad) for a double bungalow with our own private pool!  A pool over the water is pretty legit – and this place doesn’t disappoint!  It is beautiful!  AND QUIET!  Ohmigoodness it’s amazing how quiet it is after crazy Saigon! 

Our home!

After the first year Mom and I realized it was too much (physically, emotionally, etc) to go right from the orphanage/Saigon back home.  Also, Vietnam has some beautiful locations, and we thought it would be fun to see some of them (Saigon is beautiful in its own way, I guess???) so we started added on a couple of days at the end for some R&R before returning home.

After getting settled in our room, we decided to take our bikes (how cool right?) to show Erin the peasant pool (I mean the pool for those people who don’t have their own) the restaurant, and spa area. 

We were all starving, so decided to get something to eat, before making spa appointments for the evening!  The spa is beautiful as it is multiple bungalows over the water, so really feels tropical!  Erin and I enjoyed the steam and sauna before we all split up for some R&R.  Granted you pay more at a place like this (and you get what you pay for) this was SO relaxing as there wasn’t the sound of horns, people, cell phones ringing, etc.  It was so wonderful and relaxing!

After we came back to the room to change and then headed back (via bike) to the restaurant for dinner.  Tomorrow will be another beautiful day of R&R! 

Tuesday

I would say this was my first bad night sleep since arriving, mostly because I was waking up every 30 minutes with a combination of “did I oversleep and miss the whole day” and “I am so tired how much longer can I sleep”!

We knew we wanted our day to start early as we needed to hit both “orphanagi”.  Mom and I had talked before this trip about it potentially being our last.  How does one know when to end something like this?  It has been, and continues to be on this trip, such an amazing experience, but it’s also a lot, on so many levels!  I think we are both sort of feeling like the fact that our kids are now split between two locations, and neither of them feel like they have in the past, it may just be time!  Mom asked if I felt sad thinking this could be our last trip, and I don’t really think I do.  I hope and pray that we have given these kids beautiful memories.  And I feel like we don’t have to decide this minute if or when we are coming back.  If in 6 months we feel like we need to, again in a year, or 10 years, then we’ll just come back!

Ok back to our day.  After breakfast we packed up some more supplies for the kids and got a taxi to head to orphanage 2, the older kids.  

Our waiting taxi

The driver had no clue where he was going and had to stop for directions a few times, so finally we just had to direct him!  I don’t really understand how this works, but even on airplane mode maps works on my phone and this orphanage is right near the river so we could get him where we needed to go!  He was very sweet and somehow communicated that he would pick us up if we wanted.  We assumed we would have the woman who spoke some English help us get a taxi again, but the thought of this guy coming back for us (especially since we were on a tight schedule) seemed fantastic!  I didn’t realize it, but he just ended up waiting for us!!!  We joked after that it was probably because he had no idea how to get out of the area and needed us to get him back where he came from!  Anyway, that was so nice and saved us some time of waiting for a taxi.

It is so fun and makes us feel so loved to have most of the kids (but especially Bob and Thoung) run toward us as we come in!  

Today was a little bit different as we had ALL the kids.  This is one of the reasons at the other orphanage we take some of the kids out of the main room as it can be super overwhelming with everyone grabbing and pulling and wanting attention.  The nice thing about this orphanage is there are tables and chairs so it felt a bit more in order.  

Panoramic view of the orphanage

We also got to see some more familiar faces, so it’s nice to know all the older kids are there together.  We had a lot of fun playing together, and then decided we wanted to get to the other orphanage before those kids took their nap, so hopped in our waiting taxi to go back to orphanage 1.  

He struggled a little bit finding it (at one point we were going in reverse down a main road, a first for Erin!) but we managed!

Our kids were just finishing up eating by the time we arrived so it’s was a perfect time to sit down with Kap, George and Dorothy.  Mom and Dorothy are SO BEAUTIFUL together and they have such a fun time playing games on the iPad!  Mom will say all these nice things about me (and now Erin) but she is SUCH A ROCKSTAR!  She will do things I won't - she is down on the ground rolling around in dirt to make the kids laugh and they love her so much!  I am so amazed to see how she interests with them and feel so blessed she's MY mom!  George loved playing with Erin with sounds, and Kap was just causally playing some backgammon.  After everyone gets cleaned up from eating they get organized for naps so it felt like it was our time to go! 

Goodbye hugs!

Yen was very sweet and gave us big hugs (not common in Vietnamese culture).  We headed back for some food and well needed showers!  Erin was in search of a massage, so we made our way out to explore!  The first place we found could only do two neck/shoulder massages but the Wilson’s girls are a packaged deal (see below for our sweet shirts) so we took our business elsewhere!

The Wilson girls!

We felt nice and relaxed after and then made our way to meet up with Long for dinner!  Long works at Christina’s which is a really cool place that started off as an Air BnB and now also does tours and is just getting into the food business as well.  It was so nice to see him and meet all of his work friends and see where he spends most of his time!  It was also awesome (and kind of crazy) to talk about our 10 years (yikes) of memories and all the different friends we have had visit (I am talking about you Jemma, Wullie, Charli and Sarah!) Mom and I always thought it was funny when we hosted more friends in Vietnam than at home!

This is also when we learned that we were among a Vietnamese celebrity in Long, when he explained he was chosen to be on the Best Ever Food Review Show, a YouTube channel with Sonny Side.  He showed us the video and it was AWESOME!  He and Sonny went to a restaurant that served Lobster Pho, whereas most Pho is served with either beef or chicken.  Long was a great host and made us some coffee and tea while we caught up and then we walked about 5 minutes to a place he recommended for Pho (chicken or beef, he said he didn’t particularly care for the Lobster Pho).  The restaurant was packed with locals (always a good sign) but we were able to get a table on the second floor and Long ordered our Pho.  It was so nice to catch up with him and hear all that he has been doing (he is a busy guy) and fill him in with our lives.  He wants to know why our gentleman aren’t with us (I’m looking at you Dan, Scott & Dad!)

BFFs

We learned a little bit about Vietnamese wedding traditions, one being that about a month before your wedding you get dressed up in your wedding dress/suit and go around town taking pictures with your fiancé and photographer.  Then you take your favorite picture and have it blown up and it sits on an easel for when your guests enter your wedding reception.  Dan, I am thinking we need this wedding tradition!!! 

As we were getting ready to walk out of the restaurant I noticed a few non-locals sitting at another table.  All of a sudden one of the girls got up to say hi to Long – I figured maybe she was staying at Christina’s or had been on a tour with him.  However, then the other girl started saying how Long was famous and they had seen him on the Best Ever Food Review Show with Sonny and they are from South Africa but after watching his YouTube they wanted to come to Vietnam!  Um, WHAT!  It was so crazy that we were with such a famous dude!  So, that was pretty cool!

Long got us a taxi back to our hotel so we could pack up for our flight to Hue in the morning. 

Monday - Crisis Adverted, we found our kids!

After breakfast we decided to take a cab to the orphanage, since we had a lot of supplies (and t-shirts) with us.  

All packed up and ready to go!

A few years ago we made t-shirts with pictures of us and the kids (and workers) on them and they were a HUGE hit (with both the kids and workers). 

As you know, we hadn’t seen any of the older kids at the orphanage, specifically our two favorites, Bob and Thoung.  Luckily we had pictures books we had made so we asked Dorothy about them, who asked Yen about them, but since we can’t communicate with Yen, she seemed to say to me “have Long call me and I can explain”.  So I asked Long to ask her and they finally connected yesterday.  Yen said she didn’t know the exact address, but that someone could take us there!!  Fantastic!  Although very vague.  We tried to get a better sense of, was it walking distance?  Taxi?  If taxi, hours away?  If you have been reading my blog since the beginning (first of all kudos to you!) but also you may remember that the first or second time Mom came we met Nicholas, a doctor from California who is half Vietnamese and comes back to volunteer.  After barely meeting the man and him telling us about this second orphanage that older kids go to, we got in a car with him and went to this second orphanage.  Luckily, it didn’t turn into Taken 3 (Taken 4? I don’t even know which number it’s on now) because it probably wasn’t smart of us to follow some stranger, BUT he did take us to a second orphanage where there were older kids and they were learning a trade (I think I remember they were making incense) in the hopes they could make some money and have some type of life.  VERY long story short (and full circle) we thought that maybe this was the same place we had been years ago.

People always ask us what happens to the kids as they get older and we always say we have been told they go to another “older kid” orphanage, but we really didn’t know if this was true.

We were so interested to see how the morning would play out.  We thought that we should stay at orphanage 1 and play with Dorothy and Kap there (they would be so sad if we showed up and then left).  Then, we could make our way to orphanage 2.  But, we didn’t really know who was bringing us, the best time to do it, etc.

So (I know the suspense is killing you!) we show up at orphanage one.  Kap is pumped to see us (George too), and pumped for some of our toys!  

Yen says some Vietnamese things to me (I am not sure why she thought maybe finally I would understand what she’s saying?) and it’s obvious I had no clue what she was saying, but was trying to say yes (yes to either, ok we will go now to orphanage 2 or we will go later, whatever is better).

Then, this angel of a man appeared (Tuan) who works at Intel and apparently taught himself English (literally speaks “mo’ better” than me.  

Our angel!

We literally just looked up and he was there and we asked if he could help us communicate with Yen!  We decided (with his help) that we would leave to go to orphanage 2 right now.  Not only was he able to set this plan in motion, but he was also able to tell Kap and George where we were going (apparently George, who can speak in Vietnamese but very slowly) asked where we were going!  So that made us feel less sad about leaving them.

Yen was able to call a cab and off we went with some man (I know, I know this is really becoming a bad habit).  I honestly don’t know who this guy was, but he has been at the orphanage since we arrived.  I don’t think he is a worker, as he isn’t in the “worker uniform” and there are only female workers, but alas, we trust Yen!

The second orphanage was about 10-15 minutes away by taxi.  They had to stop at one point to ask for directions, but we were happy to see the sign we were in the right place (and Mom and I vaguely remember being there before).  The man who brought us explained to the “security guard” (it seems each orphanage has one although they seem similar to mall cops – nothing against mall cops) what we were doing there.  Then he looked at me, so I gave him cab money to head back to orphanage 1.  Also, as this was happening we were getting hugs from a worker that we have known from orphanage 1 in years past, so it was nice to see a friendly face!  We weren’t really sure if the man who brought us was going to wait for us (which would be weird) but we also didn’t have a plan to get home (spoiler alert: we survived and made it home!) but we were thinking we would give him money for a cab ride back to orphanage 1.  So, I was happy that seemed like a good plan to him!

LUCKILY, after all this work to get there, Bob and Thoung were some of the first kids we saw, as everyone was finishing up their morning meal.  We got huge smiles and hugs which really made the whole trip worth it!  We also recognized some other faces of older kids we knew.  

 
Bob and Thoung were excited for some t-shirts with their faces and also to play with some toys.  An older woman worker started speaking some English and mom and I can’t remember if we met her at the other orphanage.  She definitely wasn’t one of the workers in the main room, but might have been in another room.  It was amazing that she spoke some English because the other worker we knew spoke none.  There were two babies at this orphanage, which somehow landed up with Erin and I!  

This worker also wanted to show us around a bit, so brought us across the dirt road to an area that appears to be under construction, but part of it is completed and is very peaceful as it’s on the river.  I honestly have no idea how to describe it (and I didn’t have my phone to take pictures) but then she just left so Erin and I were sitting at this table with two babies!  Oh, what a life!  We decided to head back to find Mom, who was luckily still there with everyone (and all electronics).  Since these kids are older they really get the games, so it’s fun to watch them really challenge their minds with memory type games. 

Both of our babies fell asleep so we tried to ask the woman where to put them and we followed her to another building (it’s sort of like a compound).  This room was long and there were two older woman in the room resting.  

She said one of them was 85 and blind, and the other appears to be disabled, but she really didn’t say much about her.  In the back were hammocks so we put the babies in there.  My baby was wrapped up like a taco - the top of the hammock was clothes pined shut – it looked so cozy!!!

We went back to hang out with our kiddos, and then the worker we knew (who doesn’t speak English) motioned that they needed to go to sleep (typical for the other orphanage so seemed ok).  

Erin is a ROCKSTAR!  Literally she is amazing!  She is so so SO good with the kids, kind, caring, thoughtful - I am so proud to call her my sister!

Now we had to figure out how to get out of there.  It was clear from our drive in we were not near a main road where there would be taxis just driving by.  I thought the worker might understand the word “taxi” as she saw us come in a taxi, so tried to covey something to the effect of “can you call a taxi for us?”  but that wasn’t getting us anywhere, so my next thought was to try and find the lady who did speak some English.  I went back to the room with the two babies and she was in the hammock feeding one of them.  It took me a few tries (I really should learn how to say taxi in Vietnamese) but she seemed to understand what we needed!  I am still not exactly sure what she did, because she showed me a name and a phone number on her phone, then wrote it down, and then called someone.  I wondered if it was Yen?  Anyway, that seemed to work because she said to wait 5 minutes and a taxi would come.  It was more like 15, but thank the Lord for Vinasun (taxi company) that pulled up!  We were all starving and we knew the kids at the first orphanage would be napping as well, so we decided it made sense to come back to the hotel to eat and then we could go back to orphanage one later (wishful thinking, jokes on us).  

Orphanage 2 is about 10-15 minutes north or orphanage 1, so it was probably 45 minutes back to the hotel (traffic was not bad, wahoo!)  My stomach really never feels great here, so I always crave easy carbs (pizza, pasta).  Ok ok the kids are all a sham I just come to eat Italian for a week!!! 

We decided we would stop at 4Ps to cool down and relax!  I ordered a ginger ale, and it was make your own!  How cool!  

Make your own ginger-ale

I didn’t really know how to get the portions right so it was more like a ginger soda, but it made my stomach feel good!

We came back to the hotel to shower, rest (blog for Julie) with intentions (maybe before eating) to go back out to orphanage one, as we really didn’t spend much time with the kids.  However, almost as exhausting as spending time with the kids is getting to/from the orphanage.  Erin has graciously told us we don’t need to feel guilty or defend our actions to anyone because she said it’s one thing to read about it but another thing to actually do it, BUT I sometimes even feel guilty myself if we aren’t with the kids when we technically could be.  However, we have not been able to find a comfortable place to stay out near the orphanage, which is about 45 minutes away from where we stay.  We have seen a few hostels (rooms above the owners apartment) but there is really no English, and obviously we could survive, but there is something nice and comfortable about coming back to a place where we feel comfortable, have some English/Western things, etc.  Anyway, blah blah blah enough explaining that we didn’t make it back to orphanage 1 in the afternoon as we all needed some cool down/rest time.

Erin was in charge of finding us a dinner location!  Over the years we have heard that District 2 is where a lot of expats live, but we haven’t made it over there (it’s maybe 20 minutes by taxi) so we decided we wanted to check it out!

Erin found us a really hipster area that was still opening up, but it was kind of like an outside mall with 3 levels of food and shopping.  Unfortunately, it appears that on Monday nights a lot of things are closed in the residential area, but it was fun to walk around! 

We decided to leave the little mall area and explore more of district 2, which we renamed “Vietnam lite” as it feels much more relaxed and quieter (Erin could even cross the road by herself!)  We ended up at a…take a guess…Italian place!  However, this place Erin picked and had reviews that said it had the best pizza in Vietnam, so naturally we had to check it out.  I’ll also throw her under the bus and say that Erin said she really felt at “home” at this restaurant and loved the linen napkins!!

Oh Vietnam!

We had a really yummy dinner (I think their pizza rivals 4Ps) and then walked a bit more before get a cab back to our hotel.  We have double “orphanagi” tomorrow, so need a good night sleep for our last full day!

Sunday

Mom and Erin were up and out to do a boat tour to the Củ Chi tunnels, which the Vietnamese used during the war.  Since I had already been years ago, I decided to skip the tour and instead had a relaxing morning of laundry and lots more blog catch up!  Unfortunately, I also had to do a little bit of work as the timing of the trip coincides with a big work project, but I was happy I could do this while they were out and not miss anything!  

When they got back Erin was interested in a pedicure so we headed out to explore.  The place she found online was apparently no longer in business, so we ended up at a place closer to our hotel.  I opted for a foot massage which was lovely!  I was starving after as I really didn’t have lunch (someone had to make a dent in the snack pile!) and we just happened to be next to 4Ps, so I mentioned to Erin I thought of stopping by there to grab something to eat to hold me over until dinner.  Luckily, she was also hungry and thinking the same thing, so we stopped in to grab some pizza before heading back to the hotel to get ready for another rooftop bar and dinner!  Since Mom and I weren’t overly impressed with the view at Glow, we decided to go to Chill which was one of the original rooftop bars in Ho Chi Minh.  As you may remember from old blogs, they are VERY particular about their dress code and flip flops are NOT allowed.  You may also remember that Mom got in trouble for this and was given shoes that were too small.  She vowed this would never happen again and this time came more prepared!  

The woman who checked us in (before letting us on the elevator) literally didn’t make eye contact with us and just looked at our shoes!  I couldn’t believe it!  Luckily we all passed and were allowed up!  The view was much better than Glow, especially because we could overlook all the construction as they work on building the new metro system.

Who knows when (or if) it will ever be complete, but it would be amazing if they are able to finish it.  We then decided we would walk through the backpackers district (where I stayed the first time I came, and I made mom stay her first time).  It is as touristy as it gets in the city, filled with cheap hostels, restaurants, etc.  We didn’t come to Vietnam last year, and prior to that I don’t know if we even visited the area.  Part of the reason we like having the apartment is so we can cook our own dinner and don’t have to deal with the craziness of these types of places.  My point being, I don’t know the last time I was there, but I can’t believe how much it has changed!  It seems much more Las Vegas style now, instead of smaller mom and pop type places.  Personally, I think it’s lost so much of its Vietnamese charm and it has been replaced with neon lights and big tvs (which you never would have found before).  I was happy when we had showed Erin so then we could get out of there!  Mom, I gave you so much props for staying where we did the first year, it was a tiny little room that I wouldn’t dare set foot in now (24 year old Julie had lower standards than 32 year old Julie).  And I can’t believe we dealt with the craziness of the backpacker’s district every day/night!  Our apartment is beautiful as it gives us space to spread out and (in years past) room to cook.  Erin has brought out the adventurous side in us as we have eaten all of our meals out (albeit, Italian mostly)!

We decided we would walk to Ciao Bella (you are catching the Italian theme, right?) which is one of our favorite restaurants in the city!  Again, it was interesting to walk to see how much things have changed (lots of construction for the new metro).

Luckily we were able to get a table at Ciao Bella (the only people on the 3rd floor as the 1st and 2nd floors were full!)  We had a delicious dinner – it really felt like we were in the north end!  There is something to be said (for me at least) to be in a calm, cool place without people hassling you (which yes, is half the fun of Vietnam, but after a while it gets old!)

We took a cab back to the hotel to call it a night as we knew we had a big day tomorrow!

Saturday

We were up and heading to breakfast around 7:15am so Erin could be ready for her city tour at 8pm.  As many of you know, I met my friend Long the first time I was here (in 2009) through a group called Saigon Hot Pot, and they were local students who gave free tours as a way to practice their English.  Obviously, I had such a great experience with Long and now he works for another similar group called One Trip.  We had told Erin that she had to do a city tour while here, and that doing it with a group like this was awesome because you get to know a local student and get so much more out of the experience than doing a group tour with 50 people!  Her tour guide was AWESOME and she had such an amazing time (and even saw some things we haven’t seen!)  While she was doing that Mom and I were able to relax and get organized a bit.  Pretty much the only “free time” we have had is at night after dinner and we have gone right to sleep!  So, we did some laundry (having a washing machine in unit is amazing especially for washing orphanage clothes!)  I also had to catch up on ALL my blogging since I hadn’t even starting writing yet (ooops) I love blogging as there are so many things I forget that happen so it’s nice to have them written down, and I LOVE knowing people are reading, but it actually does take a lot of time and sometimes I feel guilty I am not at the orphanage, or out exploring, or whatever, but I look at it as self-care, a way to reflect on my time here. 

After Erin got back we decided to head to Soul Burger, a yummy lunch spot (and the only place we eat meat while we are here)!  It’s also near the eyeglass place where both Erin and Mom wanted to go, so it worked out well that we could hop in a cab and head there for lunch first.  After our fill of burgers and fries, we headed to the eyeglass place Mom has gone before as Erin was going to get sunglasses for Scott and Mom needed some updated glasses.  They are much cheaper in Vietnam than in the states (probably not after a plane ticket, hotel and food) but since we are already here it makes sense for them to get them here. 

Afterward, we decided to treat ourselves to a foot and back massage across the street.  As you may know, these places are very cheap (an hour is about $12) but you can hear the crazy sounds of the street, busses, construction, the workers cell phones ringing, etc.  Still, it is so relaxing after being sore from traveling, the beds here, the kids, trying to walk on the street without being run over, etc.

We headed back to the hotel so we could shower, rest and change before heading to a new rooftop bar.  Rooftop bars are really getting popular in Saigon.  The weather at night is beautiful, and it’s a fun way to see the city!  There is a new bar, Glow, that got good reviews, so we decided to head there for 5:30pm, as sunset is at 6pm. 

We were the only ones there and they were setting up for Tet, and I wasn’t overly impressed with the views.  But it was nice to get out!  After a drink we decided to head out to Nha Hang Ngon for dinner.  Long has taken us there before and they have an extensive Vietnamese menu and we thought Erin could use a break from all the Italian food!  We had a delicious dinner (Mom and I even ate spring rolls) and decided to walk back to the hotel as it was a lovely night.  We ended up stopping at a cute little French bakery (we saw gelato and cupcakes calling our name).  After cooling down with some gelato we headed back to the hotel to call it a night.  

This ram was sitting at our table!

Friday

I slept so well, thank you sleeping pills and Advil PM!  I was so tired, and don’t remember waking up until around 4am.  From then until 7ish I woke up a bit, but it was still nice to sleep!  Our bodies get so messed up with the time difference (12 hours) so I always give myself credit when I can sleep and stay awake when I am supposed to.

This is the first year we have breakfast included with our room!  There is a Japanese restaurant on the first floor of the hotel (not really part of the hotel, but next door) so we made our way down there for breakfast.  It wasn’t anything fancy, but you get a drink, an “entree” and there is a small buffet.  It actually is perfect, as Erin got pancakes and I ended up with a ham and cheese panini, and then they had some fruit and hard boiled eggs! 

We came back to the room to get ready for the day and then we were off wedding dress shopping!  There is a street that our bus takes back from the orphanage that we call wedding dress row, and there are a TON of wedding dress shops.  After getting engaged this summer I thought about getting my dress made here as it would mean so much to me.  

I did a fair amount of wedding dress shopping in the states (thanks Mom, AK and Deb!) so had an idea of what I want.  I had done some research and found Nicole’s Bridal (on wedding dress row, so it has to be legit).  After some Facebook messaging back and forth, their English seemed good enough that I thought I could end up with something that somewhat resembles what it is I am looking for!  It also meant a lot to have Erin with me, as I had not done any wedding dress shopping with her!  Ni was working at the shop so I started to explain what I am looking for and showed some pictures.  Even though I had an idea of what I want, there were still a ton of decisions to be made (that I had no idea) so I was so thankful for Erin and Mom and their opinions (if the dress is beautiful, I’ll say I designed it and if it sucks, it was Erin and Mom!!)  Erin did draw a beautiful sketch of what I want, so fingers crossed we are all on the same page!  

Wednesday morning I will head back to (hopefully) try on a shell of the dress.  Then, they will close for Tet, and then spend a few weeks making the dress which will then be mailed to me!  There were probably 50 dresses in the store (I asked if any of them would fit me, she said no, too small, ha!) but they were all beautiful so I have no doubt that whatever they end up making for me will be perfect!  And, it will mean the world to me that Mom and Erin were with me, and that my “kids” will be with me on my wedding day.  Also, it was when I was in Vietnam in 2015 that Dan really wooed me.  We had gone on one date before I peaced out for a few weeks, and he religiously read my blog, making thoughtful comments and I just felt like he “got” what I was trying to do here.  So, it really seems full circle to have my dress made here! 

Wedding dress row is out near the orphanage, so we decided to stay out there and went to a hotel (near the airport where Mom and I had stayed before) to cool down and have some lunch!  The AC felt nice, as did cold drinks!  After some nourishment, we decide to treat ourselves to a quick head and shoulder massage before heading to the orphanage!  Apparently, we flagged down a party cab, as our cab driver played “Like a Surgeon” (video below).  You can sing along 



"Like a surgeon, hey
Cuttin' for the very first time
Like a surgeon
Here's a waiver for you to sign"

Kap was STILL very excited to see us, so we grabbed our crew and headed outside, this time with our electronics!  We try to find games that stimulate their mind (since the kids we bring out can understand a lot of the games).  We really like “cut the rope” as it helps with their motor skills, and they need to think about how to get the ball in the frog’s mouth.  It’s especially fun to watch Dorothy as she can do the more difficult levels.  They are also a HUGE fan of the song Gangnam Style, which they ask to play on repeat.  We got kicked out of our spot early as some man was sweeping and just yelled “go!!” at us, so we headed back inside.

Like I had said earlier the whole vibe is different.  We only know 1 or 2 workers and less than half the kids, as it appears the older kids have all gone somewhere else and there are a lot of newer younger kids.  The set-up of the room is also a little different.

We helped get the kids ready to eat, and we kind of roam around until a worker hands us a bowl of food and points to a kid who we attempt to feed (usually to no avail).  I have to say, and it’s not just because she will be reading this, but Erin was AMAZING with the kids!  

It can be super overwhelming (and incredibly sad) to see their situation, both in their physical and mental disabilities, but also where and how they live, and she just jumped in completely giving them all of her love!  I feel so blessed and honored that she is my sista!! And so happy she wanted to have this experience! 

We decided to splurge for a cab home, as none of us wanted to feel as crappy as we did yesterday.  However, I am not sure it was much better, as the cab didn’t seem to have AC and traffic was just as bad!  After taking a well needed shower, we decided to try an Italian place I had seen online that was right next to KFC, as the last thing we wanted was to hop in another cab!  It was delicious!!  We went for a quick walk after (although there isn’t a ton around our hotel) and then came back to call it a night!