Day 297 - Train from Dong Hoi to Hue. Unification Day and Gregory's Birthday
Tuesday, April 30th, 2019.
Today the hotel let us check out at 1:00pm which was great because I was feeling sick. My throat was burning and I just didn't feel like doing anything. We walked in the empty streets of Dong Hoi. It is a holiday and the city seemed to be sleeping, although some cafes and restaurants were open. The Vietnamese celebrate April 30 as Unification Day, the day the American invasion of Vietnam ended in 1975.
Gregory went looking for an ATM to pay for the hotel, while Daniel and I waited in a cafe with a cup of hot tea. It took great effort to order it in English and the price for two teas was less than a dollar!
We then walked looking for a place to eat. We found a very cute place called Treehugger Cafe. The food was really good and the presentation even better. I felt bad that we didn't even have a cake to celebrate Gregory's birthday but again, I was just surviving, waiting for the train. After our nice meal, we walked back to the hotel, ordered a taxi (only a small one was available), and went to the train station which was packed! We waited with many others for our train.
We didn't know which track to go to and Gregory was trying to ask a guard but it seemed to me (at least) that he was having trouble so of course, I came to help. I got very frustrated when the guard didn't understand and kept shooing me away. I got upset and started to yell at him (good thing I was hoarse). Gregory and Daniel then warned that I could have gotten arrested for yelling at a guard. A lady saw my frustration and explained that we just had to wait on one of the tracks and that they would tell us later where to board. Finally, they announced the track and we tried to cross the tracks with our suitcases and while we were waiting to board the train, another guard came pushing us off the track because there was another train coming behind us! I don't know how no one gets killed with this system.
We finally got on, put our big suitcases (compare to the rest of the people) up top and got settled. My favorite part is when everyone gets settled and quiet so I can nap. Well, that didn't happen -- the train was full and the Vietnamese people are loud. I read, ate popcorn, and enjoyed the 3 1/2 train ride to Hue. We arrived at 8:00pm. Some people got out with us, people moved fast and before we knew it, they were closing the gates and we waited outside. Gregory tried to get Grab but it wasn't working so we ended up getting a taxi. Be careful when you get a taxi in Vietnam. Just to give you an idea: Grab would have cost 50K - 60K VND. The first taxi wanted to charge us 200K and we paid 100K!! [Gregory's note: that was actually in Dong Hoi. In Hue, Grab was working and I paid a decent amount.]
Gregorio decided to spoil our family by staying in a fancy hotel. We were all happily surprised by the fancy hotel. Someone carried our suitcases and brought them to our room. I have to admit that it was very nice not having to wheel my suitcase for a change. We were welcomed with a glass of passion fruit juice and lots of smiling faces. The room was fancy and the beds were awesome. Did I mention that the bathroom was Western style and it had a bathtub! I didn't get the whole bathroom wet! Very nice treat. The kids also loved their room, they didn't want to go out even when it was time for dinner.
We settled for a tiny street stand and had rice and chicken, the kids without the chicken but they had vegetables. I think the whole dinner came to $4! The kids went back to the hotel and Gregory and I walked to the main street to see the celebrations and the lights. There was a night market selling wood crafts, lanterns, incense, art and more. We walked along the Perfume River and saw many other locals strolling with their families.
We passed a stand where a DJ was playing loud music in English and lots of young Vietnamese where dancing. We passed a lot of rickshaws offering their services. Around 11:00pm, we head back to the hotel and the celebration was coming to an end. They were cleaning up and closing some of the stores of the street market.
I was thrilled to be back in the hotel with a comfortable bed!
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HcUy4eAJQGwgjaWs5
Today the hotel let us check out at 1:00pm which was great because I was feeling sick. My throat was burning and I just didn't feel like doing anything. We walked in the empty streets of Dong Hoi. It is a holiday and the city seemed to be sleeping, although some cafes and restaurants were open. The Vietnamese celebrate April 30 as Unification Day, the day the American invasion of Vietnam ended in 1975.
Gregory went looking for an ATM to pay for the hotel, while Daniel and I waited in a cafe with a cup of hot tea. It took great effort to order it in English and the price for two teas was less than a dollar!
We then walked looking for a place to eat. We found a very cute place called Treehugger Cafe. The food was really good and the presentation even better. I felt bad that we didn't even have a cake to celebrate Gregory's birthday but again, I was just surviving, waiting for the train. After our nice meal, we walked back to the hotel, ordered a taxi (only a small one was available), and went to the train station which was packed! We waited with many others for our train.
We didn't know which track to go to and Gregory was trying to ask a guard but it seemed to me (at least) that he was having trouble so of course, I came to help. I got very frustrated when the guard didn't understand and kept shooing me away. I got upset and started to yell at him (good thing I was hoarse). Gregory and Daniel then warned that I could have gotten arrested for yelling at a guard. A lady saw my frustration and explained that we just had to wait on one of the tracks and that they would tell us later where to board. Finally, they announced the track and we tried to cross the tracks with our suitcases and while we were waiting to board the train, another guard came pushing us off the track because there was another train coming behind us! I don't know how no one gets killed with this system.
We finally got on, put our big suitcases (compare to the rest of the people) up top and got settled. My favorite part is when everyone gets settled and quiet so I can nap. Well, that didn't happen -- the train was full and the Vietnamese people are loud. I read, ate popcorn, and enjoyed the 3 1/2 train ride to Hue. We arrived at 8:00pm. Some people got out with us, people moved fast and before we knew it, they were closing the gates and we waited outside. Gregory tried to get Grab but it wasn't working so we ended up getting a taxi. Be careful when you get a taxi in Vietnam. Just to give you an idea: Grab would have cost 50K - 60K VND. The first taxi wanted to charge us 200K and we paid 100K!! [Gregory's note: that was actually in Dong Hoi. In Hue, Grab was working and I paid a decent amount.]
Gregorio decided to spoil our family by staying in a fancy hotel. We were all happily surprised by the fancy hotel. Someone carried our suitcases and brought them to our room. I have to admit that it was very nice not having to wheel my suitcase for a change. We were welcomed with a glass of passion fruit juice and lots of smiling faces. The room was fancy and the beds were awesome. Did I mention that the bathroom was Western style and it had a bathtub! I didn't get the whole bathroom wet! Very nice treat. The kids also loved their room, they didn't want to go out even when it was time for dinner.
We settled for a tiny street stand and had rice and chicken, the kids without the chicken but they had vegetables. I think the whole dinner came to $4! The kids went back to the hotel and Gregory and I walked to the main street to see the celebrations and the lights. There was a night market selling wood crafts, lanterns, incense, art and more. We walked along the Perfume River and saw many other locals strolling with their families.
We passed a stand where a DJ was playing loud music in English and lots of young Vietnamese where dancing. We passed a lot of rickshaws offering their services. Around 11:00pm, we head back to the hotel and the celebration was coming to an end. They were cleaning up and closing some of the stores of the street market.
I was thrilled to be back in the hotel with a comfortable bed!
For pictures please click here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HcUy4eAJQGwgjaWs5
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