We arrived in Vietnam just over a week ago and hit the ground running (literally)...with stops in Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore, and haven't stopped until we recently arrived in Nah Trang as of yesterday.
The week has been filled with so many new experiences, new sights, new foods, new languages, new smells, and new people. We have officially immersed ourselves in the Vietnamese culture and have made many new friends as a result. It is hard to adequately describe in words how we have come to feel about the people, the culture, and the country of Vietnam in just a short time. With so many stories to share, I'll limit one story per blog post and share the rest if you are interested once you arrive in country.
In lieu of sharing a story today, I thought it would be important to share some advice as you prepare to depart Boise.
Troy's Top 5 Travel Tips:
1. Be patient. Don't expect too much too soon. From your flights to your rooms, to eating new foods, give yourself sometime to adjust and adapt. It took me 4-5 days before I felt adjusted to time, sleep, food, and climate. This also goes for the language. If you try and learn a few words in Vietnamese...it will go a long way. I have also found that if you take the time to teach a few English words to the people you visit with they will appreciate your interest and effort!
2. Expect the unexpected. Flight cancellations, motion sickness, transportation issues, weather...The only thing you can really expect is that the unexpected WILL happen! Just "move with it", don't fight it. After a few days, you actually look forward to the "what's next?". It is a bit of an adventure, so embrace it sooner rather than later.
3. Get to the know People. From the moment you land in Hanoi, you will become closely intimate with the people...The Hanoi Airport taxi experience offers you a great opportunity right out of the chute to talk to the people. Everywhere we go, we make it a point to try and visit with the people. From flights, to restaurants, to cabs, to cyclos, engage with them every opportunity to you have. We have made friends with many fascinating people and hope to stay in touch with them for years to come.
4. Smile. This may sound simple, but it works. When the unexpected happens, take a deep breath and smile. I call this "moving with it". The Vietnamese people are an example to each of us in so many ways. In so many ways, they have been given very little or have very little to "work with", but somehow they figure out a way to "move with it". The traffic and transport system is a perfect example. Don't be alarmed in the taxi or when you arrive at the hotel and observe the busy streets. Take it in, watch how the traffic just seems to "move with it" and somehow the chaos sorts itself out. When you are visiting with people, relax, smile, and be at ease. The Vietnamese people are a genuine and a wonderfully caring people.
5. Try something new. Many of you know that as a full time runner, I am not a desert eater. The two activities usually don't go well together...that is, until now. That's right, I broke down and decided its time to try something new. How new? Tonight we had a beach-side seafood BBQ with the most incredible fresh seafood display I have ever seen (better then Pike's Place in Seattle, WA). After gorging myself for a good hour, I decided it was time to try Vietnamese desert! Which one? ALL of them. That's right, I sampled each of the deserts on the menu. Many were absolutely delicious! Others...not so much. The point is, TRY SOMETHING NEW. It just means tomorrow I'll have to run 20k instead of 13k!
I am looking forward to seeing each of you in a few days. Please travel safe and be sure to get plenty of rest prior to your departure. I'll have a daily blog post from here on out!
Tam Biet for now!
Troy
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