From the book #3: The CWD Hotel

07-01-2018
“You go through all these hoops and…you end up with this”-Jonathan, Pointing at Bún chả.

Socialising got off to a good start. Me, Cian, Jonathan and Jack headed into the city streets for roughly a kilometer. Others have travelled to a place called ‘beer street’ and the note cafe, but did so by taxi at a 15 minute drive away. That seemed like an odd start, I prefer a stroll first to get my bearings.

The traffic is insane! I thought Beijing was tricky, but here there is no safe distance. Mopeds and vans are everywhere, and there is never a time when no vehicles are on the road. You must be Donnie Yen from Rogue One and be one with the force, walking slowly past a cavalcade of horns and engines. As chaotic as the road is, the mopeds will move out of the way.

The streets are filled with narrow pathways, tiny family businesses and street games of cards. Eventually, it gave way to a green area with a statue of a teenager. He must have been some hero to die at 16, yet get this type of recognition.

The cafe was fantastic. I had my first Saigon Special, and it did not disappoint. Cold and refreshing on a 21C day. Everyone else had Bia Ha Noi and coconut coffee. They seemed very good, certainly unique.

The CWD hotel, a business card from the hotel, A Saigon Special at Thanh Nien street, the view from the top of the CWD, and having a Bia at night.

After cans was bun cha, a pork dish in a spicy soup, with noodles & herbs separately on a plate. I didn’t get it obviously, just having dry noodles and pork as is. What you are supposed to do is mix the noodles & herbs in the pork bowl, then add the garlic and chilli. Its weird seeing everything served on individual plates to mix into one big bowl.

I headed up to the 9th floor of the CWD and had more cans with Jonathan, Odhran and Jack (he is my new roommate for the week). It was a beautiful view of the foggy, yet neon city. From the balcony I saw many people take a taxi to the old quarter, but chilling with a bag of cans with the lads was extremely satisfying for a fist night of socialising. The only downer was that we were too tired to go on after 10. Jetlag still kicked in quite a bit, and we didn’t even get through Tim Burton’s Batman.
Tomorrow could be an easy day, a city tour but with an intro class. Hopefully will take it easy.