Vietnam Trip - Day 7 (Qhi Nhon)

Well, looks like the mode of travel is moped. I even rode up and down the alley with my sister L driving!! Too bad no one told me until after I had ridden up hills and small alleys with Co Ha that she was prone to accidents!

Everything and everyone is so laid back here in Qui Nhon. No one can make up their minds about plans as they are so concerned about showing us a good time and accommodating even the tiniest request. My brother H mentioned a craving for mit and voila, it was procured that evening. Late one night, he hinted at a hankering for chai coc (frog fruit) and Co Ha said she would pick it up in the morning as they only sell it by the beach and it was well after sunset. Instead, she ran out of the house, in the dark, to the beach and bought half a dozen. She warned us that the sour fruit would upset our stomachs eaten so late at night...she was right.

Each evening, plans are made for the following day, but when that day arrives, the plans have changed - along with who is coming and who is not.

Food here is much more affordable than Hanoi. We fed lunch to a family of 20 for about $16 USD.

Our typical day starts at about 5:30 or 6:00am. The sun rises early and we along with it. We make our way downstairs and then have coffee around the corner and then drive to another place for breakfast. One morning we even breakfasted at Chu Thanh's house. Lunch is eaten sometime between 11:00 am to 2:00pm. We are ordered to have a mid-afternoon naps, which we decline initially but then promptly fall asleep. Dinner is eaten at home, on the floor with everyone gathered around. Eating is a social occasion and the aunts and uncles come over to the host house, cook together and then we all eat and laugh and make plans for the next day (which, of course, will change by the next day).

It's warm, it's fun and it's family.