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| English: Busy street market on Chau Van Diep street, Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lëtzebuergesch: Stroossenszene zu Ho Chi Minh City (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Viet Nam. It used to be known as Saigon. While on our Australian cruise we made a stop in Ho Chi Minh City. While on the ship we were told to be aware that there might be feelings towards Americans, due to our involvement in the Viet Nam war. But we did not notice anything except how welcoming the people were to all of the passengers on the ship. We did see people with injuries that tried to exploit us for money (who knows whether they were war injuries or not). But the people of Viet Nam were very gracious.
One of my most eye opening experiences while in Ho Chi Minh City was standing in line to use a bathroom only to find out that the facility only had a squat toilet. I walked into the bathroom and pulled the curtain shut behind me. There was no door, just a curtain. Sitting in the middle of the floor was a hole with foot grips on either side. Next to the 'toilet' was a bucket filled with water and a dipper hanging off the side. Looking at a disgusting bucket filled with used toilet paper I soon came to realize that I did not have to go to the bathroom all that bad and I fled this little stall. I later learned all about the squat toilets of this part of the country. Foul smelling and not very clean appearing. I limited my fluid intake and waited until we found a hotel that would allow us to use the 'modern' facility.
I continue on my way in this A to Z Blogging Challenge.....
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o your post Paula brought back memories of my visit to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos last year ...
ReplyDeleteI remember the one time when our guide (it was just I and my American friend - I am a South African) had a family host us for lunch outside Ho Chi Minh ... they were so gracious, the food was so wonderful but when I wanted to go wash my hands, there was the pit. Luckily it was clean, and I got down!
Thank you for the trip down memory lane!
My H post is on Hair ... if you care to check it out
Susan Scott's Soul Stuff
Thanks for the visit. I will check you out!
DeleteThis post made me think of my first visit to France. They have a similar system of public sanitation. It's amazing how you can manage to hold it in until you get to a "proper" toilet, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, just wanted to say thanks for visiting my blog :)
Yes it is amazing that the bladder will not let you down when you need it most. :)
DeleteFrom traveling in Mexico I learned to always carry my own toilet paper when out and about. It helped a lot.
ReplyDeleteI have learned to do that also. And I have taught My Boy Scout grandson...it is called Be Prepared!
DeleteUgh! I would not be able to use that "toilet". I would definitely decide I didn't need to go that bad either.
ReplyDeleteIt was an easy decision!
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