I probably got you reading this post because of the subject line. YES, there are such things as underwear with pockets. And NO, I did not use them…However, my relatives really wanted me to when I traveled to Vietnam in February. In the past, many tourists were pick-pocketed while roaming the streets. So to avoid that, some smart guy invented underwear with pockets (please refer to picture below)! I believe there is enough room for your passport if you really try to squeeze it in there…
Look at the Vietnamese $$ in the pocket!
I flew in to Saigon (I should really call it Ho Chi Minh City…but I feel like I’m supporting the commies if I do) right before the Lunar New year so I was able to enjoy the festivities. I later flew to Da Nang and visited Hoi Anh and Hue. I was really excited to meet my distant relatives, especially my great grandfather. He’s 100 years old!! No lie!
He’s right in the middle
My great aunt and her dogs…They are pets, not dinner!!!!
A typical market place in Hoi Anh
Hue
Final thoughts:
This was my first time traveling back to the motherland. I finally got to see where my parents grew up and where they walked "one mile to school in their broken sandals, in the monsoon windy rain". Remember that scene from Forest Gump? Traveling right before the New Year allowed me to see the decorated and lit streets of Saigon. To be honest, it was more festive than Christmas in America. Every night, there was live music provided by a 100 person band that occurred right in center city. There were flower and bonsai displays and trees were wrapped in colorful twinkling lights. Many banners were hung saying "Chuc Mung Nam Moi," which means Happy Lunar New Year in Vietnamese. Everything was basically decorated in red and yellow (kinda like how everything is decorated in red and green for Christmas).
The streets of Saigon at night
One banner
Flowers
Being a major tourist. MAJOR
Pros:
VN has great seafood, especially their crab and super sized shrimp (imagine mini lobsters). The dollar vs. the Vietnamese dollar is 1 to 15,000. Can you believe that?! If you bring $100 USD there, you’re basically a millionaire. Vietnam also has many scenic areas to see. I wasn’t able to see Ha Long bay but I hear it is gorgeous. Maybe next time!
Seeing Vietnam also made me really interested in visiting other parts of Asia. I hope to visit China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korean one day. Soon.
Cons: It’s a hot, third world country. Saigon is typically in the high 80’s during the winter so imagine what it’s like in the middle of summer. Traffic in Saigon is WORST than L.A., except that it’s with mopeds instead of oversized SUVs. On a side note, you should never assume that what you’re eating is clean (avoid raw vegetables and ice). All of my friends and family that visited told me to pack all sorts of pills and medication. I didn’t understand the degree of the matter until I saw my aunt and uncle get sick after a dinner feast. Thank God for Cipro.
Traffic!
