Up early and not just me. Vietnamese people are on their game with fitness. Old people mostly are out and about in the early hours before sunrise.
There were people jogging, doing pull ups, cycling on the public outdoor gym and people swimming in the Mekong river. The water was mud brown that made me think of my younger years swimming in the canals of my little town back in Philippines. Dirty but fun, just do not swallow!
Catching sunrise...
Watching people workout made me hungry. Just going to have breakfast here.
I remember finding a cockroach in my soup here from my last visit. That was a very traumatic experience. Nonetheless I live. I still remember the texture and distinct taste that something wasn't right when I bit into it.
I didn't want to order hu tieu, a clear noodle soup with seafood and pork, again only to find a cockroach is swimming in it. So I ordered something simple, an egg with baguette. By the way, My Tho are famous for their Hu Tieu.
The baguette was brittle with soft insides and egg was cooked runny right. Just behind the eatery was the Mekong river with boats and ferries. There is also the My Tho cable stayed bridge. It connects the Tien Giang province and Bien Tre province.
My Tho was founded by Chinese people who was fleeing the Qing empire in 1683. The city thrives on tourism, rice farming and fishing.
It's about an hour or two drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Due to it's close proximity, city folks often come here to experience the river life.
This is the hotel that served the best caramelized fish in clay pot. With the emphasis on 'served'. Not promoting this place any longer. That dinner last night was a big disappointment.
By the way this is where we are staying.
Decided to have a $3 haircut!
A friend of a friend invited us to his family's house garden for food and drinks. The bread was freaking awesome. What is it with Vietnam and their beautiful baguettes.
The beef was charcoal grilled and marinated with some magical sauce. Paired with the baguette becomes a glorious experience.
Our host was pretty well off with their fish export business. They had huge furnitures made from a whole old tree. Normally would cost 10k or more.
They also had a collection of taxidermied seahorses, lizards and a king cobra.
We were suppose to go to the night festival/market but it started pouring hard so we cancelled. After long talks with new friends and host, we called it a night.
See you tomorrow, good night!
Oh one of the things I learned, people in Vietnam hates calling the main city Ho Chi Minh City. They much prefer to say its old name Saigon, much easier.
BYE now.