Saigon or Ho Chi Minh city…
I would even say that this place is crazier than Hanoi. It’s more modern and a lot more commercial than Hanoi. No chickens running around here.

I’ve slept very good in my fancy hotel today.

With a mini bar in my room and a beer for less than a euro a perfect place to retreat after three weeks of backpacking. Today its time to see more of this bustling city. The view at the rooftop bar yesterday was just amazing…

One more day in Vietnam and then on new year eve I’ll fly go Bangkok to go explore Thailand. My plans are still a bit uncertain and can change in a split second but that doesn’t ruin the fun.

OK… I’ve finished my coffee and egg, wrote the blog. Time to shave, checkout and check-in at my hostel, its back to dorms again… I can’t even remember what the word working means although this experience is completely different from vacation, living the life… That basically covers it all.

I’m also really happy that I’m meeting some familiar faces everywhere I go.

Keep you updated 😇

First things first I needed transportation. A scooter, not the best one I’ve driven but it would have to do, no hills to climb anyway so anything would do the trick.

The harbor looked promising…

My adventure started of visiting a surf shop, usually the place to be for some free advise and general tips about the local surf. Well was I wrong, the polite Vietnamese girl didn’t speak any English but could give me one hint. Malibu. So I set of to find this hidden spot, you’ll drive by if your not looking because its located about 1km Sandy road.

Kitesurfing…

Only Kitesurfing… A local wanted to rent a board but since I was going to be the only guy in the water there… Not too smart, no sharks but enough fins from kitesurfers to make me think twice… In Holland I wouldn’t have any second thoughts…

I already gave up and just wanted to get in the water. So I found a windsurfing school, Russian owned… The price was insane.. 30 USD for two hours, but fuck it this is vacation Right?

I’d figure I can do this… Boy was I wrong. I basically got a 30$ lesson of humiliation. The gear changed and the same rules don’t apply anymore. Now it’s all about jibes and water starts.

I still got some surf, but was mostly in the water (the Russian thought I was born in the 60’s… He said he hadn’t seen anyone stand on the board and actually lift his sail up while standing on it in 20 years)

He was surprised that I even managed to surf it like that. But with wind of 20knots and 35knot gusts a 4m² sail and no experience for at least 10 years after one hour my arms gave out…

Still fun anyway. He said if I take a few lessons I’ll be flying in no time.

The strong wind also gave me second thoughts about Kitesurfing lessons so what then?

I found a Portuguese surf instructor. At the best break in Mũi Ne apparently.

So if the swell is OK tomorrow… I’ll head in for a dip. Although all the Aussies I met said that I shouldn’t bother… I’ve surfed worse conditions in Zandvoort and still had fun!

The other options is wait for Stralya and Bali

But no surf for over two months…
I’m having a serious withdrawal symptoms. :p

— I just reread this post… If it doesn’t make sense it’s either the booze the keyboard or my shitty way of expressing or a combination hehehe… But you’ll get the point.

Arrived safely in Mũi Ne tomorrow going to see if I can get a scooter and start with (kite)surfing

Wow… The Hai Van pass was a stunning road but the trip to elephant waterfalls had a equal amount of awesomeness.

And the view was also really nice!!!

The waterfall was really nice and my parkour skills came in handy because I seemed like the only one who could navigate all the rocks and dangerous paths around without breaking a sweat.

The thác was really nice and I’ve even been under it. The only thing which wanted to make me cry was the insane amount of litter around…

We also took a cable car (doppelmayer) so just a regular Safe Austrian skilift and saw Dalat from above.

Then we chilled out a bit with the monks in the pagoda…

Today its time to split up with Natasha and go get some waves! Mui Ne is the place to be for Kitesurfing in Vietnam but there is also a good amount of swell incoming so my timing couldn’t be better. It’s time to get the surf on!

If you ever go to Dalat visit the “maze” bar (100 rooftops) because that’s a real good experience which isn’t allowed anywhere else in the world because of safety regulations… But there are none in Asia

In 3 hours I will leave and head off to the seaside. Keep you updated.

J