Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City

Monday 4th August

Another early start to get the bus to HCM. The pick up from the hotel was originally scheduled for 7.15 but then I got an SMS indicating one hour before departure ie 7.00 The minibus was there, dead on the dot,  I was the first pick-up so it was a quick check out, paying cash; got the best seat in the minibus and a free tour of PP. Might have been better to pay $2 to get tuk tuk direct to Giant Ibis but at least I know the big bus won't leave without a dozen passengers whereas it might leave without one. The big bus left at 8.05. Realised from the map that the area where all the crowds were congregating last night is almost directly opposite the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. I had originally planned to get a boat down the Mekong at least as far as Chau Doc but it would have taken an extra day I could not afford.  We are on Highway 1 which is a two lane road with a reasonable surface; it even has white lines! Much better than between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Was amused to read in 

http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/buses.htm

that "All of Cambodia's National Routes are paved and in good condition"; it's a lie! This bus has working WiFi, unlike the one from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. Dozed off,  to wake up on a ferry across the Mekong just before 10. Impressed to see a bridge being built across the Mekong just upstream.

Giant Ibis Bus

Bridge being built across the Mekong

"Ferry Cross the Mekong"
With apologies to Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Reach Cambodian immigration about 1130 where all our fingerprints were taken again. Realise you can tell you are at the border by the cluster of massive casinos. Then back on the bus to a huge, modern duty free mall where we were supposed to get lunch. Looks very slick and modern but they haven't sorted out the food ordering system. Obviously they intend to take orders at the table but not enough staff so everyone trying to order at the counter. I thought the waitress had got my order for "pho" so I waited patiently at the table while 15 minutes of our 30 minute lunch break passed. Then a waiter asked me what I wanted and it was clear my previous order had not gone into the system. So I decided not to bother. At 1210 back on the bus to Vietnam immigration where all our bags are X rayed. Turns out our passports were stamped during the lunch break. Wheels of the bus were sprayed with disinfectant and we are on our way. All very quick and easy. There is a granite marker at the actual border between the two immigration checkpoints.

Interesting the different security concerns of the two countries. Cambodia obviously thinks it essential to get all the fingerprints of everyone entering or leaving the country but doesn't care what's in our bags. Vietnam doesn't give a toss about identification or fingerprints, stamping our passports while we are having lunch, but needs to X-ray our bags and disinfect the bus.   Guess it depends on whether the fingerprint recording or X-ray company has the right connections and pays the right "commission". Maybe Cambodia sells the fingerprints on to countries where only criminals get fingerprinted routinely?

Across the border, the road is dual carriageway and it is only 75 km to HCM but it's a slow journey of over 2 hours due to slow moving traffic. After the first few km of rice fields there is virtually continuous ribbon development all the way to HCM. Finally we pulled up along the strip of gardens very close to the hotel and as soon as I got  out and picked up my bag I fell for the Vietnam Taxi Scam. See separate posting.

Checked in at Beautiful Saigon where I have a great room with a window overlooking the alley. Paid extra for this because I do like a window! Train tickets to Hue and Hanoi have arrived and according to email  my ticket to Nanning should arrive tomorrow.

Later met  C downstairs and we went off on her scooter to a delightful Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant where we had a delicious, and probably healthy dinner. Ginger tea not beer! 

Healthy and Tasty Vegetarian Dishes

Interesting that the only person I know who runs a family business, employing approx 20 people, is in "communist" Vietnam. Found that the traffic in HCM seems less scary on the back of a scooter than as a pedestrian; think it is the sense of being in a herd of the dominant species. As a pedestrian  crossing the road,   I feel I am the lone wildebeest on the plain surrounded by predators.