Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh, I searched a couple guesthouses for rooms but only found singles for around $20 US. The last place I looked, of course, was a little entrance way that led to a reception desk. A sign was posted that read, “Dorm- $6, Room-$20”, sold. The young Vietnamese lady led me upstairs to the dorm room which we I had to duck under the doorway to get into.
The room had 6 beds and very low ceilings, most of the time I was ducking in the room. I set my large bag down and took a rest for a couple hours in my bed. A REAL bed, not a hard mat on a wood floor with a brick for a pillow. I slept for a good few hours and then got up to grab some food and make plans. My appetite was pretty small and I ate a few bites of a sandwich and left the rest over.
I met a couple other backpackers along the way, one in a bookstore I stopped in and one at the restaurant I was dining at. On the way home I booked a trip to see the Cu Chi Tunnels where the Vietnamese soldiers trapped and killed American soldiers. Back in my tiny dorm room, Jonas, a backpacker from Sweeden had checked into the room as well. I told him about the tour I was going on in the morning and he left to sign up as well.
At 7:30am we left on our tour, an hour bus ride there, 2 hours at the tunnels, and an hour trip back. I wasn’t feeling very well at all the whole morning, but I tried to tough it out and make the most of this place. Basically I slept and drank lots of water on the bus rides and at the tunnels I had to sit constantly because my legs were so weak. Our group crawled through 200 meters of underground tunnels that were so tiny we had to squat with our butts touching our feet as we scooted forward in complete darkness. I was feeling dizzy already and this hot, tiny, dark, crammed tunnel wasn’t helping. When I finally surfaced the world started spinning, I almost fainted and had to take a rest as the group moved on.
I didn’t know what was going on with me, I’ve never felt this way before or fainted in my life. Luckily after 15 minutes I caught my breath, my heart rate slowed back down, and I was able to catch up the group. I fell asleep quickly in my bed when we got back and slept until the next afternoon. Jonas had left in the morning and a new dorm mate had arrived, Win, from Korea
In the morning I woke up soaking wet and guessed my fever broke (for the second time). Win wondered if I wanted anything to eat, but again I told him I wasn’t feel well and wasn’t hungry and went back to sleep. Around 3:00pm he came into the room and asked if I had eaten anything yet. When I said no, he said he was going out to get me things, “what do you like?” “Umm, maybe some soup, bread, water, Gatorade, chocolate?” I fell back asleep and awoke to find pumpkin soup, a baguette, a chocolate pastry, water, and Gatorade. I devoured the food and realized that I had not had anything to eat in almost 2 days. I fell asleep again.
I had a 1:00pm flight to catch, so woke up at 9:00am to pack and get ready. The shower I took downstairs stayed hot for about 20 seconds and then the fuse would switch off and I would have to wrap myself in a towel, walk out the bathroom door, and switch it back on again. After doing this 4 times I gave up and took a cold shower.
As soon as I stepped out the shower, clothed, I felt faint again and sat down on the couch. Win was there and noticed my white face and asked if I was alright. He went across the street and bought me a large water as I threw up in the bathroom. Not a good way to start the day. I hydrated and he asked me, “So, you are flying to the Philippines
Win gave me instant noodle soup to eat and I called a cab, quickly packed up, and rode off the airport. My only thought in the cab ride was, “I sure hope they don’t use those thermal detection sensors at this airport… I doubt I would pass it”.
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