13 days in to our vacation and our time in South East Asia is coming to an end soon. In about two days we’ll be in Beijing briefly before we go for two weeks to Mongolia.

Honestly, I’m already exhausted. We’ve been country hopping a lot and these last few days in Vietnam felt like a whirlwind.

I’m frankly tired of organized all-day tours.

I realized Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam are easy to navigate on your own in city centers and having too much to do takes away time for exploring.

Especially since we are in cars (Christian outright refuses to get on a motorbike). That means that most of the time we are in traffic which is like commuting in the suburbs.

The times I’ve really let go and felt free were when we were exploring Bangkok’s streets together on public transport or walking around Siem Reap or just on the water. Anytime we were on the water.

Last night we were introduced to Ho Chi Minh city with a walking food tour. I loved it. Then Christian and I walked back to our hostel where we promptly passed out from a food coma.

Today has started off slow with a drive to the Củ Chi tunnels used during the Vietnam war followed by a visit to the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh city.

I felt terribly awkward there learning all the ways the Vietnam Communists military outsmarted Americans and the numerous ways Americans killed innocent people.

Learning history from the other side is never pleasant when you are the other perspective. The book “lies my teacher told me” kept running through my head as I learned more and more about the war through the Vietnamese perspective. At the Củ Chi tunnels and at the museum I barley spoke a word of English not to be outed as an American because my shame was so great. But I felt it was important, so very important to learn more and understand to be better at recognizing when the United States was headed in the wrong direction again.

Nevertheless, getting back to the beginning of this post: Our time in South East Asia is coming to an end soon.

I’ve witnessed things I’ve never seen before and ate delicious food. The energy in the cities are higher than in New York and there’s a feeling here that one must just keep going. It’s been an experience thus far and something I will always treasure.

Hopefully in China and Mongolia the fun will continue and there will be a lot of walking and a lot of beer.

Pro Tip: When in Ho Chi Ming city if you can stomach it take a tour with a motorbike or scooter or even a walking tour. You’ll get around much faster in the city’s traffic and feel a bit more connected to Ho Chi Minh’s fabulous energy.

Statue toward the exit at the Củ Chi tunnels

kids playing on an American take destroyed during the Vietnam war at Củ Chi tunnels

The beautiful post office in Ho Chi Minh city located right next to the Notre Dame Cathedral which was under construction when we visited.

A shot of the Notre Dame Cathedral

The Grand Palace which was in used by the only three presidents of the Republic of Vietnam before the war ended in April of 1975 and the President surrendered right outside the gates.

U.S Military honors donated by an American Vietnam War Veteran with a letter apologizing for his role in the Vietnam war.