Can Tho Wandering

We arrive in Can Tho city and are dropped off at a local servo. The vultures are already here offering moto (rides on motorbikes to hotel), however my new found sense for getting ripped off has me avoid them. I pick a random direction and start walking.

A group of Vietnamese boys say hello, I respond with Xin Chao. They are hooked, they decide that they will follow me to the ends of the Earth (when all I want to do is find a cheap hotel). I dub them the three stooges due to their great cardboard slapstick humour and take a couple of photos.

Meet Larry, Curly and Moe.

We approach a fountain at a roundabout with a LOT of traffic, they suggest taking photos and proceed to effortlessly cross the road. Imagine kids behaving like that back home. Another group of people is taking photos at the fountain, and are very excited to be in our photo.

The new group is very excited to practice their English (except for the random drunk old man on a bike), so we start walking and sharing stories. Hoang Phung, Van and Nu Thi Minh Lan (Lan for short) are all studying at college. Lan is very enthusiastic and says she will be a tour guide soon. Her enthusiasm and friendliness reminds me of a friend back home – maybe they’re related?

I tell them I’m hungry and they take me to a good cheap restaurant and order a fish soup with rice for 20kD. I eat while they look at photos of Sydney with bewilderment.

We walk down to the Mekong river and they help me find a hotel. I don’t see the point in trying to find a cheaper hotel and accept the first one we visit. They’re in the middle of goodbyes when I tell them to wait in my room. I take a quick shower and we go outside to their bikes. With much amusement, they offer that I ride one (with Hoang riding on the back).

Little do they know, I used to ride 100km a week on mountain bike and take off with blistering speed on the small bike, Hoang is petrified. The girls take some time to catch up and are impressed. We continue the cycling tour of Can Tho city, stopping for jelly/pudding at a park.

Left to right: Hoang (20?), myself, Van (21), Lan (19).

Lan meets another Aussie and is very excited to introduce him. He’s here to teach English at a school and is very excited to be here. Lan asks him to join us for a walk, which he accepts. I’m a little uneasy about him as he seems a little too keen talking to Lan, always hugging her and sitting next to her. I don’t like this. I hope it’s jealousy, and that he isn’t a teacher for certain malicious reasons, although my gut tells me it’s the case.