Day 8

Back to HCMC and back on the tour’s itinerary
After a traditional breakfast at a nearby 4 star hotel, we headed back to HCMC. We made a quick stop at Pongour Falls. According to our bible, this used to be the largest and tallest falls in the area, but a dam that was completed this year has turned the water flow into a trickle. Uncle was unsure if he was up to the hike down and up the steep walkway under the beating sun to see the rock formations, so Oanh and I stayed with him and chilled in the shade. Okay, so we were not sure if we were up to it either. As we waited by the chicken leg bamboo trees (check out the photo) we came across the mother of all ants. She must have announced us as dinner because that very second we were bombarded with large black ants all wanting a piece of us. A few very itchy bites later and before it was too late we ran screaming like banshees back up to the safety of the van.

After our cousins made it back, it was time to make the long haul back to the city. Once back, Uncle and his family invited us inside to dine on "Chau" (chicken and rice porridge). Sitting on the floor together, we all felt a sense of sadness that our trip had come to a close. Uncle showed us some photos of our family and entertained us with traditional Vietnamese folk songs on his harmonica.

Into a cab and back to the AnAn Hotel for a real shower and bed. AT LAST!

Tomorrow we leave for Thailand.