Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, Thailand to Vientiane, Laos by Bus, Plane and Train
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Happy Valentine’s Day
This morning started early. By 7 am, our bags had to be packed and placed in the corridor to be loaded onto the bus that was going to whisk us away from our ship. A quick breakfast and we were ushered off the boat and into a bus. It was difficult to say farewell to the hard-working crew who had met our every request for the last two weeks.
The bus was headed for the Cu Chi Tunnels, about a two hour drive. It was a beautiful sunny day and we travelled through agricultural countryside and many small towns.
Duc, our guide, regaled us with information and stories about the history of the Tunnels. The Viet Nam war is very real for him as he lived through the horror of losing family and friends during the brutal battles that reflected the conflict. He had an uncle and a cousin who simply disappeared and to this day, the family has not knowledge of what happened to them.
Of course, the Tunnels have been well preserved and are a significant historical site. We disembarked from the bus while Duc got our entry tickets.
Because of the uneven landscape and the treacherous entry into the tunnels, I remained in a shaded courtyard while the rest of the group followed the trail to the tunnels. The tunnels varied in size and depth. Some were just two metres deep and could only hold one person, standing straight up with a metal plate covered with grass to hide their presence.
Some tunnels were deeper and longer so many more people could get in and remain hidden. The tunnel system was more than a refuge for the people. It was also a place where meals were prepared, ammunition was made, areas designated for sleeping, even some medical services. As our group moved through the site, some entered the small tunnels, many entered the larger tunnels and some refrained from both. It was hard to imagine the fear, the loss and the unknown future that was ahead. Jim went on the tour but chose not to go into the tunnels. He had been there when we visited Viet Nam in 2012.
After a couple of hours, we reboarded the bus and headed back to Ho Chi Minh City. The festive season of Tet (Vietnamese new year) was evident along the roads and on households and businesses. Flags by the dozen lined the roads and flowers (especially yellow and red chrysanthemums) and kumquat trees covered with tiny orange fruit were all available for sale to decorate for the occasion. Tet is officially tomorrow and we anticipate that it will be a lot like Christmas – gift exchanges, family meals, lots of red and yellow decorations – and most businesses will be closed.
Back in the bustling city, we were impressed with our bus driver’s skill at navigating the dense traffic. There are no freeways in Viet Nam, only city streets and winding country roads. He managed to get us across town to a lovely café where we all had pho for lunch (chicken or beef soup with noodles and condiments).
From there, we went to our hotel, a Sheraton with many amenities. We are not sure what others did for the afternoon, but we were very tired and simply enjoying being in our room. We ended the day with a lovely meal delivered by the hotel staff and enjoying a display of coloured lights on nearby buildings. Soon after we fell into bed.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
And another day has dawned. It is Tet!! Following a substantial buffet breakfast, we climbed onto yet another bus and drove a short distance to the Presidential Palace.
It was clear that today was a special day. The streets were remarkably quiet until we got close to the Presidential Palace. Flags, flowers, banners, and many other decorations were evident on public buildings, little shops, and parks. There were crowds of people on the streets, most of them dressed up in celebratory clothes, especially the young women.
Busses galore pulled into the Presidential Palace driveway and hundreds of people with and without guides flowed into the Palace. Fortunately, our guide, Duc, was still with us and provided some historic background about the palace and the changes in governments and country boundaries. He took our group on a tour of the palace including such locations as the helicopter pad on the roof, the state banquet room, the conference hall, the security council chamber and the bunker in the basement which was the command and communications centre and had a bedroom and war room for the president.
During the tour, I remained on the main level and explored the rooms independently. I also enjoyed watching the parade of young women, dressed in festive attire and posing for photos and photos and more photos. It was cute to see them dressed in their finery. It reminded me of our previous days in Ho Chi Minh City and the girls by the lake. Beautiful clothing to say the least.
The beautiful and well manicured park in front of the Presidential Palace was teaming with people, many of whom, like us, had arrived by bus and spilled out onto the tarmac. Tanks from the Viet Nam War were on display.
Following that tour, a group of people chose to walk back to our hotel, stopping at the post office and passing by Notre Dame Cathedral which, sadly, is under renovation and not open to the public.
Those of us on the bus returned to the hotel, quite tired due to the heat in the city. The walkers arrived soon afterward, also quite hot.
We spent much of the afternoon in our room, enjoying the view from the window and the cool air conditioning. Jim napped and I added to this blog and organized photos. We skipped lunch in anticipation of our group farewell dinner tonight.
The dinner was lovely, a true celebration of a journey we will all remember, friendships that have formed, geographical and cultural knowledge we will retain. And a universal hope that another journey lies ahead for each of us. The company we travelled with has been exceptional – great planning, excellent accommodations, fabulous food, superb guides … and best of all, a group of 30 people who enjoyed each other’s company and respected our varied attitudes to the challenges our world faces.
We will definitely travel with Scenic (Emerald) again.
Monday, February 16, 2026
It was the day to say farewell to our travel companions and head off in many directions, whether home or to an extended journey. Jim and I are switching hotels and returning to the one we stayed in when we first arrived in Ho Chi Minh City several weeks ago. We will be there for one night only and then we fly to Bangkok en route to Vientiane in Laos.
We received a very warm welcome when we pulled up to our former hotel. Check in was very easy and the doorman delivered our bags to our room on the seventh floor. There was a great view out the window of the busy neighbourhood and several of the alleys that led from the street back into the middle of the blocks. People live and play and have small businesses tucked away in many corners, not visible from the main thoroughfare.
One of the challenging things about this hotel is that there are about a dozen steps from the sidewalk to the entrance door … and no railing. But, no problem!! When both the doorman and the security guard saw me, they leapt into action, taking both of my arms and guiding me up the marble steps. They had remembered how fearful I am about falling. I was truly touched.
We were pretty exhausted from the busy itinerary we had just completed so we did not actually leave the hotel until it was dinner time. Jim had made a reservation at the only restaurant we had eaten in when we were in that area earlier in our trip. It is called Hoang’s Kitchen and the fellow who was consistently our server previously recognized us as soon as we darkened the door. We were given a prime table and extra special attention. As we expected, the food was beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. In spite of the crowd waiting outside the door (it was new years eve), we did not feel rushed. What a delightful place and special memories.
We decided on a whim to follow the advice of some of our earlier companions and took a taxi to the bus stop where the night tour bus would pick us up. A tour of Ho Chi Minh City on New Year’s Eve sounded like a great plan. We waited and waited and waited, all the while watching people all dressed up, friends and families (sometimes 5) piled on scooters heading off to celebrate and the crowd growing by leaps and bounds as the clock ticked on.
What we finally learned was that, because it is New Year’s Eve and a time for celebration, the Hop On Hop Off day bus stopped running at 3 pm and the night tour bus was not running at all that night. So much for our plan. So, we headed back to our hotel and called it a night. There were fireworks at midnight, apparently spectacular, but we were long asleep by that time. We must be getting old(er)!
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
It was once again time to move on. Our Viet Nam adventure had come to an end. We repacked our bags, enjoyed some time in our room (which was a two room suite with a special Tet gift especially for us).
We lingered over breakfast
until finally a taxi and a guide, organized by Duk (our Emerald guide), arrived to take us to the airport. Sad but true. Hugs and handshakes with our very caring and supportive hotel staff and we whisked off through the city, enjoying a final view of the beautiful parks, the festive Tet decorations, and the crazy traffic. The streets were crowded with people heading off to various celebrations and most stores, businesses and even restaurants were closed.
It was a smooth trip to the airport and our guide ensured that we had everything we needed … all our luggage, a cart, directions to the check-in counter … and she went off to celebrate with friends for the rest of the day. Our flight was still a few hours off but, given the crowds, we were glad to be there early, even if it meant a longer wait. There were certainly lots of shops to poke around in.
Finally, it was our turn to board. The plane, destined from Bangkok in Thailand, was packed. But we had booked our seats fairly early so we were happy with where we ended up. It was a short flight (just over an hour) when we landed in Bangkok. The luggage arrived without any issues and a porter arranged a taxi to our hotel. It was all so smooth.
So here we are in Bangkok, just for two days, before taking a daytime train to Vientiane in Laos. Our hotel is beautiful, the view from the window is spectacular and the train station is within sight. Jim is there as I write this ensuring that we can travel on the day we want.
So tomorrow we will meet a friend of a friend. We are looking forward to meeting a woman who lives in Bangkok and spending time with her.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Another day has dawned bright and beautiful. We are looking forward to a great day with a balance of adventure and rest. Truthfully, we are still quite fatigued from the busy agenda of our Mekong journey.
Beyond the station is a very busy expressway, lanes full in both directions. And beyond that is a view of the city punctuated by many, many buildings of various heights. There are also two gigantic market buildings which are quiet now but may become very busy on Saturday.
Sadly, we are leaving Bangkok early Saturday morning, even before the market will be open.
After a delicious breakfast, a combination of Thai offerings as well as North American dishes (eggs, yogurt, croissants), we readied ourselves to meet Mart, a friend of a friend from Waterloo. We have a gift to deliver to her and she has offered to take us to a park (Wachirabenchathat Park) some distance from our hotel. We could tell that it was going to be a great outing. We were clearly compatible and the conversation never stopped the entire time we were together. Mart lived in Waterloo for two years as a student so we had a lot in common and plenty of catching up to do.
We travelled by taxi along a very busy road and eventually turned into a quieter area where the park was located. There were many large shade trees to protect us from the sun. Also, several manicured gardens flourished with a range of flowering bushes and plants. New Year’s decorations were still in place, adding colour and sparkle to the scene.
There was a lovely café near the park entrance. Mart asked if we would prefer Thai food or North Americana fare. Of course, we asked for Thai food and Mart chose some items from the menu. I have no idea what they were called but they were all absolutely beautiful and extremely tasty. Great choices for sure.
We chatted about Waterloo and the changes she would see if she returned. And she told us about the development of new parts of Bangkok and how the economy is flourishing. We learned about her family (husband and three children) and her earlier employment, interrupted by young children. She is hopeful to soon return to work at the same company. Her husband of many years also works there. Of course, we took pictures of all of us together and showed pictures of her children and our grandchildren. We gave her a gift from her Waterloo friend and she gave us a gift as well.
After our delicious meal,
we wandered through the park, asking questions about Thai culture. There was a small temple at the park and it was beside a very large hospital, Miracle of Life Hospital. It is a maternity hospital, specializing in difficult pregnancies and risky deliveries.
All too soon, it was time to return to our hotel and send Mart on her way home. She lives quite a long distance from where we are staying. She took two trains and a couple of subways to get to our hotel. What a lovely outing it was. We feel like we have made a new friend.
But the ride back to the hotel had a little bit of drama in it. The driver made a wrong turn near our hotel and we ended up in a one-way circuit through an impoverished neighbourhood. We refrained from taking photos but it was interesting to see the tiny tin shacks, the fabric roofs, the pails of water, the slightly clothed children, the meagre outdoor cooking facilities. When we reached a potential exit, there was a van blocking the way. A helpful pedestrian guided the driver as we made a three (or six) point turn and we retraced our route to the main road. The driver was very apologetic but Jim and I felt we had gained insight into the range of lifestyle and income, much of which is hidden from the main streets. Mart acknowledged that she had never been in that part of the city either, a new experience for all of us.
We had dinner in our hotel and went to bed early. Before we closed the curtains, we took in the night view of this vast city, quiet and dark neighbourhoods, a contrast of wealth and poverty. Towering skyscrapers and coloured lights. And trains moving slowly on the tracks adjacent to our hotel.
Tomorrow will be a new day.
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Today was a quiet day. We had a lovely breakfast, making it just before the 10 am closing time. We organized our luggage and prepared to change rooms. Due to train schedules, we have decided to stay for one additional night but, because the hotel is full on Friday night, we were assigned to a more expensive room, actually a suite. It is beautiful, on a corner of the hotel with vast windows looking out in two directions. Quite a contrast to what we saw yesterday and can actually see from our windows now.
After settling in, we both laid down for a nap and slept for a long time. I guess we are tired.
We missed lunch entirely and will soon head for an early dinner. I have been working on this journal and photo books and Jim is organizing our trip to Laos (we take the train on Saturday).
Jim walked to the mall this afternoon to get a couple of things. He also took a few photos of the surrounding area.
We are happy to be in a comfortable room with a view of the city. A nice way to finish our quiet day.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Today is our final full day in Thailand, at least for a few days. Tomorrow we are off by train to Laos. More about that later.
Today began with another amazing breakfast at the lovely hotel where we are staying. Fresh fruit, omelettes to taste, an array of breads, cakes and muffins, Thai selections, ranging from seasoned rice to beef soup (pho), a variety of juices and unlimited coffee.
Following a sumptuous breakfast, we took a taxi to the enter of Bangkok to hop on the Hop on Hop Off Bus. Stop one was at Siam Paragon, a mall that was so crowded, it was difficult even to move. It also had a very confusing design; we often ended up in a place we had just passed. The first floor was filled with shops that sold all sorts of food and beverages ranging from familiar donuts and cookies to bowls of hot soups, Thai style. Ice cream and cold drinks were among the most popular items, evidenced by the number of people walking around with cold things to provide relief from the heat outdoors. Some major high end stores were also on the main floor. Escalators could take you up the the seventh floor.
Once we manouevred our way through the crowd to the tourist desk, we learned where the bus stop was. Out into the heat to stand in a line awaiting the late arrival of the bus. Caught in a traffic jam, the bus was not able to actually reach the stop. So, we followed a guide out into the traffic, dodging three lanes of vehicles, passing in front of the bus so that we could embark on the left hand side. Have I mentioned that the lanes are inverted here and traffic drives on the left hand side of the road?
We climbed up the steps to the roof of the bus and finally we were on our way for a three hour tour. In the centre of the city, we were surrounded by hundreds of skyscrapers, some as high as 70 stories. The hotels were especially interesting as each one had a theme that was evident in the architectural style and the decorative features on the ground and on the building. Elegance and beauty were the key components on every one of them. We had a great view from the roof.
Historic sites were described in the commentary as we travelled along. Among them were several temples and pagodas, each with its own beauty and historic relevance. We also travelled along a street that had over 100 gold shops. Fascinating displays in the windows and always customers in the stores. There is apparently great wealth in Bangkok, in the pockets of residents and tourists alike.
As the afternoon wore on, the traffic increased phenomenally, to the point that every street was in gridlock. We had good opportunities to look at the storefronts and food stalls that peppered the sidewalks.
Scooters scooted in and out of the stalled traffic, clearly the most efficient form of transportation in the city. What we found very interesting was that there was amazing patience demonstrated among the drivers. We did not hear a single horn. (A few years ago, we encountered a similar circumstance in Vladivostok (Russia). In that case, there was an actual law banning horns.)
We had booked a river cruise for the evening, one that included dinner. It was to set sail at 7:30, our arrival time was to be 7:00 pm. It was somewhere after 4:30 when we completed the bus tour. We pondered how to fill the two and a half hours until boarding. We decided it made best sense to go to the area near the boat and spend some time there. Good decision ….
We hired a tuktuk to make this journey. It was daylight and the driver scooted in and out of traffic along the way. That was before the traffic came to a total standstill. He decided, based on experience, that it would be faster to go around the city rather than try to make our way through the city. It was a long, slow and fascinating journey. Dark fell and lights came on. The traffic increased and we had long periods of stillness. We kept watching time tick by. What we had anticipated would be a thirty minute ride took well over two hours. We arrived at the boat terminal sometime after 7:00 pm and then had to find our dock. We finally arrived at the correct dock at about 7:20. Fortunately, they had not fully loaded the boat yet and we were still able to board. Whew!!
Once we caught our breath, it was a very pleasant way to spend the evening. There was a large buffet; we had window seats; we were seated at the back of the boat, quite a distance from the very loud and mediocre entertainment at the bow. The Thai dancers were the best part.
There was a broad array of items on the buffet. Jim and I enjoy tasting new things so this was a good place for us to be. In the end, our favourites remained the same – pho (soup), Thai salad (not sure what is actually in it) and fresh fruit.
The cruise along the river emphasized the beauty of Bangkok. The skyscrapers were all lit up with colours.
There were at least fifteen (maybe 20) dinner cruises plying the river, also highly decorated with many coloured lights. The moon was bright and the night temperature was perfect. It was a great experience overall.
We book a taxi back to our hotel. Of course, every passenger on every boat had done the same thing. Patience was a great asset as we awaited our own taxi, identified by his licence plate number (5472). It was a long and quiet ride back to our far away hotel. The end of another fascinating day in Thailand.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
We reluctantly left Thailand today. Following an early breakfast (6:30 am), we took yet another taxi to the nearby train station (we could actually see the station from our hotel room). That did not mean it was easy to get to. It is amazing to witness how the roads work and how traffic flows. We left the hotel and turned left even though the station was to the right. At some point, we made a U-turn on roads that were build to enable U-turns to occur safely. We then travelled on a freeway past the train station until we made another awkward turn and finally arrived exactly where we needed to be. (I have added Thailand to the short list of countries I will never drive in – India, Singapore, Viet Nam and China.)
We easily found our way to the waiting area for our train. It was scheduled to leave at 8:30 am. Boarding occurred at about 8:15 and we left the station right on time. The whole process was quiet easy although the station itself was about the size of a large airport.
We left one suitcase at the hotel (we will be back as we are flying home from Bangkok) and took the other large case with us as well as one smaller case and both our small backpacks. It all had to be stowed in overhead bins although the large suitcase was placed by a door by the attendant. We had reasonably comfortable seats in a second class car. (First class is only available on overnight trains.) Second class has air con and standard toilets; third class has open windows and squat toilets. And we set off for a ten hour trip.
The sun was shining and the sky was clear blue, absolutely cloudless. We travelled through varied landscapes – forests, several streams and rivers, small mountains and valleys but mostly agricultural land.
It is the dry season in Thailand at the moment so there were a lot of fields lying fallow. Nonetheless, we did see fields of corn, rice paddies and sugar cane being harvested.
Fruit trees were abundant – bananas, coconut palms and papaya. And periodically, small herds of cattle.
We passed through many towns and villages.
Every town featured a shrine and/or a Buddha.
Buddhism is alive and well in Thailand. Graves are placed in the land where the people lived, often in front of the home. Shrines are used to designate the locations.
Our car was filed with an interesting array of passengers. Almost no one spoke English, including the train staff. There were families heading back home after the new year celebrations; young Caucasian backpackers (men and women); mixed race couples; and a lot of solo travelling women. One woman was particularly friendly and talkative. If there was an empty seat, she would sit in it and begin to converse with the always female passenger next to her. She never stopped talking throughout the entire journey. We quietly chuckled as she moved from one partner to the next, quite happy that we did not speak Thai or Laotian. If body language could indicate that she was not a welcome companion, we saw all efforts. But she was oblivious!!
Fortunately, we had brought a couple of bananas and some yogurt with us for the journey. As it turned out, there was no canteen car on the train. But, there was a more interesting food source. At various stops, local people would board the train and travel from car to car selling food that they had made. Fresh cut fruit (mmm pineapple), dumplings filled with unknown contents, deep fried chicken parts, pastry balls with red dipping sauce, and ultimately, a whole chicken splayed on sticks. We did risk a couple of items – pineapple for sure, dumplings and finally a whole chicken. We are still alive and well today so I guess we chose well.
Our destination was Vientiane, the capital of Laos. As we continued further north, the temperature increased and so did the humidity. Crops changed as well as the variety of trees and other vegetation. Trees topped with white or yellow flowers had shed their leaves although the flowers seemed to still be blooming.
When we arrived at the Thailand border town Nong Khai, we disembarked. The train could not cross the Laotian border.
And another adventure awaited us. It was early evening and dark. First, the conductor from our train car helped me off the train and sat me on my walker and took off with some enthusiasm pushing me along. I had no idea where we were going and I wanted to be sure that Jim was coming along with us. Well, he did come with us but following at a slower pace. He had all the luggage and a plan in his mind about how we would cross the nearby border.
But, the lovely man pushing me, clearly had an agenda in mind. We ended up at a tuktuk and, with no English, indicated that this was how we would get to the border. Jim finally caught up and kept saying bus – that was how we thought we would get to the border. However, seeing no bus, the men finally negotiated the fare and into the tuktuk we climbed. A somewhat uncomfortable bumpy but short ride and we did end up at the border.
I paid the driver and inadvertently insulted him. He took the money and handed it to Jim. We discerned that women are not supposed to give men money; it is a man-to-man transaction. He was happy to take the same money from Jim. Oops! I do not know what happens if you are in a group of women only.
The next part was a surprise. Once again, Jim knew there was a bus that crossed the border once the immigration process was completed. But, a young man approached us and offered us a ride for exactly the same cost. We were a bit reluctant (there was very minimal English) but he seemed well versed on how this whole system works so we agreed to go with him. We already had our visas but we still needed to have our passports examined and visas checked. During the process, we had our photos taken, not once but twice. Finally, we were cleared. And, yes, there were busses that would carry passengers across the border but you could only line up for the bus once we were cleared to enter the country. And the line was very long …
So, in the end, we were happy to have a comfortable ride in an air-conditioned Toyota van and be transported directly to our hotel several kilometres from the border. Beware the tip though. Jim paid him the rate he had quoted and offered him a tip of 200 bhat. Jim only had 500 bhat so needed 300 back but the driver only gave him 200 with a smile on his face. He knew exactly what he was doing and now his tip was 300. (A bhat has a value of 5 cents Cdn. We are not talking about a lot of money.) It was a live and learn lesson for us. Always have small denominations on money on hand.
Some of you may be cringing a bit at the 'chances' we take. To some extent you are right but our track record at reading the situations accurately and remaining safe is 100% so far. Lucky? Perhaps, but feeling quite secure.
We were happy to be in Laos, happy to have arrived at our lovely hotel and quite ready for some real food and a good night’s sleep. It had been a long day!
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