August 14,

Today I awoke at 0618, as Jeff came in to awaken me. We readied and left by scooter at 0650. We were going to the Immigration Office to see about getting a Visa for mainland Vietnam. We saw more people on this bigger road heading to work. One resort place that we have driven past before had workers on scooters backed up onto the busy road! But in typical Asian driving our oncoming traffic – that they were blocking – just meandered into our lane. It caused a large slow down completely on the road because of idling scooters on the highway! Try to image!! I sometimes, okay rarely – too much work involved, wished we did vlogs so you all can see some of the differences in culture, driving, or living around the world. It is just different!!!

Anyway, we arrived 10 minutes early. So we went to the port area of this town of Duong Dong. Caught a couple of local boats coming in, but not much else as we needed to get back the 1/2 block to the Immigration Office/Police Station Headquarters. We were first in and I pulled up Google translate on my phone to explain we wanted a Visa for 3 months to mainland Vietnam. He looked at the translation awhile and then tried to talk with us. Then he talked with another official person, and next he made a phone call and wrote down something as he was talking. 

Now he hung up and rewrote the information – a phone number on a new card. He laid down the news to us. We cannot get a Visa here… we have to call this number, for a travel agency that would help us. Jeff pulled up the travel agency at the airport. So we scooted on back to the airport. It was nice to see the scenery again without rain. We arrived but could not find the travel agency. Humm… Jeff called the number, and got that he would meet us at our condo! We went back to our place.

So long story short… we met a failure. But we can adjust.

We got back to our place by 0840! Amazing what you can get done (or not get done, just saying!) when you start early!  The travel agent called us back in the meantime. He would be 45 minutes… So we had our javas and breakfast of French toast and yogurts. He arrived and after discussion we realized we can only get a Visa for 30 days for mainland Vietnam – to get the full 90 days we have to do a border run! SO… we gave him our passports for the 30 day Visa and we'll know next Tuesday!!! Bummer! Jeff is now thinking and planning all kinds of scenarios once we get to mainland Vietnam with 30 days, because we already have a flight to Ho Chi Men – nonrefundable – and a flight to DaLat – nonrefundable. Thankfully, our booking of places are refundable. Anyway, we'll see… stay tuned!

Now we decided to go to lunch. We wanted fish after our morning. Food has been going right!! Jeff found a fish place with good reviews, called Ann Seafood- Hai San Bai Khem. We went there on the scooter. It is on a beach front touristy area. We had a main of a Fish Hotpot Thai Style. (It was supposed to be a Grouper but their Grouper is for four or more. So don't know what the actual fish was called.) Jeff went to pick the fish for us. You point to it as it is swimming in tanks. They then “catch it,” weigh it (I got a picture as they were weighing it), and prepare it. Then we were given a pot of broth placed on a burner. It simmered as we were bought a heaping plate of morning glory, long-stemmed, skinny, tiny mushrooms, and green cabbage; a plate of rice noodles; and a couple of small bowls of green spicy sauce. Now the raw fish was bought to us filleted and laid out artistically. Our waitress put in the fish and the greens and told us to wait 5-6 minutes. then we served ourselves noodles topped with the fish soup. It was excellent! Our waitress came over to check on us and make sure we were okay. As we finished, she gave us a card with her name 'Thank Kieu' – which she said is pronounced as “thank you”. I thought this was cool – maybe her parents were thankful for her birth, then named her. Anyway, Jeff reviewed her and gave her a $2.00 tip! Tipping isn't a thing at all in Vietnam. The meal cost us 883,000 Dong which is $35.25. I did say it was touristy! It was a splurge, and we are under budget… so nanner- nanner!

Then we drove around a bit exploring. We got much needed gas – our scooter only holds just over a liter, which is just over 1/4 of a gallon! It cost 59,900 Dong, that's $2.36.) We went to the big local store in An Thoi, Du Gong Mart, and got some stuff. We came back to our condo and went swimming, then relaxed. 

Supper was a lettuce salad with the sesame dressing, cheeses (blue cheese, and a pitiful cheddar) with bread, and the DaLat Superior Red Wine (which was not superior!) Then watched sunset and our fireworks display!  Still enjoying!!