This post was inspired by all the top five/bottom five lists I heard at Singing Hills this summer!
So, what is a top 5/bottom 5? You choose a topic, literally any topic, and come up with the five best and the five worst things that fit into that category. You can add in honorable mentions if you’d like and you are always free to disagree with someone’s top 5/bottom 5.
Anyway, I found myself missing the canyon, the EXTREME daily UV Index, and Beck’s daily cycling lessons or Tour de France updates so I decided to bring a little piece of Singing Hills to the World Race.
Here is your top 5/bottom 5 things about the city of Da Lat, Vietnam.
Bottom 5:
#5- Vietnamese pronunciation
Vietnamese is an incredibly difficult language. It is a tonal languages with six different tones and the same word said six different ways can means six different things. The letters are also pronounced differently and there are a lot of sounds we don’t have in English so we can’t even say some of the words even though we know what they mean!
#4- There are ZERO traffic lights, stop signs, or really any signals whatsoever
I cannot tell you the number of times we have gone around a roundabout in a taxi and almost taken out at least twelve motorbikes. It is also a bit unnerving to have a car coming directly at you when you’re not moving… There seem to be a ton of unwritten road rules that only the drivers understand but the only one I can recognize is “Every vehicle for themselves.” This issue leads me to #3.
#3- Crossing the street
With no lights or traffic signs, croasing the street is a nightmare. Aside from the cars, there are motorbikes EVERYWHERE and they don’t even always adhere to things like one way streets. And don’t think you’re safe on the sidewalk- bikes and even cars come out of nowhere! People often parks their bikes indoors (like the lobby of our homestay) so even before you make it to the street to cross, you have to watch out. The best strategy is to wait for there to be no cars and just go at a steady pace walking in line with your whole group. Motorbikes can weave easily and they will go around your group as if you are just one person if you walk in a line at a consistent pace. This method is a bit terrifying at first but it really does work!
#2- Cigarette smoking is everywhere
There are people smoking absolutely everywhere in this city- including in restaruants, coffee shops, and inside our hotel. I do not like cigarette smoke and in the two cities I have lived in in the US, they don’t allow smoking indoors or in public so I really hadn’t been around it in a long time prior to this trip.
#1- Leaving
We have to leave this city in two days and I’m not ready. I have loved the time we’ve spent in Da Lat and I’ll miss this place! That leads me to the top 5 things about Da Lat!
Top 5:
#5- There is wifi EVERYWHERE in this city
Even in the tiniest restaurant that are hardly more than a street stand, they have wifi. And, most places have the same wifi passwords: thank you, 123456789, or just the name of the network. They also post their wifi information on every table or in multiple places very clearly on the wall. This city is a world racer’s dream when it comes to wifi.
#4- Milk Tea
I LOVE milk tea. Yes, I know you can get milk tea at home but it is authentic here and there are milk tea places on almost every block- especially in the more crowded areas. You can get flavored milk tea or traditional milk tea (my favorite) and you can choose to add pearls (my favorite are the black pearls).
#3- The weather
The weather here is beautiful! It ranges daily from about 55 to 75 which is WAY nicer than Ho Chi Minh, where we entered Vietnam, which hardly drops below 85. We’ve gotten to enjoy some outdoor activities here like paddle-boating around the lake in the middle of town and running in the non-sweltering heat. I’m definitely going to miss this as we head to Cambodia and 90-degree weather.
#2- The night market
We love the night market and go there for dinner at least 4-5 times a week. There are little stands selling rolled ice cream, other desserts than we can’t say but love, Da Lat “special pizza” that isn’t pizza at all but tastes pretty good, cotton candy, and all sorts of clothing vendors. We have been so often that the people at our favorite restaurant know us and we have our own special table. They even know that our teammate Kat likes her pho without bean sprouts. We will definitely miss the night market.
#1- The people
We have met so many incredible people here in Da Lat and they will be dearly missed. We have had the opportunity to evangelize, disciple new believers, teach English to people of all ages, and worship alongside Vietnamese Christians. These peoplenwill always have a special place in my heart.
And that’s your top 5/bottom 5 things about Da Lat! Back to you, Beck!
