Viaje a Saigón y el Delta del Mekong: Itinerario de Paco en Vietnam

Tema 2, texto 1: On the way to Pham Ngu Lao in Central Saigon, where Paco's hotel is, he realizes that this city is really chaotic. Motorbikes, bikes, rickshaws... bustling everywhere... He wonders: 'Will I have chosen my destination properly?' He has been in a taxi for about twenty minutes now and he is trapped in a traffic jam. He asks the taxi driver:

Paco: Is this usual?

Taxi driver: Yes, it is, sir. But this is because of the president, he is coming to the city at 11:00. How long are you going to stay here?

Paco: For two or three days.

Taxi driver: I hope you enjoy your time here. I know a good restaurant, I will take you there.

Paco: No, thanks. I will have a rest first...

One hour later the president has already passed and the traffic jam has dissolved. Paco arrives at the Blue Dragon Hotel and feels exhausted. He pays for the taxi and goes straight to the reception desk. After greeting the receptionist, checking in and receiving his room key, he tells the receptionist:

Paco: I feel very tired and need a rest; but first, have you got some tourist brochures of the city? I'm planning to go to the Reunification Palace this evening.

Receptionist: Here you are, sir. Shall we give you a wake-up call at 4 o'clock?

Paco thinks: At this time I will have been sleeping for three hours... That's OK.

Receptionist: One last thing, sir. Will you give me your passport, please?

Paco: Of course, here you are.

Receptionist: Thanks, sir. Bye.

Paco: Bye.

So, Paco is now lying on his bed reading a brochure about the city, but he falls asleep in a minute.

Texto 2

Paco is astonished after visiting the Reunification Palace. He decides to take a walk around Notre Dame Cathedral. There, he steps into Saigon's old post office, where he takes some pictures and has a rest. Just as he comes out, there is a booking tour office, and he decides to enter and ask for information about a tour to the Mekong Delta...

Paco: Good afternoon.

Girl: Good afternoon, sir. Can I help you?

Paco: Yes. I'm going to take a tour along the Mekong Delta. Do you have any packages?

Girl: Sure, I'll show you a very interesting one. It's two days traveling by boat, spending a night in Can Tho, and this is the price.

Paco: That's nice. I'll take it.

Girl: You will have a lot of fun, I promise you. You must contact Ms. Ha. She is going to accompany you during the trip on the boat. She is quite friendly and funny. She won't disappoint you.

Paco: OK. And what about the weather? Will it rain tomorrow?

Girl: Well, the monsoon is here. Look at those black clouds, it is going to pour! You'd better carry your umbrella!

Paco: I will. Thank you.

Girl: Thanks. Goodbye, sir.

Texto 3

Paco has come back to the booking office to pay the operator. She has told him that the boat trip sets off at eight o'clock in the morning and what he needs for it. So, he has moved from Saigon to Can Tho, where he is going to meet Ms. Ha, the guide. Read the following passage about this amazing trip.

Paco has had a pleasant sleep and he is now waiting for Ms. Ha at the Can Tho dock. It is ten to eight and already too hot and humid. From the main street, a small and friendly woman is approaching... she must be Ms. Ha.

Ms Ha: 'Good morning, sir. Are you Paco?'

Paco: 'Good morning. Yes, I am. Ms Ha?'

Ms Ha: 'Yes, that's me! If you are ready for the trip, get on this traditional boat and I will tell you what we are going to see.'

Paco: 'I feel anxious to begin!'

Ms Ha: 'Great! Well, first we are going to sail along the Mekong River to leave the town. After that, we are going to go through the floating markets and see how both vendors and buyers do their business.'

Paco: 'And are we going to have a stop during the itinerary?'

Ms Ha: 'Of course we are. We are visiting a noodle-making factory at 10:00.'

Paco: 'It sounds nice.'

The trip goes on as planned, and Paco is having a lot of fun with Ms. Ha's unique sense of humor. After the visit to the factory, Ms. Ha turns the boat towards the riverbank and picks some leaves from a banana tree. Then Paco asks:

Paco: 'What are you going to do with these leaves?'

Ms Ha: 'I am going to make you a ring with them. Are you married?'

Paco: 'No, I am not. I haven't even got a girlfriend...'

Ms Ha: 'Neither am I...' Then she asks, staring at him, 'And would you like to have a Vietnamese one?'

Paco: 'Ehem... er...' He blushes and immediately changes the subject. '... and are we going to have lunch?'

Ms Ha: 'Oh yes. We are having it at one o'clock with my cousin. She has prepared a good meal for us.'

From this moment on, Paco is no longer relaxed, although the trip is fascinating. They eat, and when they arrive back at Can Tho, he gets off the boat as fast as he can, saying goodbye. He hears Ms. Ha asking him: 'What are you going to do this afternoon? We could...'