One of the main points of this whole Jet Set Zero experience is when you are in one place for a long period of time, you will meet local people and have an experience that would not be possible if you just breeze through each place you visit.  My first Vietnamese friend I have made is a girl named Nguyet. She works in the travel agency that operates out of the lobby of our hotel. The first day I was there I was hanging out and she plopped down beside me and started chatting.  Turns out she is 24 years old and moved to Saigon 8 years ago from a small village in Central Vietnam.  She works 11 hour days selling tours, 7 days a week. And despite her schedule, she has a glowing smile every time I see her.

And not only is Nguyet an awesome person, but she has been extremely helpful. She invited me to go along with her to a local clothes market to go shopping, where I discovered how overpriced the things in our local Ben Thanh Market are.  She told us where the cheapest cell phones can be bought and we purchased new phones, SIM cards and 100 minutes for US$16.  She invited us along on a tour of the Mekong Delta which turned out to be a really fantastic day.  And every time we go through the front doors of the guesthouse, she grins and laughs and I can hear her shout “KRIS!” across the lobby.  I look forward to it every day and it always brings a smile to my face.

Pretending to be a fruit seller.