Apr 13–19
Apr 13 Dog barking 3–4am, poor sleep. Rise 9:20, hotel breakfast eggs/bread/iced coffee. Rest, rise again 12:40. CircleK instacafe + seaweed triangles. Café with tea in lobby. Walked around HCM, hot, disliked vibe. Ben Thanh market smoothie. Japan restaurant by Bui Vien, katsu set 99k +8%. Push workout terrace: pushups 2x50 (easy), feet‑to‑wall HSPU 3x5 (tough), 1‑arm PU umbrella base R 12/15/15, L 3x12, feet‑on‑chair diamond PU 3x10, triceps ext on stool 3x10. Rating 6/10. Evening noodle spring rolls 28k, cheap water 1.5L 6.7k. Later ramen in Japan town 120k, charged 130k. Terrace chill late.
Apr 14 Rise 9:20, hostel breakfast pho. Café in lobby. Ben Thanh smoothie 25k, 7‑Eleven baozi 22k. Futa bus ticket Saigon → Can Tho 165k for 12pm. Checkout 11:45. Van pickup 12:05, arrived Ben Mien Tay station 12:40. Recliner bus, napped. Arrived Can Tho 3:30. Smoothie 20k, seafood noodles 35k.Walk in Adora Central Park Hostel 91k/night via Agoda, 2n +100k deposit. Crap lockers but good location, staff spoke English. River walk, doner sandwich 25k, S7 Ferrari phone case 50k, Halloween chicken 45k. Rooftop chill, breeze, alone.
Apr 15 Sleep better, rise 10. Café. Laundry 30k for 3kg. Mango smoothie 13k, vegan broken rice 30k. Walked pond/canals, free water refill. Leg workout terrace: bounce squats 3x90 superset with handstands (3 sets) + leg raises 2x15, crawls x8, ATG drills x8, pistols 2x3x20 reps, adductor against railing 1x10. Lunch sugarcane juice 10k, chicken rice 27k. Laundry pickup 30k. Evening smoothie 20k, Halloween chicken again by river 50k, pho 45k. Hostel gate locked 9:45.
Apr 16 Insomnia, rise 10. Café terrace noisy drilling. Smoothie 18k, chicken rice 27k. Checkout Adora 11:40. Walked 55min to bus station, shirt soaked. My Duyen bus Can Tho → Saigon 50k, left 1pm. Constant honking. 2pm stop My Duc Dong food court, banh mi 30k. Nap, German couple constant yapping woke me up. Arrived Mien Tay 4:20. Found bus to Phan Viet but midnight arrival, chose Dalat direct. Futa bus Saigon → Dalat 8pm, 290k (should’ve booked from Can Tho direct). Free water/wifi. Aeon Mall, pricey restaurants. Try Dookki korean hotpot buffet 150k solid buffet place. Rain. Bus left on time.
Apr 17 Bus stops twice, banh mi 30k at 2nd stop. Slept decent with curtain/blanket. Arrived Dalat 4:20am. Walked downtown in dark. Sunrise smoothie 25k, found metal shards, vendor offered remake. Hostels closed, chilled at Mr Happy. Paid 2n 175k card. Nap til 2pm. Walked toward Crazy House, traffic heavy. Pho 45k, rain. Banh mi chicken 20k. Evening KFC 52k. Scoped hostels: Nha Ni dorm, Family Hostel gym 34k. Quick gym workout: bench up to 70kg (10,12 reps), deadlift up to 110kg (5 reps, easy). Street pork pho 30k. Chill 2nd floor living room.
Apr 18 Sleep ok, rise 9:50. Café. Checked Central Hostel 28k, no lockers. Smoothie 25k (metal shards again). Walked lake, refilled water, local pho 45k. Leg workout Family Hostel gym: hang snatch up to 60kg x3 (tough), safety bar squat up to 93kg x5, single‑leg DL 60–70kg x5, Bulgarian split squat +60kg/+70kg x5 (2 sets). Solid. Com tam pork chop 40k. Evening chicken rice 40k, free tea/wifi. Night market fail, canal walk, snacks at Combi.
Apr 19 Insomnia, rise 9:40. Café. Juice 25k, broken rice 30k. Mr Happy closing due to road work. Checkout 11am. Checked into John Café Hostel 70k cash, max security with 3 locks. Coworking space decent. Smoothie 25k, park nearby. Fatigued from lifting, skipped stretch. Lunch pork noodles 55k, cute dog. Shower, nap. Evening chicken fried rice 40k +7k tip. Night market weak, beer/snacks, canal walk.