Intelligent Travel

Talk to a Traveler: The Mother-Daughter Duo

IT recently spotted mother-daughter duo Hoachi Dinh and Baochi Doan sitting on the National Mall, gazing up at the Washington Monument. Originally from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, the two currently live in Tampa, Fla., and flew to the capital for vacation and a little bonding time. In this edition of “Talk to a Traveler,” IT learned what’s unique about Saigon.

What do you think of the nation’s capital?

Fall is a great time to visit. The weather is cool and it’s easy to get in to see a lot of the museums. We’ve seen the White House, Capitol Hill, and a lot of government buildings. Our favorite is the EPA. We didn’t actually get in, but we loved looking at the building from the outside. It’s huge!

Well, DC is a lot different from Tampa, not to mention Saigon. What impression would someone from here have of Saigon?

It’s more similar than you might think, especially now. A lot of KFCs everywhere, huge construction projects, and a ton of people everywhere you go. A lot of pollution too. Now that there are direct flights from California and New York, there are a lot more people visiting.

I think we have our fair share of fast food chains here. How about food that’s a little more authentic?

Our food is a lot less rich [in Saigon] than here in the States. Less butter, grease, and oil. The diet is really based on fish, rice, and noodle soups. I think the street vendors have great food. Pho is really popular too—beef noodle soup.

What's something different that people can do while they’re visiting Saigon?

Taking a boat along the Mekong River is really fun. A lot of them sell tropical fruits and orchids, and you can take one of them into the suburbs. You can rent a boat in the west of Saigon [and explore] a lot of little villages.

Introducing: Talk to a Traveler

Welcome to Intelligent Travel's newest feature, "Talk to a Traveler," in which we make the most of our location in the nation's capital as a national—and international—tourist hub. With so many people seeking out our city's varied cultural offerings, we decided to turn the tables and ask what sights, attractions, activities, and meals we should check out when we wander into their hometowns.

On a layover in Washington, D.C., 18-year-old Scott Macdonald hopped on the subway and headed downtown to visit some monuments. IT spotted him outside of the White House gates and got the inside scoop on his hometown in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. 

What’s your impression of DC?

It’s great. It’s my first time here and the streets seem really clean, and the people are friendly, but there are a lot of hobos around. Considering it’s the nation’s capital, that’s not exactly impressive.

Agreed. If people came to Antigonish, what would you recommend that they do? 

Definitely take a drive on the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. It’s this really long, beautiful, scenic route that takes you around the north of the island. Nova Scotia is almost an island minus a small piece of land that connects it to the rest of Canada, so we’ve got a lot of great beaches too.

Isn’t it too cold for the beaches?

Summer is the best time to go. A lot of Europeans have summer homes in Antigonish because it’s a really nice climate, especially compared with the rest of Canada. But don’t go in January or February. It’s  freezing then—like minus fifteen Celsius!