Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam
Day 24-25: Here’s the scoop on how my friends and I became famous in Vietnam (and how you can too!)

The day started off mellow with a leisurely stroll through a community pop-up marketplace where they were selling everything from bracelets to octopus balls . . err . . balls of octopus. Little did we know, this was the day we would become famous in Vietnam. 

After our stroll through the marketplace, we made our way downtown to a hotel rooftop pool party. It was a rough beginning because they were selling $10 water mixed-drinks that they were trying to pass off as vodka.

*scoff* I went to ASU. You can’t fool me, Vietnam.

Finally, we managed to find “real” alcohol and beer and were off to the races! The metaphorical party races, that is. The rooftop pool party was pretty lit. I’d say it was the Vietnamese equivalent to a party at the W in Scottsdale, Arizona, but a lot less pretentious. After riding pool floaty unicorns (which are totally a thing now) and making new friends, the sun started to set and we decided it was best we make our way back home.

But you would be mistaken if you thought the party stopped there.

We continued a dance party in the elevator, complete with music from Briana’s iPhone. Coincidentally, the elevator managed to stop at multiple floors on the way down, so we encouraged unsuspecting passersby to join us in our elevator dance party.

Okay. We’re being annoying Americans. I get it.

We continued stopping at random floors until security finally kicked us out.

Our fifteen minutes of fame

On our walk back to the hostel – in our swim suits, mind you – we stopped to join a random workout class in the middle of an open sidewalk area. Okay, can we just stop for a minute to break this down? This group of brightly-dressed Asians were taking part in an intense cardio workout class outside, in the middle of the busy city. We’re talking Richard Simmons status, people.

And they looked at us like we were the weird ones.

After that strange little ensemble, our hearts were pumping and we were ecstatic to hear a live pop band in a courtyard area near our hostel. We started dancing to the music, and this is where our fame went from 0 to 100.

Let me set the scene

Bri, Kaitlin, Nate and I were in our swimsuits, intoxicated, and dancing outdoors to an Asian teen pop band. Traffic was whizzing by and people were out and about, due to the aforementioned community pop-up marketplace. We were dancing innocently enough, laughing and enjoying the music. Soon, we looked around and realized what had happened.

Hundreds of Asians had surrounded us, with their cameras and phones glued in our direction. They were not recording the band, no. They were recording us. We encouraged some of them to come dance with us, and while most of them were too shy, the ones that agreed were laughing and dancing and having the time of their lives. Eventually, the mothers had pushed all of their young daughters towards us and were recording us dancing together.

I’m not sure if they did it because they idolized us or because they were making fun of us.

I choose to believe the former. *flips hair to the side*

Being recognized for the stars we are

The next morning Kaitlin, Bri and I decided to get a “couples” group massage for the umpteenth time before hopping on a sleeper bus to Muine (which, by the way, 8/10 would recommend the sleeper bus.) While we were laying face down on the massage tables in nothing but our birthday suits, we heard the three masseuses giggling and chattering among themselves. What were they so exuberant about, you may ask?

They recognized us, bare-bottomed and all, as the dancing bikini girls from the night before.

Oops. Sorry Vietnam.

On a side note, I wonder how many videos are circling southern Vietnam of my friends and I dancing in the street…

Have you done something strange in another country and gotten noticed for it? Let me know in the comments below!