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Published: November 10th 2006
Looking Up
Saigon... higher, wider, cleaner and friendlier than Ha NoiArriving in Saigon hotel-less seemed a pretty bad idea when we got there at 8pm (2hrs later than our 2 quid bus promised but at that price what can you do??)and guesthouse after guesthouse was full. Eventually we found a decent place $5 over budget (even after bargaining). The Southern Hotel is a tall thin building that looks like a strong breeze would knock it over, but it was home for the duration of Saigon and even had a lift!!
We have met people doing the opposite journey to us who said that Saigon is even busier than Hanoi, first impressions though told a different story with a city that felt more relaxed, wider pavements that you can actually walk on and toursit police to help us cross the road, as well as a much better restaurant and bar scene (one restaurant had a 51 page menu...with a contents page!), in my opinion it's a far more likely capital city than Hanoi.
We were pretty tired our first night and ventured only to the nearest shop selling noodles. The following day we did the main sights, Reunification Palace where the Southern Vietnam government resided until the fall of Saigon
Mug Shots
All Carlas Visa photo is lacking is a number across the bottom in 1975 and the War Remnants Museum. Friends had visited the museum and warned us it was harrowing, they hadn't lied...images of civilian wounds caused by chemicals and even a jar with a disfigured foetus all had an anti-American theme. In addition there was a collection of photographs taken by journalists from around the world (that had died in the war), this included some from the USA and UK and seemed to give a refreshingly balanced view.
On our first evening we bumped into Rebecca (UK) and Joel (USA) who we met in Mui Ne, along with 3 Dutch travellers they had met, a few beers were drank though not too many as we had an early start the following day for the Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels are a network of some 250km underneath the ground (some as deep as 8m) used by the Viet Cong to hide from US attack, the network includes kitchen areas and even an exit into the Saigon River. We were able to experience the tunnels, but after 15m of the available 90m both Matt and I got out, this was the first opportunity! The tunnels were dark meaning you had to feel
What they left behind
The crazy American devils at the War remnants museum your way whilst crawling and they felt pretty claustrophobic. I have no idea how people could have spent so many hours down them but I am glad we experienced it. We watched a film whilst we were there which was actually a propoganda film from the war days and actually featured the line ''those crazy American devils!". The site's shooting gallery gave Matt the chance to fire an AK47, I followed him down ready to film the occasion but the first blast jolted me so much the video is terrible...and I think my ears have only just about recovered.
That afternon we had a race against the clock to organise out Thai visas, by chance we were near the Thai embassy and called in to see if we can get 60 day visas whilst we are in Cambodia, the lady told us if we could get back to her in 2 hours with our passport (which was in our hotel the other side of town) and with $30 (we only had Vietnam currency so this meant a stop at the bank) we could have our visas the following day.
Our final day in Saigon was pure admin, we
Secret entry to the tunnels
Our guide assured us that if your arse fit the way in, it would fit on the way out!!! had visas to pick up, photos to burn to CD and then be posted at the lovely French inspired Post Office. We have had gorgeous weather in Saigon and have noticed a definite change in the friendliness of people (for the better). Looking back at our time in Vietnam is fairly mixed, we have loved some parts and found others hard work.....on reflection it seems the locations we have visited where we have been able to mingle with the locals and observe life going on around us have been far preferable to those where tourism is the main focus. We are due to leave on Wednesday (8th) for Cambodia, we have spent longer in Vietnam than anywhere else so far (a few days short of a month) and it's good to be leaving the country on a high!
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Chris
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stuff and things
Yeah I no what you mean about the tunnels. I saw a documentry on them just a couple of days ago. Its crazy to think they 'lived' down there. I saw the kitchens aka holes they used and how they managed to get the smoke out without alerting people to there where abouts. Unfortunatley I can only see a couple of photo's at the mo but look forward to seeing them soon. take care mini bear and cheers for the postcard!!