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Published: September 14th 2010
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1.09.10 - GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!! (Saigon)
After full powered coffee for breakfast, the team split in two...Annie, Ling and I went off to explore the town on foot and visit the War Remnants Museum, whilst Guy went for a massage and shave, Vietnamese style. (He says its by far the best yet)
The museum felt like a continuation of all the atrocities we learned about in Cambodia, and was VERY anti American indeed, propaganda aside, it was brilliantly and powerfully presented and marks the end of my visits to anything to do with war and violence!!!! Too depressing by far.
The second half of our day was far more fun, the three of us explored the fancy part of town which included a mini version of the Notre Dame, some beautiful parks, and more Gucci and Chanel than you could throw a handbag at!
We had arranged to meet Guy on the rooftop bar of the aptly named Majestic Hotel so we could share a sundowner overlooking over the river. Little did we know there were not one, but 3 rooftop bars...so while Ling Annie and I scoured two of them balking at the price of drinks, Guy was
scoring free whiskey at the third (cheeky saffer)
We eventually met up by the river, and realized our mistake.....it was getting dark so we headed off in the direction of our hotel only to be met with a road as big and wide as the m25 with traffic hurtling across it at break neck speed...to cross it would have been somewhat foolish, so we took a very long circuitous route under a bypass and along some very dodgy looking alleys, before thanking fully spying flashing neon lights that signalled us home. Another pizza (Guy was desperate) and we set off to explore the hustle and bustle of the maze of streets. Art shops selling beautiful oil paintings, traditional Vietnamese art and VERY good 'fakes' where everywhere. As were little streetside pubs, selling local beers and offering us a chance to sit and watch a massive firework display that was celebrating Uncle Ho, and Independence day... a lovely end to our last full day in Saigon.
The next morning Guy headed off to visit the infamous Tunnels dug by resistance fighters (VC) against the Americans in the 60s and 70s, Annie and Ling went for a massage, and I went
exploring...I discovered that you really can O.D. on Vietnamese ice-coffee, and that everyone loves a chat and a free cigarette, from a "Butter Eater" (i love finding out the term the locals use for foreigner...guess it describes the french this time!!). Guy on the other hand spent the afternoon crawling the 150m of dark tunnel and shooting targets with an old AK-47. (He decided the M60 and M16 were just not up to scratch maintenance wise)
Re grouping in the afternoon we headed for the airport to take a quick flight north to Hanoi. Travel in Vietnam is not difficult as such, just very very time consuming, the speed limit is about 50km/hr and the distances huge. This meant it would have taken about 66 hrs to get there by bus, and for 10 dollars more we could fly in and hour...plane wins!!!! Ling and Annie are super efficient travelers and had organized a free pickup from the airport to our new guest house in Hanoi. Marvelous!......Uncle Ho here we come.
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