Advertisement
Published: November 26th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Saigon Traffic
Try Crossing the Road Even although it was dark as we crossed into Vietnam, it appeared to be more affluent than Cambodia, which wouldn't be too difficult. The roads were better, and it had a cleaner look about it. When we arrived late in Ho Chi Minh City, the bus dropped us off on the actual street, which we were planning to find accommodation in. Walked about with our rucksacks on our backs, trying different hotels, guest houses, then tiredness set in, so we agreed to settle for the next one, which happened to be Hotel 96 for 15 Dollars per night. Couldn't have picked a noisier room, it was at the front, no double glazing, constant noise throughout the night. Next morning went searching for another room before our checkout time of 12 o'clock. Found a good one straightaway in the nearby Spring House Hotel for 18 Dollars per night.
After unpacking we walked to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, which for some reason is also where couples have their marriage photos taken by professional photographers. They seemed to be everywhere, in the grounds, on balconies, or halfway up staircases. We then found a great restaurant between the museum, and the
Reunification Palace called Ngon, it was busy, and with good reason, a good menu at great prices. We had a meal with drinks for only 2 pounds, 50 pence.
The Reunification Palace or Indepence palace was next, this was the residence of the propped up South Vietnam President during the war, which in this country, is called the American War. The building has remained the same, with it's seventies design, and furnishings. It is also the location for the symbolic ending of the American War when a Vietnamese tank burst through the gates to take control of Saigon. We hooked up with a good English speaking guide. It is worth visiting, we enjoyed the basement control centre, and the top floor entertainment rooms, cinema, casino, dancefloor, all in kitch seventies design. There is also a helicopter on the roof, which during the last days of the war took off, and the Vietnamese pilot, who had been a secret agent for the North, dropped two bombs right through the middle of the building, destroying the staircase.
Cannot believe how cheap it ís, better than Cambodia or Thailand. The city is fast paced, clean, and reasonably safe. We've took
Riding Pillion
Can't Beat Them - Join Them to it straightaway, originally thought 4 nights, but quickly agreed on an extra two. It has everything from great basic local eateries to cosmopolitan cafes, and international restaurants.
It's fun to watch all the street life, little old ladies carrying goods, families eating together on the pavement, motor bikes passing with every load imaginable, boxes, furniture, stacks of books, metal tubes, we even saw a guy passing with a toilet seat.
The most popular attraction in Ho Chi Minh city is the War Museum, a sad reminder of the carnage this country suffered at the hand of foreign powers. It is currently undergoing a revamp, but you can still see all the exhibits, which include the effects of Agent Orange, weaponry, and a display of photos taken during the conflict by 134 photographers, who were all killed.
After the museum we had a drink on the roof of the Rex Hotel, famous from the war when American Officers were billeted here, and the top brass would hold press conferences to war weary journalists. Dearest drink prices, so far, but great to sit above the city watching the goings on below.
The Cu Chi Tunnels are situated north west of the city, about a 90 minute drive. Paid 4 dollars each to get there, and a further 6 entrance fee. We really knocked it off, our guide was terriffic, he was brought up in the area, and his mother was killed during the conflict. He was able to vividly describe the living, and fighting conditions. At the end of the tour, he served us Kasaba plant, and rice wine, which the Viet Cong ate, then proceeded to give us renditions of songs, which he claimed to have officially translated into English. Eileen had no intention of entering the tunnels in the first place, but it suprised me thats lots of our group chickened out, after all, it is a visitor attraction, and therefore under controlled conditions. I thought it was great scurrying along, until the slowcoaches ahead, stop you in their tracks. Try it with breathing apparatus, it was just like the training tunnels under the old Central Fire Station in Glasgow.
We love this city, with lots of cheap goods, so much so, that Eileen wants to buy stuff to send home. We have already been to
the impressive French built post office to do just that, not as cheap as we thought to post. 8 pounds for 10 small items, although they did expertly pack them for about 10 pence.
We are heading north next, so we bought an Open Bus Ticket to Hanoi allowing to stop in Dalat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, and Hue. It cost us 16 pounds each, including the use of a fancy Sleeper Bus from Nha Trang onwards.
No football tops yet !!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.152s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 16; qc: 68; dbt: 0.0818s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Lindsay
non-member comment
Very Jealous!
Hi John and Eileen! Its Lindsay, Cheryls friend here. Just been having a wee look at your blog and its so nice to see all the places I went to. Starting to wish I had kept a similar journal, theres so many things I have forgotten about already! Hope you carry on having a great trip and careful crossing the road in Vietnam! Lindsay.x