Vietnam

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This was my first visit to Vietnam and was really excited about it.

On this trip to Vietnam i was visiting the following cities.

Hochiminh City – Cuchi tunnels – Mekong Delta – Condao Island – NhaTrang Beach – Hoian –
Hanoi – Halong Bay

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is more modern than other Vietnamese cities, and has retained its French colonial influences. The streets are jam-packed with mopeds and scooters, often carrying whole families. Highlights in the city include the colorful Emperor of Jade Pagoda, an excellent example of a Chinese temple. The Hôtel de Ville is a wonderful example of French colonial architecture. The twin towers of Notre Dame Cathedral have been a familiar landmark in Ho Chi Minh City since the 1880s. The War Remnants Museum bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s. Other sites relevant to that era are Reunification Hall and the former US Embassy. An interesting excursion from Saigon is a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels in which the South Vietnamese Communists concealed themselves and from which they launched attacks on US soldiers.

Hochiminh – Cuchi Tunnels – City

tour – 16 Sep 2012

I departed my hotel early morning by private vehicle and English speaking driver and took the opportunity to watch Cu Chi tunnels, an amazing complex of underground tunnels used during the Vietnam war.

Cu chi district is well-known nationwide as the base where the Vietnamese mounted their operations of the Tet Offensive in 1968.The tunnels are between 0.4 to 1m wide, just enough for a person to walk along by bending or dragging. However, parts of the tunnels have been modified to accommodate visitors. The upper soil layer is between 3 to 5m thick and can support the weight of a 60-ton tank and the damage of light cannons and bombs.
The underground network provided meeting rooms, sleeping quarters, commanding rooms, hospitals, and other social rooms. By visiting the Cu Chi tunnels provides a better understanding of the prolonged resistance war of the Vietnamese people and also of the persistent and clever character of the Vietnamese nation

Afternoon, i was picked by the driver for a half day city tour.

I visited NotreDame Cathedral, a neo-Romanesque cathedral constructed between 1877 and 1883 using bricks from Marseilles and stained-glass windows from Chartres. Also visit the

Old Saigon Post Office and Cholon, the Chinatown of Ho Chi Minh City.

Hochiminh – Mekong Delta(MyTho) – 17 Sep 2012

My Tho, the quiet capital city of Tien Giang province, is the traditional gateway to the Mekong Delta. The economy is based on tourism, fishing and the cultivation of rice, coconuts, bananas, mangoes, longans and citrus fruit.
We travel by roads to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's largest rice bowl. On arrival in My Tho we embarked on a boat navigating around the intricate small canals in the delta region, which is a great way to observe the local lifestyle close-up and catch a view dotted by many islands. The exciting excursion will pass the lush green vegetation before arriving at the famous Unicorn Island. Here we have opportunities to stroll around an orchard, taste many seasonal fruits and enjoy wonderful traditional music. The next stop of our trip is Ben Tre Province to visit some fascinating local industries. Afternoon, we returned to Ho Chi Minh and free for shopping at city central.

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Photos

Mekong Delta (My Tho)
Fishing Net

Mekong Delta (My Tho)
Going through the village

Mekong Delta (My Tho)
Village

Mekong Delta (My Tho)
Fishing Boat