Ho Chi Minh City - a city of war relics and baguettes

Asia » Vietnam » Southeast » Ho Chi Minh City
May 16th 2006

Published: January 13th 2007

14th May (Sun) - We took a bus from Phnom Penh to the Cambodia-Vietnam border. The tiny bus was packed with passengers and the road was damn bumpy. At the Vietnam border, we queued for a long time because the immigration officers were paid by travel agencies to settle the passports of the people in the tour groups... Since we were not in any tour groups, we couly only helplessly watch the tour ope... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 42, Displayed: 21

Comment Follow (2) Message

Lau Chau Sang

autumncs

Born in Hong Kong and currently living in Singapore, I am a guy who loves travelling. Like many "travelholics" at TravelBlog, I'm so addicted to travelling that once I stopped travelling I will have withdrawal symptoms. Hence, to cure my addiction, I have to go somewhere at least once every 2 months. (I must admit that it is an expensive addiction. Haha. But at least addiction to travel is healthier than addiction to drugs/smoking/drinking...) I started using TravelBlog when I was doing my internship in Canada in 2005. (For older photos before my Canadian internship... full info

Blog Options

Top Photos Blog Map

Print Version

[blog=79665]

[blogger=8834]

Cao Dai Temple 2

The holy eye is the symbol of the Cao Dai religion.

Cao Dai Temple 3

There is a religious service everyday at noon, and visitors can watch the services from the balcony, as long as they don't interfere.

Cu Chi tunnels

The tunnels were a network of underground supply lines for the Viet Cong (Vietnamese Communists) during the Vietnam war. The Vietnameses hid from the Americans in these tunnels, and they lived there for months.

Cu Chi tunnels 2

The tunnel entrances are well-hidden to prevent detections by the Americans

Cu Chi tunnels 3

Concealed traps with painful-looking spikes

Cu Chi tunnels 4

The ruined remains of an American tank

Cu Chi tunnels 5

Highlight of the trip - Crawling in the tunnel!!! (Unsuitable for those with claustrophobia.)

Cholon - Binh Tay Market

Cholon is HCMC's Chinatown and Binh Tay Market is Cholon's main market

Quan Am Temple

Quan Am (known as Guanyin in Mandarin or Goddess of Mercy in English) is one of the most worshipped goddess in China. The Quan Am temple in Cholon is one of the oldest and most established Chinese temple in HCMC.

Thien Hau Temple

Thien Hau (or Tianhou in Mandarin) is known as the Goddess of the sea and she is popular in Southern China. This temple was established by the Cantonese association in HCMC and was also one of the oldest Chinese temple.

Thien Hau Temple 2

Interior of the temple

Thien Hau Temple 3

My mum was burning joss-sticks to offer to the gods

Baguette stall

Baguette & croissant - remaining traces of the French colonization

Poster featuring Uncle Ho

Ho Chi Minh (fondly known as Uncle Ho in Vietnam) appearing in a government poster

Dam Sen Park

One of the largest parks in HCMC, Dam Sen park has landscaped gardens with lakes and pagodas, an ice-block wonderland and a roller coaster.

Giac Lam Pagoda

Believed to be the oldest pagoda in greater HCMC, Giac Lam Pagoda dates from 1744. Several monks live at this Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda, which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism.

Giac Lam Pagoda 2

In front of the pagoda is a statue of Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy).

Giac Lam Pagoda 3

A religious ceremony is taking place in the main hall. The ceremony features an unique mix of gongs, drums, electric guitar, electric keyboard and traditional Vietnamese string instruments.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport

Tan Son Nhat International Airport 2

Why is there such a big crowd? Is some superstar coming?

Tan Son Nhat International Airport 3

From the waiting area you can see military hangers remaining from the Vietnam War era.

Tot: 0.04s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 9; qc: 15; dbt: 0.0204s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Lau Chau Sang (autumncs) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

Ho Chi Minh City - a city of war relics and baguettes

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved