Blogs from Southeast, Vietnam, Asia - page 5

We had an early flight out of Hanoi to Saigon and left the hotel at 6:30. Our flight was operated by url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Airline_Review-d8729146-Reviews-Jetstar-Airways-Australia-New-ZealandJetstar which great reviews does not have; however, our experience was okay, granted, we had low expectations for the 2-hour journey. We touched down in Saigon with mostly sunny skies. The hotel (url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293925-d1048912-Reviews-Alagon_Central_Hotel_Spa-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.htmlAlagon Central Hotel ) stay was organized through Habitat for Humanity. The hotel had a driver waiting for us. The hotel was a 30-minute drive from the airport. We checked-in with the front desk but our room was not ready for us. We needed to kill about two hours before getting into our ro... read more

Saigon is a lively, booming city full of historical landmarks and attractions. We say it’s like an upgraded version of Hanoi; much more to see and do. We were warmly welcomed into the home/hostel of Vy, who took us through a map of Ho Chi Minh city and even gave us her personal phone number incase we get lost or need her help. She really is the perfect host. We started with a tour around the Cu Chi tunnels; an immense network of connecting tunnels used by the ‘Viet Cong’ soldiers as hiding spots during combat at wartime. We were shown booby traps cunningly invented by the Vietnamese to kill and injure the American soldiers. These traps were lethal; the Vietnamese were crafty as hell. Before our guide showed us how each trap worked he’d say, ... read more

We’d had an easy start to the day and having taken our time over brunch we made our way to the tour office. Woolly says – Although I’m not a great fan of guided tours we felt that this one would give us an opportunity to learn a lot more about the Vietnam war as well as making it easy to get there and back. We sat waiting in the office as more and more people gathered, I smiled engagingly at each new arrival listening to accents from around the world as they joined us. It didn’t look as though it was going to be an intimate tour and as the signal was given to board the bus I hoped that there was actually going to be enough seats! ... read more

The old man has booked a ‘luxury’ tour to the Cu Chi tunnels, part of a huge complex built by the Viet Cong. He can’t say what the difference is with the regular tour (booked by daughter no 1) but it costs 4 times the price. I look forward to comparing notes later. The drive to the tunnels takes 3 hours mostly through the sprawling suburbs of HCMC. After 2 hours we stop at a government workshop where we are shown victims of Agent Orange making things to sell to tourists. We continue to the tunnel location and spend 2 hours in the sweltering jungle while our guide tells all about the tunnels; how they were built, how the Viet Cong lived and fought, how cunning and clever they were. It’s very interesting and rather ironic ... read more

Today; sightseeing seeing in Ho Chi Minh City. The little I know about Vietnam come from studying the War in politics classes (and from watching Miss Saigon). So after breakfast, we start by walking to the War Remnants Museum. It’s only a mile which doesn’t sound too onerous. But we have underestimated the insane heat and crazy motorbike drivers. It soon becomes clear that I don’t have the mental fortitude for crossing Vietnamese roads. Eventually I develop a routine – wait till the pedestrian light goes green, shut my eyes and cross. It doesn’t hugely affect my chances of dying and at least I can’t see what’s coming. Going to the War Remnants Museum straight after breakfast was a mistake. It’s a truly harrowing experience and keeping my fried eggs down is quite an effort. Outside ... read more