Our first day of our last week. Saigon

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Hi readers,

Our first day in Saigon which as we realise it is called Saigon by everyone. Ho Chi Minh is the name given to the city in 1976 about to remind everyone who Ho Chi Minh was but used only on official things not by the people on the street. Even the younger generation prefer to say Saigon. We had a quiet relaxing morning but did find in this hotel breakfast finishes at 9 am not the 10 or 11 that we have got used to. So the alarm still had to be set to allow time to shower and dress. After a quiet morning we went for a stroll around the block checking out our surrounds, walking past the opera house, Peoples committee Hall and walked along Ho Chi Minh square. We booked a city tour for the afternoon and visited the Jade Emperor Pagoda also known as the Tortise pergoda due to the pond of red eared tortoise in it. Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral made as a replique of the real one if France. All the marble and everything needed to complete it was brought from France. It’s currently undergoing more renovations and all that has to also come from France. Beside the cathedral is the Central Post Office that was an amazing building with only a small area used as a post office but shops rent out other areas. It’s classic French colonial architecture as you see dotted all over the city due to the nearly 100 yr occupation of the French here. The Independence Palace also known as the Reunification Palace with its under ground bunker was interesting. This is the site of Vietnam wars final moments during the fall of Saigon in 1975. The Remnants Museum was full of all the pictures and artefacts inside but the grounds outside were full of the machinery that was left behind by the Americans. After we had one more stop and that was to a business set up by the government to give work and teach skills to the dissabled folk that were and are still effected by the agent Orange used during the war. It didn’t effect the people it fell on but stayed in the body and effected the next generations after therefore there are more still coming from the long term effects. They are doing the lacquerware which we had already seen being done in the north of the country.

That wrapped up a good first day seeing so many things.

Night Jo and Bryan

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Photos

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The People’s Committee Hall. A huge long building.

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Reunification or Independence Palace.

Saigon, Vietnam
Beautiful fountain in the front lawns of the Palace

Saigon, Vietnam
Conference Hall

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About the conference hall

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A dining hall

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The Vice Presidents reception room

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About the Vice Presidents reception room

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The First Lady’s reception room

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About the First Lady

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On the roof for the president to fly is and out of the city. Currently not here. The red circle on the left is where the last bomb hit. Luckily not on the Palace just meters away

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About the choppers

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A tally that to this day still hangs in the bunker office. Stating how many died from each country in the Vietnam war. Australia is the UC 7,379

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One of the many long corridors in the bunker

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All the original equipment is still here in each room. Back up radio room

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Radios

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Bryan heading down one of the long passageways.

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The Presidents own Jeep

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Sticker inside the door of Jeep. I guess if the bomb goes off while your in this vehicle you won’t hear it .....

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Inside the jeep

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The Presidents own Mercedes.