Day 203 May 31st 2007, Fly Free Little Birds - Ho Chi Minh City

With not a traffic light in sight there is only one way to cross the street here, walk slowly straight out in front of the millions of scooters, maintain eye contact with the drivers and they weave their way past you, whilst observing the rule of why slow down, when you can use your horn.


Given the chaos on the roads and the constant harassment we decided to take an organised tour of the city. A more accurate description is a mini bus ride to a number of sites, where your on your own. The tour companies go out of their way to ensure you get your $4 worth and in one day we managed to visit about 7 sites and stop for lunch.


First up was the Giac Lac Pagoda and Thin Hou Temple, being Buddhas Birthday it was pretty busy. After visiting Japan we have seen many a Buddhist temple, but this would have to be the only one where the Buddha has a neon halo. Outside the temple old women with cages full of sparrows. You can buy the freedom of 4 of the little chaps for a $1, so of course I had to let some go. The gesture is supposed to bring you good luck.


Bung Tay market was up next, seen one and you have seen them all. I don't know many tours where you get to visit the General Post Office but that was next on the tour followed by a Catholic Cathedral, their architecture quite different from the rest of Ho Chi Minh City which needs a good coat of gloss paint.



Perhaps two of the most interesting sites on the tour were the War Museum and the Reunification Palace. The museum had a selection of old American Hardware and told the story of the war through the work journalists and photographer at the time. One stark image was a book seller working in the grounds of the museum. At the age of 8 he lost one of his legs and both his fore arms to a land mine. After hearing his story I couldn't really not buy a book from him.



The final stop was the Reunification Palace, used by President Diem during the war. Its called the Reunification Palace as after the fall of Saigon it was here power was transferred to the North and the country reunited under a single government. Complete with 60's decor and the old war rooms below the palace. Even the hot line to Washington has been preserved. Below: One of the many American helicopters supplied to the South Vietnamese, infront the marker where a B-52 bomb landed. Also the Presidents desk and 1960s phones, I have no idea what the pink one was for.



Highlights: A much greater understanding of the Vietnam war