Saigon, which is still the name given to downtown HCM). Anyway,
highlights:
(Apologies again for duplication with Paul's blog. We write them at
the same time, but not together. We may try improved cooperation next
time!)
1. Cu Chi tunnels - a half day tour to visit the network of tunnels
under the Cu Chi region a few miles outside Saigon. These tunnels
served as both living space and a military stronghold for the Cu Chi
guerillas who managed to stop the American 'demons' ever taking this
area. Spectacular for the fact that the guerillas included both women
and children and that the tunnels were so extensive and so small (the
entrance tunnels were approx. 30cm x 60cm). My claustrophobia
prevented me from witnessing this first hand but Paul assures me they
were horribly tiny, hot and dark! We also got an opportunity to fire
an AK-47 here, which made my teeth rattle and was unbelievably loud. I
also had no sense of whether I had hit anything I was aiming at. In
summary I would be a pretty useless guerilla!
2. War remnants museum - an insanely biased museum about the Vietnam
war (or the American war if you are Vietnamese). Foetuses deformed by
Agent Orange in glass cases???? I look forward to China's efforts in
the rewriting history competion! Despite that there is an interesting
selection of journalist photographs which are powerful on both sides.
There is also a good selection of captured US military hardware
including tanks, planes and bombs. You are more likely than anywhere
else I have ever been to stumble across military equipment on display
in HCM.
3. Pho - a really delicious rice noodle soup dish with your choice of
beef, chicken, squid etc. I believe the Vietnamese eat it for
breakfast but it makes a decent cheap (£1ish) lunch. Asian Kitchen did
a nice one. We also had a decent Indian in Mumtaz.
4. City Centre Area - the 'posh' part of Saigon. Lots of nice
buildings around here with a lot of history including the Rex and
Continental Hotels, the opera house, the Notre Dame Cathedral
(Catholic - actually quite a few around), the very dated Reunification
Palace and the central post office.
5. Pham Ngu Lao area - main backpacking area. Loads of bars,
restaurants, shops, traffic and noise. The heart and soul of Saigon.
Other notable things:
- The traffic is insane. Apparently official stats have it that there
are 3.7million mopeds in a city of 7milliom people (cheapest one costs
US$400). They don't seem to abide by any laws of the road and you have
to throw yourself onto the road and hope for the best. Surprised to
have made it out alive.
- First rainstorm; a real monsoon. 5 seconds in it was enough to have
you wet through.
- Phone cable pylons - every pylon is an absolute mass of wires. It is
almost like every phone has its own wire travelling across the city.
On another coach now on the way to Mui Ne beach for some R&R.
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