Posted by: Jonathan
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: SOME CONTENT MAY BE DISTURBING TO READER.
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon (as it is referred to by its eight million inhabitants) is a motor bike infested, bustling metropolis of sorts. Capitalistic economy drives this work horse of a city onward while a communistic government tries to hang on to the reins for dear life.
On the bus from Mui Ne to Saigon we happened upon a couple that we had dinner and caipirinhas with in Brazil, over three months ago (small world). Once we checked into a hotel, I decided to scout out some local sights, while Jenn opted to test the fluff factor of the pillows (she's still fighting off the crud from the Vinh Son 1 orphans).
My first stop, the War Remnants Museum. On guard around it were numerous tanks, helicopters, and planes.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: SOME CONTENT MAY BE DISTURBING TO READER.
Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon (as it is referred to by its eight million inhabitants) is a motor bike infested, bustling metropolis of sorts. Capitalistic economy drives this work horse of a city onward while a communistic government tries to hang on to the reins for dear life.
On the bus from Mui Ne to Saigon we happened upon a couple that we had dinner and caipirinhas with in Brazil, over three months ago (small world). Once we checked into a hotel, I decided to scout out some local sights, while Jenn opted to test the fluff factor of the pillows (she's still fighting off the crud from the Vinh Son 1 orphans).
My first stop, the War Remnants Museum. On guard around it were numerous tanks, helicopters, and planes.
Now, going into this museum I had been warned that it was, well how do you say - ANTI-American war propaganda. So I guess I wasn't surprised by the museum's content, only by its visitors accepting everything as fact. There were rooms saturated with photos of our war crimes and the lasting effects of defoliants such as agent orange. This and other defoliants contained TCDD which is one of the most devastating chemicals to date. One table spoon can kill a city of eight million. The chemical has remained in water sources and soil at levels 100 times greater than what would be allowed in the US, which has continued to cause cancer, birth defects, and disease.
It is tough to say what is fact and what is war propaganda. For instance, a photo of a US tank with mangled bodies being drug behind it - staged or horrifically true? Even if this and many others are fake, visitors absorb these inhumane acts of violence as truth, further sinking our status in the world's eyes. I perused through the large guestbook at the entrance and came across this quote. "You (America) fought so fervently to squash communism from infecting South Vietnam; sacrificing troops, equipment, money, and most importantly the lives of the innocent. Even with all of this, you Lost. Now that the dust has settled and Vietnam is "unified", I really don't see what the big fuss was to begin with. Seems like you got your panties in a bunch and killed many for no reason, country seems just fine to me. How about putting your big stick down for a change."
Moving right along. My next stop was the Reunification Palace. This was South Vietnam's Presidential Palace, which is where the communist tanks crashed the gate on April 30, 1975 - the day Saigon surrendered. Not the most impressive site I have seen but since it was free, I wandered in the employee entrance on accident, I am not complaining.
My last stop before returning to the hotel -the pharmacy. Jenn and I are both toting purple hearts, hers a bit more deserving than mine. I was recently jogging barefoot on the beach and came upon a concrete walled drainage ditch flowing into the ocean. I neglected the foot bridge less than 20 feet away and ambitiously decided to jump across it... which worked out flawlessly. However, as I retraced my footprints on the way back at the tail end of my jog, I again found myself in mid flight over the ditch. This time without the necessary hang time. I made it out without swimming in the sewage water but sacrificed some skin on the bottom of my feet. The very same day, Jenn was dismounting our hog after a long ride and roasted a bite size chunk of her calf on the muffler.
After doctoring our wounds and a good nights rest, we made our way out to the Cu Chi tunnels. Over 200 km of tunnel built and used by the Viet Cong to survive and fight back against the US bombing raids. They were widened for tourists but even then I found them extremely small and cramped. I can't imagine living in them and fighting from them for years.
The tour was very informational and historically accurate; minus the introductory video which was hate evil America blah blah blah. The Viet Cong were very resourceful including using unexploded bombs as land mines to derail our tanks.
They also built their fare share of booby traps to snare our foot soldiers.
After the tunnels tour we returned to Saigon and Jenn settled into a chair and received a mani/pedi for $1 each.
We had a classy dinner with a trio of Hungarians whom we met previously in Northern Vietnam on vacation but they currently live in Saigon.
Our last full day in Vietnam was spent on a boat exploring the floating markets and villages along the Mekong River. Although a few places were a bit touristy, we were shown and sampled pop rice, coconut candy, rice paper, rice wine, and rice cakes. The coconut candy is cooked using rice husks, so there is a pretty dominant theme here. Even though the people here use the river for all facets of life, you wouldn't catch me swimming in it.
After returning from the Mekong we searched out a few tickets on a bus heading across the border into Cambodia. It is only fitting that we list a few interesting points about Vietnam on our last post here.
A month in Vietnam and I have only seen two coins, it is a paper dominated currency.
They love Bill Clinton since he lifted the trade embargo.
No copy right/piracy laws are enforced, knock off everything is readily available.
Motorbike crashes are all too common, they duck and weave the buses and trucks with reckless abandonment. We have seen the carnage of three this month. One of which the lifeless body of the driver was still laying next to the bike.
Unemployment sits at a whopping 2%, mostly because all the guys napping on their motorbike, drinking Bia Hoi leaning against their motorbike, or playing cards near their motorbike are clearly on duty taxi drivers.
Fried spring rolls are awesome.
The majority of Vietnamese people dress quite nice. He may only make 2K a year but you wouldn't know this looking at his slacks, button down shirt, and loafers.
Vietnamese is a tonal language. The word ma has six meanings: phantom, but, mother, rice seedling, tomb, or horse. All in how you pronounce the two lettered word.
A month in Vietnam and I have only seen two coins, it is a paper dominated currency.
They love Bill Clinton since he lifted the trade embargo.
No copy right/piracy laws are enforced, knock off everything is readily available.
Motorbike crashes are all too common, they duck and weave the buses and trucks with reckless abandonment. We have seen the carnage of three this month. One of which the lifeless body of the driver was still laying next to the bike.
Unemployment sits at a whopping 2%, mostly because all the guys napping on their motorbike, drinking Bia Hoi leaning against their motorbike, or playing cards near their motorbike are clearly on duty taxi drivers.
Fried spring rolls are awesome.
The majority of Vietnamese people dress quite nice. He may only make 2K a year but you wouldn't know this looking at his slacks, button down shirt, and loafers.
Vietnamese is a tonal language. The word ma has six meanings: phantom, but, mother, rice seedling, tomb, or horse. All in how you pronounce the two lettered word.