We are in Ho Chi Ming City formerly known as and still known by many as Saigon. We flew in by Viet Nam Airways to a city that is surprisingly modern, vibrant and relatively clean. Brushed up on my bartering skills and hit the market for some feisty and amusing negotiating with the local stall proprietors. One shirt started at 500,000 VND but in the end got two for 400,000VND and then got her to throw in another for 150,000VND. Good fun and some nice shirts to boot.
The following morning, we were back on the bus, for a 2 hour drive to visit the Cu Chi tunnels where the Viet Cong hid out during the war, controlling an area between Saigon to the Cambodian border. It was a very interesting morning. I couldn’t crawl through the tunnels as some of our fellow travellers did, due to my concerns over claustrophobia, no light in the tunnel and the sweltering heat. These Viet Cong were committed. I would have raised the white flag and said take me to your leader. The conditions were just appalling. They hid in the tunnels during the bombing at night and worked in the rice paddies during the day. Upon our return to HCMC we went to the War Remnants Museum, a graphic pictorial history of the American war. Obviously extremely slanted in their version but nevertheless the propaganda was not totally without merit. The atrocities were outlandish but both sides were guilty even though it was the Viet Nam version portrayed. The Agent Orange exhibition pictorial left a real impression on me.
Up and at ‘em next morning for our tour of the Mekong Delta. We arrived at the river and boarded a 20 passenger long boat for a tour of this vast body of water with grape vine floating all about us. After stopping at a local village we did the tour of the local candy shop where production was in full swing. They would puff the rice in metal woks filled with hot water over a wood fire. The puffed rice was caramelized and packed into small squares just like Rice Krispie treats. There were other concussions of peanut, banana and sesame bars all individually hand wrapped. Very labour intensive. For lunch Jennifer had grilled Elephant Ear fish from the Mekong. She really enjoyed it. I took the pictures. Back onto the boat where we later transferred over to the row boat version down one of the tributaries. (see Youtube video link) http://youtu.be/xbRvKbjhIbk Another full day. Can’t wait for a big Tiger beer on the front street terrace of our hotel watching the traffic. (See 2nd Youtube video link) http://youtu.be/bYR-NiqMvrw
The following morning, we were back on the bus, for a 2 hour drive to visit the Cu Chi tunnels where the Viet Cong hid out during the war, controlling an area between Saigon to the Cambodian border. It was a very interesting morning. I couldn’t crawl through the tunnels as some of our fellow travellers did, due to my concerns over claustrophobia, no light in the tunnel and the sweltering heat. These Viet Cong were committed. I would have raised the white flag and said take me to your leader. The conditions were just appalling. They hid in the tunnels during the bombing at night and worked in the rice paddies during the day. Upon our return to HCMC we went to the War Remnants Museum, a graphic pictorial history of the American war. Obviously extremely slanted in their version but nevertheless the propaganda was not totally without merit. The atrocities were outlandish but both sides were guilty even though it was the Viet Nam version portrayed. The Agent Orange exhibition pictorial left a real impression on me.
Up and at ‘em next morning for our tour of the Mekong Delta. We arrived at the river and boarded a 20 passenger long boat for a tour of this vast body of water with grape vine floating all about us. After stopping at a local village we did the tour of the local candy shop where production was in full swing. They would puff the rice in metal woks filled with hot water over a wood fire. The puffed rice was caramelized and packed into small squares just like Rice Krispie treats. There were other concussions of peanut, banana and sesame bars all individually hand wrapped. Very labour intensive. For lunch Jennifer had grilled Elephant Ear fish from the Mekong. She really enjoyed it. I took the pictures. Back onto the boat where we later transferred over to the row boat version down one of the tributaries. (see Youtube video link) http://youtu.be/xbRvKbjhIbk Another full day. Can’t wait for a big Tiger beer on the front street terrace of our hotel watching the traffic. (See 2nd Youtube video link) http://youtu.be/bYR-NiqMvrw
Ian,
ReplyDeleteNeat hats. What are they called? Sandpans?
Hate to be an alarmist but I sent you a video about eating fish from the Mekong a while back. Just stay away from the catfish !
See here again. http://vimeo.com/11817894
Mrs Lee is using ergonomically correct way of transport. .
Imagine if every scooter was a car ? Sheeshhh !
Presumably you were wearing some kind of Canadian emblem on you 'cause they'd run over a Yank being a pain in the a%% with a camera. LOL !
;-)