We've had two days now in HCMC, so we've done the tourist bit, gone to the Cu Chi tunnels, the Mekong Delta and a flit around the city. Ho Chi Minh City was called Saigon and the central part still is. It was renamed in 1976. 10 million people and 4 million mopeds says it all.
The Cu Chi tunnels are just outside the city and are a series of tunnels dug by the Vietnamese as a defense against American bombing in the 60s and 70s. These tunnels run to over 200km, all dug by hand in the clay. This whole area was apparently never taken by the US despite it being so close to the capital. The region is full of man traps of ingenious and terrifying design, built of bamboo, scrap metal and unexploded bomb material which the Vietnamese used to fight against the bombs and agent orange that rained down on them. Agent Orange the defoliant, is still causing birth defects today and they think it will take another three generations to get clear of it.
The area is testament to the horrors of war. We got to go down a short stretch of the tunnels, Carole managed to catch her elbow on some bare wires and fused the system - much to the horror of some of the other tourists. These tunnels had been widened to allow Westerners to get down them, but still a squeeze! The tunnels were built with underground sleeping areas, meeting rooms and hospitals as well as loads of traps to kill any enemy trying to get in.
We also got to fire an AK47 at the range - real tourist stuff but still great.
The Vietnamese are hugely proud of the way their nation came through the American War - their name - Ho Chi Minh is a real national hero and talked about as though he was still alive by everyone. Despite the horrors from both sides we have only met one person who still held a slight grudge, most people just seem keen to improve themselves and get on with life
Late that afternoon we got to the Saigon Central Post office so that we could post some clothes and stuff back home - great place, the staff wrap up all your bits and pieces and box them up for you for 20000d - about 60pence.
The street food here is a step up from some of the food we've had, although Carole did decide to try the snails - here you suck them out of the shells...
Today was a trip to the Mekong Delta - didn't really know what to expect but the name is so evocative we had to go. Joined some Malay and Myanmar families in a tourbus, and had a boat trip/craftwork/boat trip/craftwork/food/boat trip sort of day - a laugh though.
Travel to Singapore tomorrow, really quite sad to leave Vietnam, a fantastic country with some lovely people who have a great sense of humour, they love corny jokes - We want to come back before it changes too much.
The Cu Chi tunnels are just outside the city and are a series of tunnels dug by the Vietnamese as a defense against American bombing in the 60s and 70s. These tunnels run to over 200km, all dug by hand in the clay. This whole area was apparently never taken by the US despite it being so close to the capital. The region is full of man traps of ingenious and terrifying design, built of bamboo, scrap metal and unexploded bomb material which the Vietnamese used to fight against the bombs and agent orange that rained down on them. Agent Orange the defoliant, is still causing birth defects today and they think it will take another three generations to get clear of it.
The area is testament to the horrors of war. We got to go down a short stretch of the tunnels, Carole managed to catch her elbow on some bare wires and fused the system - much to the horror of some of the other tourists. These tunnels had been widened to allow Westerners to get down them, but still a squeeze! The tunnels were built with underground sleeping areas, meeting rooms and hospitals as well as loads of traps to kill any enemy trying to get in.
We also got to fire an AK47 at the range - real tourist stuff but still great.
The Vietnamese are hugely proud of the way their nation came through the American War - their name - Ho Chi Minh is a real national hero and talked about as though he was still alive by everyone. Despite the horrors from both sides we have only met one person who still held a slight grudge, most people just seem keen to improve themselves and get on with life
Late that afternoon we got to the Saigon Central Post office so that we could post some clothes and stuff back home - great place, the staff wrap up all your bits and pieces and box them up for you for 20000d - about 60pence.
The street food here is a step up from some of the food we've had, although Carole did decide to try the snails - here you suck them out of the shells...
Today was a trip to the Mekong Delta - didn't really know what to expect but the name is so evocative we had to go. Joined some Malay and Myanmar families in a tourbus, and had a boat trip/craftwork/boat trip/craftwork/food/boat trip sort of day - a laugh though.
What are they wearing?
Vietnames folk music - an acquired taste
Travel to Singapore tomorrow, really quite sad to leave Vietnam, a fantastic country with some lovely people who have a great sense of humour, they love corny jokes - We want to come back before it changes too much.
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