Sunday, December 17, 2006
Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City aka HCMC
Saigon... shit; I'm still only in Saigon... Every time I think I'm gonna wake up back in the jungle.
Okay, okay, enough with that. I'm in HCMC, have been for a couple days now. This city reminds me a lot of India, but in a lot of ways, it isn't. Delhi has a huge range between the rich and poor. Saigon however, while not enjoying Delhi's wealth also does not seem to have as many people that need to beg or are out of work or homeless. It was interesting to see the similarities but even more interesting to see the differences.
Enough of that too. So, the deal with Saigon thus far has been:
Day 1 - checked out the main market in the centre of the city; Ben Thanh market. I love seeing markets, they are a direct reflection of the city. This one was super(b).
Next, Ho Chi Minh Museum, followed by the (Re)Unification Palace and the War Remenants Museum. The Reunification Palace has been kept as it was when it was seized in 1975 by the North Vietnamese. It is still in immaculate condition today, with even the same old phones that were there on the desks 30 years ago. The War Remnants Museum, aka the War Crimes musem was quite moving. You hear about what happened here in the Vietnam War, but when it is right in front of your face, it's another story all together. I have no pics from this museum, but do a Google search and you should be able to find photos. The second half of day 1 was an eating extravaganza. Food and beer is crazy cheap here, and I have a new favourite restaurant: Quan An Ngon. Vietnamese street food, but made in a restaurant. It's safe!
Day 2 - checked out Chinese Buddhist pagodas in the Cholon district in the AM. These pagodas are roughly 250 years old, and are all functioning today as Buddist places of worship. In the PM, 2 more visits to Quan An Ngon. I love it that much, oh yes, I do.
Day 3 - did a quick stroll through the Botanical Gardens and checked out one more pagoda on the north end of the city.
This afternoon I'm off to the central cost: Hoi An and then up the coast to Hue.
