Day 1 ( Sat 29 Nov)
From Singapore, we took Jetstar and arrived at the Ho Chi Min City Airport at 8.30pm.
Saigon night scene.
Took a taxi to Metropole Hotel for 100,000 Dong
Hotel is about 25 minutes from the international airport. Nice hotel, courteous staff and well maintained. The breakfast spread was also good and nice ambience.
Day 2 ( Sun 30 Nov 2008)
We woke up early for breakfast. First stop we went to was the War Remnant Museum. Took a cab there.
Opened in September 1975 shortly after the end of the Vietnam War, the War Remnants Museum is a popular attraction.
A captured US tank outside the museum.
Current exhibits include:
- Historical Truths: A room containing photographs, propaganda, news clippings, and signboards geared toward showing the wrongdoings of the U.S. government in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Requiem: A powerful collection of photographs taken by 134 international journalists who were killed during the Vietnam War. The exhibit was donated by the state of Kentucky.
- Vestiges of War Crimes: Another room heavily dosed with propaganda showing the mistreatment of civilians during the war.
- International Support for the Vietnamese People:A room containing posters and offerings from various world governments which were opposed to the U.S. entering the Vietnam War.
- Children's Painting Collection: A collection of artwork by young children around the world showing their ideas about war and peace.
- U.S. State-of-the-Art Weaponry: An exhibit of photographs, factoids, and signboards showing the technological advantage and firepower that the Americans utilized during the Vietnam War.
Some pictures in the museum. The walls of the museum are decorated with what the Vietnamese see as proof of the West's inhumanity. (The Museum apparently used to be called the War Crimes Museum).
A guillotin used on some prisoners. The Vietnamese apparently learnt lots of tricks from their former colonial masters - one was how to use the guillotine. This one is on display in the War Remnants Museum
Read this : A Sad Look Back From Saigon and “Saigon’s Political Prisoners Tell of Torture:
Freed with Paralyzed, Atrophied Legs”
Our next destination is to the Independance Palace which is only about 10 minutes walk away.
A guided tour is available in English
Next we take a short walk to the centre part of the city. This is the historical part which comprises many interesting landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.
Within this area there are many other interesting sights .
Streets of Ho Chi Min City. This is a city of motor bikes as you can see from the video below. It is just incredible, you can see every minute: lots of motor - bikes are "meeting" on a road crossing.
And how do you then cross the roads with all these motor-bikes zooming pass you non stop.
This sounds risky, but locals say that you just step out, make eye contact with the nearest approaching vehicle and keep walking.The first few times it took some nerve,but after a few attempts found that it did work, and the traffic went around you. However, if you are lucky you won't have to wait long before one of the city's tourist police will come to your aid, with traffic whistle and upheld palm.
