There has been little time for rest. An early flight from Da Nang airport to Saigon with Vietnam Air then an hour’s drive to the hotel, drop our bags then off to a restaurant for lunch. After lunch a nearly three hour tour of the city in trishaws. Three wheeled bikes with a seat for one in front. All the pedlars were over 70.
Traffic in Vietnam and most of Asia, is chaotic but the only accident was a truck and trailer unit lying on its side, in the country. Not one incident of a pedestrian knocked over or of the approx 50 million motor scooters hitting, or being hit by a car, observed. The individual skills are remarkable. The same could not be said for all bus drivers…:) I have said it many times, we are very over policed in our respective countries with regard to road use. There has not been a case of road-rage. Nobody takes umbrage at being “cut off”
Our very gregarious local guide took us to a narrow building in the city. Its significance huge for the turning of the tide for Vietnamese soldiers. Inside the building a very cleverly disguised entranceway to un underground “vault” The owner of the house was a furniture maker. He regularly undertook journeys to the north to sell his wares. What was not known was inside his bulky pieces of furniture were carefully carved out recesses to conceal weapons. Rifles, rocket launchers, explosives all carefully secreted and stored in the vault.
Day Two. Independence Day for Vietnam. 51 years ago.
Our trishaw journey took us to a number of important sights in the city. The first Saigon Post Office built by the French and opened in 1891. A lovely building and still being used but I suspect mainly by tourists sending post cards home. Almost directly opposite, the Independence Palace or now named Reunification House was completed in 1966 on the sight of a badly bombed Noradom Palace. Today is a national holiday
Vietnam unshackled from the American Yoke.
Today, a national holiday.
Inside the Post Office.
It was 51 years ago today that the Vietnamese Army rid its country of American interference. We are standing outside the Post Office and nearby, what were the offices of the CIA. The yellow building below.
Those old enough will remember the hasty retreat being staged by all Americans and their Vietnamese associates from the US Embassy and other buildings, and the arrival of NVA tanks! How could it be?
My words may sound harsh, but given the nonsense we are now seeing from the American government you realise that little has changed. My country too were involved in the battle in Vietnam. I could well also have been involved as I received my Call Up papers in April of 1965 but fortunately, younger brother Ash and I had booked and paid for tickets to sail to Australia. I was given release.
Continuing the war theme. 1st May. Cu Chi Tunnels.
This morning. Another trip out into the countryside by bus. This time to visit the huge network of tunnels that allowed the transport of arms and equipment from the north. Usually of three levels, the tunnels and rooms provided shelter and communication routes for men, families and materials. The allies knew about them and took great efforts to eliminate them, such as high level saturation bombing, defoliation of the forest and pumping water and poisons into them. The Vietnamese evolving defences to deal with every threat.
Bomb craters from B52 raids.
Jen in front, leading the way in one of the tunnels.
One of the many ingenious traps in the jungle to incapacitate an unwary allied soldier.
Museum of War.
In the afternoon, five of us walked to the Museum of War Remnants. Immediately inside the gate an array of brand new looking implements. Tanks, aircraft, helicopters, howitzers all beautifully painted and pristine. How much equipment was abandoned when the US and Allies fled!!
“Tiger Cages”! The bigger cage accommodated up to 5 men packed in unable to sit up straight.
The museum comprises outside exhibits and three floors of mainly photographic materials but the first section after the outside displays, I have little doubt that the “western” forces used underhand tactics to extort information but being the victors the Locals have portrayed themselves as angelic. That theme played out throughout the museum. One quote however, amongst the Many, stood out for me….
How pertinent given today’s catastrophic situation in the Middle East, completely lacking any moral or ethical compass.
Photos of Ordinance statistics and Troop numbers.
Photo of bombs. Can you imagine the impact of that monster on the right!
After 1.5 hours we had seen enough and headed back to the hotel a 20min walk away, in 34deg heat!
Tonight we are having a dinner to farewell Corinna our Canadian team member. We will miss her as she is a lovely gentle soul. She is joining another G Adventure group which is leaving for Cambodia tomorrow. She is a hairdresser and needs to get back to cater for her anxious clients. Perhaps we will see her down in New Zealand at some point. Being an intrepid traveller, this is her 9th G-Adventure’s journey.
Corinna in the background.
Saturday 2nd May. A visit to the Mekong Delta.
Our final full day in Vietnam sees us taking an Optional tour of the Mekong Delta. We would not have done it by choice, but it transpired that Trailfinders, our UK travel agency, had included it in our itinerary without us being aware. A two hour bus journey by seven of us, then various forms of transport to the several islands which occupy the delta. A great deal of industry is carried out there around coconuts, rice, honey and the captive market of mass tourism.
Tomorrow we have a 7 hour bus journey to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Jen will pick up the trail on the morrow.
Two significant birthdays in the family. Brother Kelvin, despite his best efforts, reached the advanced age of 80 years, two days ago, and today our little baby brother Ash has two years to go, to reach 80, that is..:) Yikes! They are catching me up..:)
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