Ho Chi Min City

Ho Chi Min City - Saigon

March 11, 2020

We arrived in Ho Chi min City aka Saigon on March 26/20. We flew there from Siem Reap Cambodia. This flight is our 8th since we left Canada. We have become experts in sanitizing our little area on the flights. First step is ensure you are in the right seat so you do not have to repeat the process. Next up, out come the Clorox wipes, rubber gloves and baggie for the subsequent garbage. We then wipe down tray tables, seat belts, arm rests etc then invert the glove with the wipes into our baggie. We are good to go after this cleaning process is completed.

We also wear our masks in crowded areas like the airports and on the plane. The Coronovirus has been very difficult for the world right now and we are super aware of protecting ourselves as much as is possible...we have never washed our hands so frequently. Our hand sanitizer supply has been a great thing too. The thing about Coronovirus is that it has greatly reduced the crowds in the various activities that we have done which we have enjoyed....always a silver lining to everything....it just depends on perspective.

Our guide, Kevin, took us to the War Remnants Museum. It was very difficult to view the impact on all who participated in the Vietnam War - Vietnamese, Americans and Australians. You may be disturbed as we were by the after effects as shown by the pictures below.

One corner of the museum grounds is devoted to the notorious French and South Vietnamese prisons on Phu Quoc and Con Son Islands. You will see the inhumane tiger cages and guillotine used by the French.

We also got to see the inside of the Saigon Post Office. It was interesting and the floor was dotted with marks, nicks and gouges from grenades that were thrown in during the Vietnam War.

It was a busy place the day we went.

Clocks showing times around the world.

Kevin pointed out the Canadian Consulate which is on the ninth floor on the right hand side.

Post Office of Ho Chi Min City (Saigon)

Across from the post office was the first Catholic Church.

Renovations were happening there too.

Hope the video works for you...very entertaining.

The next few shots are a big part of what Bob remembers regarding the end of the Vietnam War.

We had an ice coffee in the former US Embassy right where the last helicopters took off from when the US was withdrawing from Saigon during the War.

The US Officer apartments have long ago been converted to shops....the floors are still original.

The Elevator and staircase are also original.

A few of the apartments have been converted into the "Cong" restaurant which is where we had our iced coffee.

The view from the Cong restaurant. This would have been the direction that the first tank came into the US Embassy grounds as US Helicopters flew off the top of the building.

Looking into the restaurant from the balcony.

The bed frame was typical around Saigon as a means to stop grenades from coming into bars / restaurants where US personnel were. Our restaurant had one hanging as a reminder.

Hmmmm......a great coffee - the Vietnamese love their ice coffee.

Kevin had alot of knowledge so as we sat having coffee we discussed many facets of the war. This picture shows the resilience of the Vietnamese people - they had to recycle anything they could and our table was a recycled Singer Sewing machine.

A highlight of the day for Bob - the US Embassy today and below the Embassy at the end of the war for the US.

The shot of same building during the last day.

The Saigon Opera House - we went to a fantastic show there called The Bamboo Circus.

The Lotus flower is Vietnam's National flower symbolizing purity, serenity, commitment and optimism. All the streets in this area had different flowers that were the street lights at night. Kevin said the flowers help tourists to find their hotels and avoid getting lost and we can testify that it works really well especially at night.

Another highlight to see "The Rex Hotel" This is where the Five O'clock Follies occurred. This bar and cafe is where the reporters met daily for updates regarding the war. The press would then sit and type out their news reports...a very famous place.