SE Asia Travel Part 7

by Noel

---

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

On December 7th, our cruise line arrived at Phu Muy port. Part of our package in our cruise line deal is a prepaid Visa requirement to gain entry to Vietnam that costs us fifty dollars US. It was convenient, to say the least, because Immigration officials came on board, and all we showed them was our ship's identification card, and off we went.

The port in Phu Muy is controlled and has rigorous access. The cruise line contracted free shuttle buses to take us to the Port of Phu Muy main gate. Then, a quick-witted lady named Anna from Maximus Travel and her driver were waiting for us outside the main gate. The whole family and other relatives (fifteen of us) boarded an air-conditioned minibus exclusively for us. The bus ride from Phu Muy Port to Ho Chi Minh is about an hour and a half.

The ride is comfortable and it was nice to take in some of the lush countryside and cross the Mekong River.

Formerly known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City will dazzle you with awe and energy as it boasts skyscrapers, a city of commerce, chaotic whirl, bustling streets filled with mopeds and motorcycles, and delicious food everywhere.

I had just seen many motorcycles and mopeds at our previous stop, but when I got to Ho Chi Minh City, what we had seen previously was an understatement. Our guide explained the reason there are so many more motorcycles than cars is the exorbitant tax the government places on cars. It's much cheaper for most people to own and operate motorcycles, even families of 3 frequently seen riding together.

WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM

Our first tour stop was a visit to the War Remnants Museum. Most of you are too young to remember the US-Vietnam War, but this place gives you a realistic refresher of what happened to this city's dark history.

There are lots of exhibits, documents, photographs, artifacts, etc., as it depicts the dark time in Saigon and portrays the devastating impact of the US military action from a Vietnamese perspective. The photographs and films shown are intense and emotional, and there's no positive outcome from a war.

US armored vehicles, artillery pieces, the famous Huey's (UH-1) helicopter, and infantry weapons exhibits are the main attractions outside the museum. The bell made from a bomb canister, shown above, has a unique and poignant story.

Inside are two levels that contain a wide variety of posters, anti-war movement photographs, and the horrific toxic effects of biological warfare, 'Agent Orange.'

The family spent about two hours at the museum, and I was aghast, telling myself, what a way to start my day with this depressing, sad experience.

I took a break, sat at the museum's cafeteria, and consumed delicious fresh coconut white meat.

CENTRAL POST OFFICE/ SAIGON NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL

Our second stop gives you a glimpse of beautiful architecture from the French colonial period.

Situated in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Post Office is approximately 450 feet from The Notre Dame Cathedral. Inside the Central Post office, which is still active, you can buy postcards and stamps, among other small souvenirs. This remains an important historical site in Vietnam, being constructed in the late 1880s and serving as one of the first telephone and telegraph hubs in the country. It's a popular tourist activity to buy postcards and send from this location. In addition, you will find a vast arched ceiling showcasing the unique architecture of this building. Throughout the main and adjacent buildings yo will find small shops, vintage telephone booths, and intricate mosaic floor tiles...a perfect blend of neo-classical European architecture and Asian decorations combined. Definitely a must-see if you visit HCM City!

According to our tour guide Anna, behind the Central Post Office is the US Embassy in Saigon, the sight of a US Helicopter airlifting the last US Marines at the roof of the US Embassy in 1975. It was the famous Operation ‘Swift 22', the last man out of Saigon, not Taylor Swift's music title, '22'. It was difficult to get a picture of the location, and the actual building is no longer standing.

Exiting the Post Office, you face the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon.

Although being renovated from the outside, you can still see the striking red-brick facade and twin spires. It is a testament to the French colonial architecture that once dominated the city. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we didn't get a chance to look inside the cathedral. We did get a group photo here with Anna unabashedly photo-bombing. :)

After the Post Office tour, our tour guide, Anna, took the family to lunch at one of the famous Pho food restaurants in the heart of downtown. It was called the PHU 24, a fast-food chain specializing in Vietnamese Pho.

Anna introduced us to pronouncing the word Pho in the Saigon dialect, which was quite interesting. Everyone in the family had Pho soup with all the delicious ingredients and unique flavors. I'm proud to say I have eaten authentic Pho soup in Saigon. It is a must-have while visiting Vietnam. The kumquat juice was also especially refreshing.

Next, Anna took us briefly to the Independence Palace. Known as the Reunification Palace, the building itself was used as the home of the president of South Vietnam, like the Malacañang Palace in the Philippines.

This building was symbolic during the Vietnam War when a North Vietnamese army tank smashed through the gates, later known as the 'Fall of Saigon.' The security guard caught me off-guard when I asked him to take a picture with him. Fortunately, he obliged and was willing to do so. Again, we didn't get access to the palace due to time constraints.

Anna took us to the Phuongnam Lacquerware store, about four blocks from Independence Palace. Here, you can call it a small factory of specialty gifts and various selections of gallery exhibit prints made of handcrafted paint lacquer. There were demonstrations of the long process of creating the quality lacquer products from a number of materials. They also informed us on how to understand the difference between a quality lacquer product and a knock-off 'print' seen in the many souvenir sites around the city.

The staff and salespeople are friendly, polite, and courteous. I almost bought one large frame, but to no avail; my wife disagreed with the price. (You know what they say, right, always nod to your wife), So, NO, we didn't purchase it, though we did take home a few smaller items.

After we left the Lacquerware store, Anna took us this time and spent briefly on the front steps of the Saigon Opera House, Ballet, and Symphony Orchestra building.

Situated in the heart of Ho Chi Minh, District 1, the Opera House is one of the popular tourist attractions with its architectural design and façade that boasts stone-carved ornaments and statues of cherubs and angels. It is also a place to chill and relax if your choice of relaxation is watching people from this bustling street.

Usually, the last part of the tour is always a stop for souvenirs and gift shops. Anna took us to the Ben Thanh Market.

The site trades wholesale and retail items with clothing apparel, fabric, cosmetics, and an assortment of food. It is like the Baclaran Market in the Philippines. However, I must let you know that Ben Thanh Market vendors are aggressive, so please be prepared to get hounded and followed.

Also, as is common in these countries, using a public toilet includes a small charge. We spent some time at this market finding a currency exchange booth so we could get some small change in order to use the bathroom.

They give out toilet paper only after you pay, but I will say the facilities are clean and looked after by an attendant constantly. Best practice is to always carry a small pack of tissue with you for just these occasions.

The market is a popular place to buy cheap merchandise, but the quality of the products could be more favorable. It's a great experience and recommended for people-watching and grabbing a few small souvenirs

In addition, our tour guide, Anna, introduced a homegrown brand of coffee, but I wanted to be more impressed by the taste of it.

It was almost 5:30 pm when it was time to depart Ho Chi Minh and return to the Port of Phu Muy. It was an uneventful 90-minute ride; and the day was something to talk about with friends and family.

It was a great tour, and I highly recommend Ho Chi Minh as part of your Asia vacation experience. Thanks to Anna, our tour guide from Maximus Travel, and especially to Joe Hines for coordinating the event.