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The city's name was changed to Ho Chi Minh
City after the war but many still call it Saigon.
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10 million people live in Saigon in an area
of only 900 square miles. Most people are on motor bikes or
scooters.
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Traffic is chaotic with few stop lights
or signs.
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Notre Dame Cathedral was built in 1880
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Tan building in background was the old CIA
building where helicopters landed to evacuate people at the
end of the war.
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General Post Office - designed by Gustave
Eiffel.
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Interior of post office.
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We stayed in the Hotel Continental - first
hotel built in Saigon by the French in 1880. Beautifully refurbished.
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Pedestrian Street at night
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New and old together
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Cu Chi Tunnels
A system of deeply underground tunnels in the jungle with
several floors, alleys and branches over 125 miles long.
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Air vent
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Thousands of Viet Cong fighters and villagers
hid and fought the allied forces using these tunnels.
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A few of the tunnels have been opened for visitors so we
squeezed down the narrow steps to take a look.
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Medical bunker
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Entrances were hidden under piles of leaves.
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Booby traps hidden in the jungle floor.
When stepped on, the unlucky person fell onto some sharp bamboo
sticks in a pit.
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Visit to home that makes rice paper for spring
rolls.
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Curt learns how difficult it is to make
(and hot!)
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Rice paper drying on bamboo racks.
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We joined locals at lunch for a traditional
Vietnamese soup (Pho).
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Fred had the beef pho.
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Barb had the chicken pho.
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Vietnam History Museum
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The museum holds a collection of ceramics
and sculptures from some ancient kingdoms.
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We took an optional tour which included
a visit to a local theater to watch a traditional water puppet
show.
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Puppets perform in water with skits depicting
humorous tales from Vietnamese folklore. To see a short video
of one of the scenes, click here. |
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To view a short video of another scene,
click here. |
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Puppeteers take a bow.
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After the puppet show we were given rides
on cyclo-rickshaws through the narrow streets of Saigon.
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Face masks protected us from the dust and
fumes of the motorbikes.
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We stopped at a local outdoor pub for before
dinner drinks and appetizers.
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Before dinner we toured the kitchens of
the restaurant to see how the food is prepared.
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