HIGHLIGHTS OF VIET NAM

HO CHI MINH CITY

We looked forward to our visit to Viet Nam with eager anticipation. We elected to take a tour from the ship after conferring with shipboard personnel who cautioned us about the business ethics of the taxi drivers for hire.  We followed the advice of our shipboard staff and our reward was a good day with an informative guide and a great lunch of native fare.

  

Tallest building with helicopter pad on side

Our visit to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) Viet Nam is memorable both from our personal experience as well as the opportunity for us to see the country that has been the source of great discord in our country.  I must confess that my curiosity was somewhat compromised by uncertainty and concern as to how I really felt about the events that had caused such turmoil in my country.

Aboard our comfortable air conditioned bus, our guide gave us a summary of Viet Nam’s history, which included the years of French occupation, the Viet Nam war and subsequent events that have led to the Viet Nam that we were visiting.  I came away just as confused and uncertain whether I believed my country’s involvement in the Viet Nam struggle was right or wrong as when I went in.

Notre Dame Basilica

Our guide told us that people own their land, can own a business (as long as they have a business license) and he seemed to suggest that they are relatively free and independent.  People who work for the government can only have two children but people who do not work for the government can have more. His commentary suggested an upward mobility that I personally did not perceive in practice but perhaps my perspective is from a different view. 

Communism was neither portrayed as a negative in the country’s progress or as a positive influence though the guide made it evident that the country is progressing economically. We were amused to learn that the masks worn by many are to protect the skin and not as a result of what we had assumed was "poor air quality".

Paalace

We visited the History Museum and Reunification Hall (former Presidential Palace) and drove by the Zoo and Botanical Gardens built during the French occupancy.  We stopped for picture taking at the Notre Dame Basilica which was made entirely from materials imported from France and the neo-classical Saigon Central Post Office. We enjoyed a lovely buffet lunch featuring a bountiful selection of mouth-watering Asian foods that were a taste of perfection.

Post Office

We visited a lacquer factory and drove through the busy streets that could reflect the enterprise of a major city anywhere including the high end stores that occupied the shopping malls that abound. We stopped for photos at the market mall and viewed streets lined with the stalls and shops of entrepreneurs trying to “eek” out a living in the tradition of their lifestyle and culture. 

Scooters

As our driver maneuvered our bus through the busy “scooter occupied” streets, one could understand why a 100% tax on the purchase of automobiles is imposed.  If half of those scooters were replaced by cars, the city would experience gridlock.  We were amused by the helmet clad families of as many as four traveling on one small scooter.  Perhaps the Vietnamese family who “scoots” together stays together?

Rice Paddys

As we returned to our ship through a tunnel under the river built by Japan and over newly constructed roads, we saw the rice paddies that are a major source of revenue for the farmers and the country.  I marveled that in spite of the many examples of progress and affluence, the work of farming still depends on a very primitive lifestyle of hard work and diligence.

CAPITALISM

There you have it – our day in summation.  There were many things shared and much information given to us by our guide but that is the stuff of other writings. I am writing a book and this is not it. 

Our next stop is Hong Kong as we near the end of our voyage and realize that we will soon be back home where the heart is. 

Market Mall 

Visit to the Temple