Weather : sunny, 30o with afternoon storm
We are delighted with our hotel, the Sanouva. 3 star in the CBD. Close to restaurants and major sights.
Today was our Ho Chi Minh City tour with our Indochina Journeys guide, Tai.
The morning activity outside our hotel.
First stop the former Presidential Palace but since the fall of South Vietnam in 1975 it has become the Independence Palace, home to ceremonial occasions and is a virtually a museum, recalling the glory and downfall of the southern regime.
One of the welcoming suites, this one for ambassadors presenting their credentials. Impressive lacquer work.
Next stop the Catholic cathedral of Notre Dame, not a particularly memorable building but interesting for its presence and acknowledgement in the Communist city. There is a belief that the statue of Mary in the park outside has cried real tears. When it initially occurred thousands camped below it, keeping vigil, but the crowds were ordered to disperse to eliminate disruption in the area.
Across the road is the historic post office built by the French in the nineteenth century. The activity inside is overlooked by Uncle Ho.
We then had an hour at the War Remnants Museum. Not a heartening experience with tales of terror, torture, death and mutation from the results of Agent Orange - all graphically displayed.
Lunch, included, at a local restaurant, Ngon,delish and lots of atmosphere.
Then for a bit of contrast, Tai took us to Chinatown's Kim Bien Market in Cho Lan or District 5.
There was a big influx of Chinese to Vietnam with the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
It is a huge wholesale market with clothing, homewares and a food section, specialising in dried goods.
Our final stop was at the Thien Hau Pagoda, built in the nineteenth century, and dedicated to a goddess who can protect people on the high seas. It has the most exquisite ceramic decorations, wooden carving and attractive courtyard.
Then the heavens opened and we made our way home through rapidly flooding streets
Dinner down near the river at a lively restaurant called Jaspar's, sitting outside on a small balcony, watching the busy traffic and nightlife on a steamy evening.
M&M
1/10/2014
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