Landed a bit late, but as it was 11.30pm body time, 6.30 local time it was all a bit iffy. Went to see the Notre Dame cathedral, built by the French long ago. Impressive, but not as plush and high church as others we've seen. Then off to the Post Office designed by Eiffel of the tower fame. Impressive colonial building.
Then to the independence palace built for the president of south vietnam, together with a huey helicopter, still in place
.
We then visited the pagoda. As it is Tet, the Vietnam else new year, everyone was there to pray for health an wealth in the coming year. It was PACKED. We were warned not to let anyone touch us as there are pickpockets around, but there was no way you could avoid it in the scrum.
The tour included lunch, a fancy affair with 8 courses. I like this way of living.
We were then dropped at the hotel, where we had a short nap (not having slept well on the flight). Then we went for a walk around Saigon. Once again,the people. And the motor bikes. Everywhere. 10 times more than the bikes I hated in Amsterdam and just as uncontrolled. Had an ice cream and then bought a cake (delicious) to have with coffee in the hotel.
Good morning Vietnam
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Other Entries
-
1Flying over Baku at 39000 ft
Feb 181 day priorBaku, Azerbaijanphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
2Good morning Vietnam
Feb 19Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 2 -
3Tunnels and Pagodas
Feb 201 day laterHo Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 1 -
4Messing about on the river
Feb 212 days laterHo Chi Minh City, Vietnamphoto_camera12videocam 0comment 4 -
5If this is Sunday we must be in Hoi An
Feb 223 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 0 -
6Ruins & Rivers
Feb 234 days laterHoi An, Vietnamphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
7A long day ...
Feb 245 days laterHue, Vietnamphoto_camera15videocam 0comment 2 -
8If I were a king
Feb 256 days laterHue, Vietnamphoto_camera7videocam 0comment 2 -
9Lots of travel
Feb 267 days laterHalong Bay, Vietnamphoto_camera8videocam 0comment 2 -
10A misty day
Feb 278 days laterHanoi, Vietnamphoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
11The end of Vietnam
Feb 289 days laterHanoi, Vietnamphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 2 -
12Good morning Laos
Mar 0110 days laterVientiane, Laosphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 1 -
13Back on line
Mar 0514 days laterSiem Reap, Cambodiaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 1 -
14More temples, but totally different
Mar 0615 days laterSiem Reap, Cambodiaphoto_camera10videocam 0comment 1 -
15Drawing to an end.
Mar 0716 days laterSiem Reap, Cambodiaphoto_camera5videocam 0comment 0 -
16An experience - not for the faint hearted
Mar 0817 days laterPhnom Penh, Cambodiaphoto_camera7videocam 0comment 0
Comments

2025-02-11
Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank
Stanley
2015-02-19
Presumably the pickpockets have seen to the wealth part of the reason for going to the pagoda - do they raid the doctors' surgeries next? All sounds pretty hectic but you've arrived safely. Don't get too used to this colonial stuff - you will start regressing. (Regress? I've had a few but then again....)
Peter Wightman
2015-02-19
Nice to hear you are in Viet Nam. I was hoping that while there you might have found a very ancient vehicle to hire, something like "Stanley", guess you will have to make do with a Citroen, or else join the fray in a Yamaha - bon chance mon ami
Peter