Saigon Story

Woo hoo! We are finally in Vietnam ! Although we have enjoyed both Laos and Cambodia there was always the sense of the adventure begins in Vietnam . Saigon or HCMC or Ho Chi Minh City is far more built up and advanced than you would imagine given its history. It is much more akin to Bangkok than to its neighboring capitals of Phnom Penh and Vientienne. Think lots of people, big buildings, flashing lights and even more motos. The city definitely has a buzz about it.

We spent much of our time here firstly finding out about all the gruesome aspects of the war and waiting for a Chinese Visas. The definite highlight would have to be our day visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels. For those not in the know, these were tunnels built by the Viet Con during the Vietnam/American War in a town outside Saigon called Cu Chi. They were used as an under ground network for living and fighting the Americans. We had a wee wander in one of the tunnels that the Viet Cong used to live in and it was cramped to say the least & also inhabited by the odd bat or 2. Included in the package of the tunnels was a trip to a shooting range where, for about US$25 we got the chance to share a clip of an AK47.. pics are on facebook and I will try and upload the video with sound of Em firing hers.

Next stop is the jam making/wine making mountain town of Dalat

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written by  Michael Russell on June 15, 2009 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
from the travel blog: Escape from Blighty
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