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The charm of Saigon ... |
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I went to Vietnam for a couple of months on a work-related assignment assisting our Vietnam office on some finance-related matters. Doing business in this country is quite complicated - but challenging :) The first thing i noticed when i arrived in the heart of the city was that the main means of transportation was motorcycles. You can even see ladies in mini-skirts riding motorbikes - for all they care :) Since Vietnam is a socialist country, i was hesitant at first to go there but then i never regretted this assignment. The city is peaceful and the people are helpful and charming. Plus, who can resist visiting another country with an all expenses paid package - i can't :) |
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In the heart of Saigon (old name of Ho ChiMinh city - Vietnam's capital), some interesting sites would be the old Reunification or Presidential Palace. This is the site when in 1975, there was a transfer of power by the old government of South Vietnam to the Northern forces that ended the Vietnam war. One of the more fascinating sight to see is the basement, a network of tunnels and rooms, including a war room and a telecommunications room. Today the Palace is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of the Communist victory in Vietnam. The tank that crashed through the gates still sits where it was parked.
Ho Chi Minh is the heart and soul of Vietnam where you can see a lot of stalls selling all kinds of things. One of the things that you can buy there are the magnificent lacquerware. I bought lots of them for house decorations :) And yes, they also have a lot of very good artists. This is where I bought my Salvador Dali painting :) You can see different kinds of paintings done by local artists imitating world renowned painters. When you take a look at their work - they are quite good actually :) |
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Vietnam was once colonized by the French. It is therefore not surprising to see a lot of buildings and restaurants with French architecture. There is even a Notre Dame church in the heart of the city built along French style.
A cruise along the Saigon river is a romantic one. Just hop into one of these boats and you can also have your Chinese dinner while observing the teeming metropolis at night and enjoying the beauty of an ancient culture. |
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If you would like to have a taste of how the Vietnam war looked like, make sure that you visit the Cuchi tunnel. At their peak, the system of underground tunnels included kitchens, living areas, hospitals and a network of trap doors to guard against gas attacks. Now i understand why the US had great difficulty during the Vietnam war. |
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Ho Chi Minh is such a charming city. Traffic and pollution are not so bad unlike other Asian capitals. It's relatively peaceful and i would say, its timeless traditions are quite in place. |
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