So Long Saigon

After returning from the Mekong Delta we spent our last couple of days in Vietnam exploring Ho Chi Minh City and visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels.  First stop was Ben Thanh market, which was a 10 minute walk from our hostel and is an indoor shopping heaven; there are stalls selling shoes, bags, clothes, jewellery, souvenirs and food.  It was VERY busy inside, and extremely hot so we stopped for a fruit shake half way through to recover!

Unfortunately, like so many cities, Saigon has a rather sad history.  We visited the Reunification Palace where tanks of the North Vietnamese forces stormed the gates in 1975.  It was a bit like stepping back in time – everything had been left pretty much exactly as it was on that day.  We saw the communication room, formal reception room and even the ballroom on the roof terrace.  Again, the heat was taking it’s toll, and the lack of air con meant
we probably rushed through a bit, just to escape
somewhere a bit cooler! Click here to read more…