Uneventful early am departure from Hanoi to Saigon. We said a fond farewell to our home away from home, the Hoa Binh Palace, and the lovely staff there. We were greeted in Saigon by our guide for the next 4 days, Son, who helped us get settled and have a tour of the city. So different from Hanoi: wide streets, less traffic, more modern buildings and lots of construction. we stopped for Pho for lunch at the place where Bill Clinton ate when he was here some years ago. Then off to see the grand Presidential Palace, the sight of the surrender of Saigon in the 1975. Still in use for formal governmental and other private functions. Seeing the basement bunker and military equipment was a grim reminder of what those years were like.
Then on to a sobering and sad visit to the War Remnants museum. Here we viewed photographs of many aspects of both the French and American wars here in Vietnam, seeing a side of the war that most of us had only read about in the past. The photographs of the aftermath of the war, compared with what many of these cities and villages look like now were most striking. The replicas of the Tiger Cages, used on prisoners, were terrifying.
The Duxton hotel, our home for just 2 nights, is quite luxurious and welcoming. Phil & I enjoyed a lovely workout and then a quick swim before drinks with Terry & Roberta, and then on to dinner at an extraordinary Vietnamese restaurant with very tradtional foods. Our waiter was very patient as he instructed us in the art of the "hot pot", and how to make a perfect rice paper roll with the ingredients. A rainy walk back to the hotel was quite lovely as it has cooled things off considerably. Tomorrow we head out of town to Black Lady Mountain and a special church and temple.
Barbara
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