The usual cliche` from Robin Williams. ”Good Morning Vietnam”

 I couldn’t help but start today’s blog with the events of last night prior to docking in Ho Chi Minh City…

Meet the ROMEOS  (RETIRED OLD MEN EATING OUT) The ladies had decided to have a quiet dinner alone and that left the men to their own devices… needless to say, they  hit the Italian steak house for Manly food and a night of guy talk while we enjoyed our dinner upstairs at the restaurant. It was a great time for all and the vote was to make it happen again.

Now on to the excitement of the current day!

Waking up this morning and watching our slow journey to the dock closest to Ho Chi Minh City. The river was lined frequently with fishing boats out for their morning catch. I watched as some of them pulled in nets and threw them back again. The water is quite muddy and you can’t see a thing! I can’t imagine anything living in this stuff but it does!

Our tour today will be in the city on bus and then a little in Pedal cabs… the rickshaws of Ho Chi Minh City. Our guide will make sure we are having a good day!

Antonio, our guide

Pictures from the hour long bus ride into the city

What a contrast!

Old and new really are side by side here.

Getting our Pedal cabs and organizing our trip! 

Each of us had our own cab.  Looking at our drivers, I can’t imagine they can pedal enough to take us anywhere… And they are all older (70 years+ men)

My driver

Al and his driver

These guys are amazing!

They drove us down busy street, made a huge U-turn in the middle of four lanes of busy traffic and managed to show us important sights of their city at the same time! The weather was perfect, not too hot and hot too muggy! It was a fun, thrilling hour!

Just a little taste of what it looked like to me…..

Previously the US embassy. Now a US Veterans facility of some kind  still with heavy security.

The architecture shows lots of French influence in the old buildings.

After the pedal cabs, we continued our tour of sites… along the way, I just shot pictures our the window..

We made a visit to the lacquer factory where beautiful pieces are made. 

Showing the different methods of lacquering. Hand painted, mother of pear inlay and duck egg shells.

Placing the mother of pearl pieces on the wood and super gluing it

Picking duck egg cells for a design

The egg shells are in large, small medium and dust sizes

After it is put together,it must be washed and lightly sanded before the lacquer is applied.

This artist is doing the hand painting. I didn’t buy anything because it was a madhouse of tourists, but it was interesting to see how its put together.

We entered China town ( which I think looks as much like San Francisco as anywhere else) to view a temple. The woman who built it was a nurse and a kind person who tried to save her father and brothers from drowning. She had one brother in each hand and her father’s shirt grasped in her teeth. When her mother called from the beach, she opened her mouth to answer and her father ,of course, drowned!. She was so remorseful and saddened that she built this temple and worshiped there the rest of her life. Now it is a cultural landmark of Chinatown.

It was late in the afternoon when we arrived and unfortunately the temple was closed today. It was beautiful on the outside though.

After the temple we headed to the large market.  It too was closed as we were getting late in the day. Probably just as well, think I could have gone wild in the fabric dealer!

Outside the market

Fabric, fabric everywhere!

Thinking of going back tomorrow!

Inside the mall there was this beautiful temple or shrine. It was to honor the man who donated his money to build this mall for people to sell their wares in. Many of the venders come here before starting their day and give prayers for him.

After the mall, the sun set and we went to dinner at a local restaurant. The food was delicious and I totally forgot to take pictures. Then it was time to drive around looking at city lights on our way towards the ship. The night lights of Ho Chi Minh City are amazing. And after dark, the city becomes even more alive with traffic, people and excitement!

The area was buzzing with activity.

The Rex Hotel where in 1961 400 American soldiers were billeted there for a week while their tents were being set up. During the Vietnam war, the hotel was the site of the US military command’s daily press conference. After the war, the State sponsored tourism bureau took control of the hotel and renamed it.It was the site for the announcement of the reunification of Vietnam in 1976. In 1986 it was renamed the REX and became again a 5* hotel. 

A side view

We continued our drive back to the dock.

This building would be right at home in the French quarter of New Orleans.  It houses a coffee shop…but not just any coffee. This coffee is considered to be best. 

You take An espresso, drop in a little cream and a raw egg. Stir until it becomes frothy. Our guide says its “the best”! The entire building is three floors and only sells that coffee!!

The night ended nicely and I can’t wait till tomorrow when We again see the city by night and see the water puppets.

For those wondering about the traffic….will blog about it separately