Officially the correct name is Ho Chi Minh City, but those from the south call it Saigon. Saigon is an old name from the Chinese, sai - firewood, gon - kapok. Firewood from the kapok tree. The name Ho Chi Minh City came after independence in 1975.
AROUND TOWN
Ho Chi Minh in front of City Hall
Evening fountain display on walking street.
The Bitexco Financial Tower at 262 metres was the tallest building in Saigon when it was completed in 2010. One year later it was surpassed in height. The helipad on level 52 was built in Korea in one piece.
The General Post Office, inside and out. Designed by Eiffel and built between 1886-1881. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Notre Dame Cathedral built by French Colonists in the late 1880s.
The Port
Another piece of Eiffel's designs is the 'Rainbow Bridge'.
Another French Colonial design is the Opera House.
The Rex Hotel - it was the location for the press conference announcing the Reunification of Vietnam in 1976. It was a French garage for 80 years. The rooftop bar was a hang out spot for military officials and war correspondents.
THE WAR
A sobering visit to the War Remnants Museum.
The Reunification Palace was the home and Office of the South Vietnamese President. In 1975 a tank belonging to the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the main gate bringing an end to the war.
Testing the tunnels at Cu Chi
MARKETS AND STREET SCENES
This guy has a portable service station. He can do minor repairs, inflate your tyres and top your motorcycle up with petrol.
Delicious pho noodle soup street style.
Loaded up with fruit
Coffee anyone?
Fit the goods any which way you can.
The flower lady
Crabs and other shellfish
The butcher shop
The toilet paper lady
Resting up with the local paper
A DAY TRIP TO THE MEKONG DELTA
Fishing boats
60 million tons of sand is taken from the delta each year. This boat carries the pipes that separate the sand and water.
Home is on the boat for those who ply these waters transporting goods up and down.
A cargo of rice husks
An orchid farm
A drink made from fresh kumquat, bee pollen granules and jasmine tea.
A quiet paddle into the quiet waters of the coconut canals.
A curious sight
A horse and trap ride on one of the islands.
Entertained with songs and music from South Vietnam by a family group of singers and musicians.
This fish, commonly called elephants ear, was all too much. It was so good, but only managed one side.
Making coconut candy
A floating village with fish farms.
ATTACK BY MOTORCYCLES
They line up aiming at us as we cross the road (on an official pedestrian crossing). For them it's a game of dodge the moving target.
And it's 'Go!!!'
Gather up speed and go, go,go.
Round the roundabout for a bit more fun
Put a load on and they're likely to be more mindful to hang on to their precious goods.
Bikes and drivers cover up in the rain.
No comments:
Post a Comment