Saigon Saturday 26th May, 2007.
Extra early start for Ho Chi Minh City tour. Locals call it Saigon. 8am start. Coach ride to Chinatown and Binh Tay Market (wholesale market, very busy). Roads not too busy, being Saturday.
Next stop Giac Lam Pagoda built in 1744. Then to the Museum of National History - 2000 years of recorded history! Saw a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show - amazing and worth seeing. Drove around town, stopped at the Notre Dame Cathedral, saw traditional bride and 2 brides in Western style. Went to the Municipal Post Office to buy postcards and stamps. It was originally built to be the train station, but the rail line never came in that far.
Spent one hour at the Ben Thanh markets, bought some Vietnamese pictures, 3 t-shirts for $5US, Heineken beer, $1US. As well as a small timber box to use for incense but with chopsticks in it, $4US. Crossed the road from markets to a mobile phone shop to buy a charger for my phone $7US.
Saw lots of stalls selling meat and offal - quite sickening - little refrigeration and many flies.
Back to the Gemini for freshen up and lunch, nanna nap and washing. Lucy not feeling very well.
Sailed back down the Saigon River being followed by a storm. Almost dark by the time the pilot left. Must find out about the statues on the hill at mouth of river. And what the town is.
Dinner with Paul and Marie. Crew put on a show after dinner - didn't see it all but what we saw was very funny.
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