Bus Coach tours are not really my style but that's what we had booked for the day with the group. And it did allow us to see several sites that Kim and I wouldn't otherwise have made it to. I will say the bus having air conditioning was nice as we are much further south and getting high 80's to 90's temperature wise.
An hour and a half outside Saigon we went to the Co Chi Tunnels used very effectively in the war by the Viet Cong. Pics 1, 2&3. It is all a strange mix of creepy, morbid, depressing and cheerful, gun shooting, crawl around the widened and cleaned ('for your size') tunnels along with amusement park-esque animatronic statues.
Back in town we had a great lunch and then went to the Reunification Palace for a quick tour of the highlights. Pic 4. Kim and I were grateful that we had done it before in more detail. Then off to the war remnants museum...pics 5&6...much heavy propoganda and anti american sentiments with a heavy dose of guilt poured over the top.
Sarah, pic#7 is for you. ..I know it's not alcoholic or with an umbrella on the beach but it was the most delicious watermelon juice and I thought of you when I had Kim snap the shot.
#8 cannot begin to give you a feel for the sheer quantity of scooters and traffic insanity that reigns in the biggest city in Vietnam.
Matt we did see 5 on a single one! Granted one was a baby but the bar is raised and we will have to keep a lookout now for 6 people riding one scooter!
9 is just more yummy food to torture Ms Megan ;-) calamari salad and spring rolls with a fresh coconut water.
The second set is of the Notre-Dame Cathedral built by the French (the two pics on the left) right down the street from the Reunification Palace. And just across from that the Post Office! The three shots on the right are the floor, interior and exterior of the main post office also built by the French from 1886-1891. By far the loveliest thing I'd seen all day...week...etc (The reunification/presidential palace from earlier in the day was torn down and completely rebuilt in late 60's early 70's and it shows those years style dramatically)
Our group went out for dinner and it was delicious again. Ru Pho Bar was a winner...I will say if you'd like to try food extremely similar to what i had go eat at one of our favorites in town: Star Ginger on Folsom and Alhambra and have the lemongrass porkchops or go to KT Noodle in Rocklin and have a 53 bun noodle salad. They are spot on.
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