Saigon, I’m still only in Saigon

[Xiaoshan_Sailor]

Some photos of the outdoor exhibits at the War Remnants Museum.

IMG_9771.jpeg (603.99 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9770.jpeg (595.95 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9769.jpeg (597.04 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9764.jpeg (648.54 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9768.jpeg (539.65 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9767.jpeg (617.28 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9858.jpeg (481.48 KiB) Viewed 261 times

IMG_9854.jpeg (485.96 KiB) Viewed 261 times

[Xiaoshan_Sailor]

Just two more from Saigon & I promise no more hijacking this thread.

As our friend has already discovered, the traffic there, especially from the motorbikes is absolutely insane! A fellow American expat who has lived in Vietnam over the years & visits often, recommended I take one of the moped food tours while there but I passed since I didn't want to risk my family's safety.

I was not the only tourist standing gobsmacked taking photos of this mass of bikes stopped before a traffic light.

IMG_9886.jpeg (597.84 KiB) Viewed 255 times

Sadly, I cannot post a video I took while standing on a corner behind the high end luxury mall featured at the top of the thread but have to say it was mesmerizing to watch bikes & cars proceed at breakneck speed into the uncontrolled intersection. I uploaded the clip onto WeChat during holiday with REM's 'Orange Crush' as background music. Gotta love that cop in the foreground looking at his phone with the melee behind him.

Screenshot 2024-03-06 at 11.13.52.png (1.07 MiB) Viewed 255 times

[lmcq11]

Hi everyone,

I had maybe 6 hours sleep in past three days. I wasn’t there 60 years ago but Saigon still know how to party at night.

Bui Vien street on a Tuesday night at 11. Can’t imagine it on Saturdays at 1am.

phpBB [video]

IMG_2959.jpeg (2.81 MiB) Viewed 254 times

Then relaxing time on the hotel rooftop terrasse.

IMG_3011.jpeg (1.93 MiB) Viewed 254 times

IMG_2996.jpeg (1.76 MiB) Viewed 254 times

[Xiaoshan_Sailor]

Nice! We stayed at both Nikko & Hotel des Arts Saigon during the first half & last night of our holiday. The latter offered a more convenient location in District 1 & sports a killer rooftop bar & pool.

Should you be passing through Phu Quoc 10km off the Cambodian coast, highly recommend dropping into La Veranda in the main town where we stayed. It's a lovely French style manor house set on the beach that looks like something out of a Hercule Poirot episode. Already booked a week there in late November once the rainy season ends.

Be sure to try the M60 should you decide to visit the range at Cu Chi Tunnels. Hadn't heard that sound since I was lugging one around in the early '80s while on an FTX.

IMG_9907.jpeg (619.37 KiB) Viewed 249 times

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Wow! What a difference 60 years makes! I wanna go party in Saigon!

[ColemanCollector]

$3.27CAD a round is a mighty tempting way to rip through a $100. 5 in the Garand, 5 in the M16, and 20 in the M60 or M30. That's what, about 5 seconds of fun and then I'll savour the Garand.

Mike.

[lmcq11]

Mékong river delta

Cruising the Mekong river and adjacent canals for 2 days between Cai Be and Can Tho, names that will trigger memories to brown water navy veterans.

Very beautiful, but it would be more peaceful and quiet if it weren’t for those rowdy Australians… Even the UK guy is starting to be annoyed.

Cool ship with 12 cabins

IMG_3065.jpeg (2.59 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3090.jpeg (1.53 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3110.jpeg (2.98 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3163.jpeg (1.21 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3189.jpeg (1 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3204.jpeg (822.31 KiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3469.jpeg (2.47 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3506.jpeg (2.46 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3424.jpeg (2.5 MiB) Viewed 213 times

IMG_3529.jpeg (1.2 MiB) Viewed 213 times

[HERMAN BIX]

Yeah we know how to get in it alright !!
Kept up with us or go to bed but don’t poop the party !!

[tankme]

A guy from my office just recently took a vacation in Vietnam. He had a lot good things to say about it.

[lmcq11]

The Mekong farm

Short excursion inland in a hamlet along the Song Mang Thit river near Vung Liem to see the landscape and how the people live. It’s 37c and humid.

The landscape… I instantly have visions of a US platoon or M-113 going through the fields. I saw too many Vietnam war photos not to associate any Vietnam sceneries with the war.

No more Bamboo houses, they are now made in cement and metal sheeting. This one here is in better shape than most. The owner has made an effort to put a garden around his place. The Americans would have problems torching the place up nowadays.

The farmer tending his plantation is too young to be a VC or South Vietnamese soldier, he looks happy. He sees me and he approach, and for some reason only known to him, he gives me a military salute… I was so stunned, all I could think off at the moment was to return his salute, exchange a few smiles, take a picture and wave goodbye.

ISIMG-1014138.jpeg (1.9 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1026168.jpeg (2.68 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1015467.jpeg (2.43 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1027201.jpeg (2.44 MiB) Viewed 200 times

IMG_7858-compressed.jpeg (866.44 KiB) Viewed 40 times

ISIMG-1014021.jpeg (2.69 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1015122.jpeg (2.55 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1014604.jpeg (2.7 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1027830.jpeg (2.52 MiB) Viewed 200 times

ISIMG-1014118.jpeg (2.57 MiB) Viewed 200 times