Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
Cu Chi Tunnels, Cao Dai Temple, Mekong River Stay
Hot, wet and super humid
1. A City of Millionaires
With the exchange rate of approximately S$1 = 10,000 VND, many are easily millionaires in this developing country. Many expatriates can afford a comfortable life with the lower standard of living.
This is Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), south of Vietnam.
I haven't any expectation when I set foot in this city. Taking a public bus into the city, the bus was packed with students and locals whom barely could utter a word of English. Just as I wasn't expecting much, an uncle sitting in front of me turned out to be Taiwanese. He's a regular visitor (who knows why;)), and with him, I got some better insights of the place.
It didn't take long to find Ha Vy, the hotel I booked. Ha Vy is a family-run mini-hotel and more hospitable than I thought. Laundry only costs 10,000 VND per Kg and problems with faulty flush or heater were taken care of in the shortest time.
Syndy's (member of Fab 4) last stop was in Saigon and coincided with my first day there, so we met up. It was a rainy Friday, and we had to go about in disposable raincoats. That was much fun:) We had a good authentic Vietnamese lunch (thanks to her new friend, Martin, whom she met at our hotel), visited War Museum, Vietnamese rolls for tea-break and ended off the night with a "can't get enough" Vietnamese BBQ. We nearly gave up finding the place which was so well hidden, but luck was on our side... at the last minute, this place just appeared right in front of us.2. A Country with Sad History
Vietnam has an unfortunate history, a war so recent that it really shocked me seeing them now some 30 years later. It all happened between 1959 to April 30, 1975 - a time where most of our parents are fortunate and safe enough to be in Singapore when the Americans were dropping chemical bombs, missiles and rockets onto the country. Women, kids and elderly were not spared, the tortures they went through were so inhuman. Really saddening! Read more here.
A day trip to Cu Chi Tunnels helps you to imagine how the Vietnamese got through their days living underground. Not recommended for the Claustrophobic! I went into the tunnel (which is about 1.2m tall), being small, I could bend instead of having to crawl on fours. At one point in the tunnel, it was pitch black and for a moment I felt so helpless. Good to have a torch or mobile phone or camera with you! We also had a chance to fire a real rifle, and I tried 2 shots;)
A visit to Cao Dai Temple to witness the mass (ceremony) is indeed an eye-opener. Cao Dai , a religion derived from multiple religions - it draws on ethical precepts from Confucianism, occult practices from Daoism, theories of karma and rebirth from Buddhism, and hierarchical organization (including a pope) from Roman Catholicism. The followers, unlike those of the monasteries, are allowed to wed but they must follow monogamy. The various colored robes, different hats and even wearing of shoes signify the devotee's status.
It was also during this day trip that we befriended an Australian-Mexican family, Barbara and Paul with two very mischievous, adorable sons. They are a well-traveled family and always doing trips with the kids - lucky them at such a young age. We shared interesting stories and a dinner together.
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