Vietnam – Arriving into Halong Bay at dawn – Photos
There was an eerie yellow light as we drifted through the strange rock formations in the bay.
The squid fishing boats were out with their lamps
Vietnam – Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City – Scenes from around the city
Saigon is an interesting city to walk around. There was so much to see.
Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City – Xa Loi Buddhist Pagoda – Photos
The Buddhist temple has the most incredible flowers and trees.
Vietnam – Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) – Temple in the park.
A little temple we found in the park.
Interesting to see Ho Chi Min now venerated as a god.
Vietnam – Saigon – The Sculpture Park – photos
It was fascinating to walk through the sculpture park and see the incredible range of sculptures – classical to neomodern.
A good place to stumble across.
Vietnam – Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) – the Hindu Temple
Somehow you do not associate a Hindu temple with Saigon – but there it was!
Vietnam – Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) – the wet market! Covid-19?
Walking around in the market in Saigon you can see all manner of animals for sale. These ‘wet’ markets are the type of place where diseases, such as Covid-19, start up. Different species of wild animals are brought together in close proximity. The people like their food fresh (I suppose the heat has something to do with that). The animals are kept aline in cages and bowls. You select which ones you want and they are slaughtered on the spot – hence blood is splattered and cross-contamination occurs.
Vietnan – View over Saigon (Ho Chi Min City) from the restaurant in the Bitexco skyscraper – photos
We went up the top for a cool drink and views over the river and city. Quite spectacular. The beer was good too!
Vietnam – Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) – the traffic – photos
The first thing you notice about Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) is the traffic. The roads are one mad rush of motorbikes. To cross the road is a nightmare. If you waited for a break in the traffic you’d be there all day. You have to walk across at a steady pace and allow the traffic to flow around you. It’s very nerve-racking the first few times but you get used to it and we didn’t get killed once!
The second thing you notice is crash hats. Sometimes whole families of five are on one motorbike. Little kids and babies clinging on. Often the parents are wearing crash hats but not the kids.
Then there’s the luggage and baggage. It is amazing how much can be transported on a little motorbike.
