Morning All
It’s 6.30 am, and Chris and I are about to head for breakfast before boarding the tender to take us ashore for our second day in Vietnam at a town called Nha Trang....more of this tomorrow.
I am pleased to report that my body clock has now adjusted to Eastern time and for the past 2 nights, I have enjoyed my full quota of sleep. This is fortunate since yesterday’s itinerary in Vietnam was very demanding. We left the ship at 7 am and were driven 2 hours to Ho Chi Minh City, otherwise known as Saigon.
This is what I have so far learned about Vietnam.....
Having been restored to Communist rule in 1975, the country opened itself up to tourists and foreign investment 10 years later. So yet again, we found ourselves in a city of contrasts...miles and miles of small makeshift family businesses lined the road from the port, interspersed with rice fields and cashew nut trees. The general impression was unsophisticated and near poverty. As we reached the outskirts of Saigon, the coach entered a newly built tunnel under the River Meekon. The exit to the tunnel revealed a completely different city full of modern skyscrapers and international businesses such as KFC. I wonder how long the Vietnamese will continue to call this progress.
The main form of transport in Vietnam is the moped.
Imagine the congestion if all moped owners suddenly drove cars!!
The maintenance of street electricity and communication wiring is passed from father to son. Understanding the system is an inherited skill.
We saw the tanks on display in the grounds of the Presidential Palace at the spot where they broke through the gates in 1975.
We visited the roof garden of the Rex Hotel, a favourite broadcasting haunt of international journalists in the 60s.
We watched a beautiful display of Vietnamese Water Puppets at the History museum.
The temperature was a constant hot and tiring 34 deg. The people were positive, welcoming and proud of their progress. I was bowled over by this country. And now we are visiting for a second day.
Good Morning Vietnam!
No comments:
Post a Comment