Might as well MISS saigon

Trip Start Jul 27, 2006
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Trip End Ongoing


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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

After an 8 hour bus ride across the border- we arrived in Vietnam. It was amazing to see the instant differences between the two countries. On a map it was equal-distance from Phnom Penh to the border as it was from the border to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), but the bus trip took about 3 times as long on the Cambodian side because of their terrible roads. Once we got across the boarder, Vietnam presented us with highways and even an occasional road sign or two!!! We also instantly became surrounded by a swarm of motorbikes/scooters. One guide told us that 8 million people live in Saigon, but 5 million scooter bike drivers exist on the road each day. This surprised me a bit- especially since most motorbikes had at least 3 people on them... if not more.

In Ho Chi Minh we visited the War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, and Mekong Delta. It was hard to walk through the War Remnants Museum and block out the comments by the other visitors directed towards Americans. As an American I felt ashamed to be held responsible for the things in the pictures, and embarrassed to have so much hate directed towards me for what my country did. But I also felt a bit hostile towards some of the hypocritical comments. I know the war was bad, and I realize that the U.S. soldiers might have taken unnecessary measures at times... but I also recognize that many U.S. soldiers were also injured or killed in the war. I'm not saying that what was done was right... but I don't think pointing fingers is going to correct the problem. 1 or 2- war remnants museum
1 or 2- war remnants museum
 I don't think "charging Americans $50 to enter the museum" (as one person wrote) is going to help anything. I think it's important that everyone be allowed into that museum, U.S. Americans especially. We need to see what happened, and in turn we need to have our story told. People must realize that war itself is the problem- and discriminating towards citizens of a country is in no way rising above the situation. Until we can coexist peacefully, regardless of our race, location, or beliefs... we're not making any progress.

moving on~

We took a cruise through the Mekong Delta... which was... an experience. I hate organized tours. I hate being herded through a path, hearing the same speech being given to the tour group behind me and in front of me. I hate having time limits, and being drug into tourist traps. BUT with little time, and a lacking ability to speak the English- sometimes you're left with little choice. Mel and I signed up for a Mekong Delta tour which consisted of a 3 hour (which turned into a 5 hour) bus ride to the Delta, and a multitude of boat rides- large and small. We visited a floating market, a bee-keeping farm, coconut harvesting plant, handicapped art school... and then some, had dinner on an island, and time to explore its wonders.

Highlights of the trip were:
1) the canal cruise... where we were rowed by two people down a tiny stretch of the delta- very peaceful and serene.
2) bike rides around the *small island, which turned out to be rather huge. I got a fever mid ride and was certain I was going to fall off my bike and be run over by one of the huge semis hauling concrete and dirt around the island.
3) the taste testing- nothing like warm and sticky coconut candy, fresh honey tea, banana wine, and caramelized cashews to tickle the taste buds
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