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Vietnam Business Capital
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Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC; also known as Saigon) with its over 5 million people runs a continuous soundtrack of cell phones, horns honking (motorbikes & cars), and buildings going up all around, signaling another day in the "business capital" of the nation. The city is nonstop, filled full of people seeking fortune in some manner. Click on the video and see what it was like for Darcy to just get across the street! Both motorbikes and cars DO NOT stop for any living thing.
We walked all around the main center stopping at the "Reunification Palace". Built in 1966 to serve as South Vietnam's Presidential Palace, it has been left just as it looked on that day in April 30, 1975 when Saigon surrendered to the North. We also walked to the market and temples in the area (see pictures).
One day trip took us to Cu Chi Tunnels, which were legendary during 1960's for their role in facilitating the Viet Cong control of a large rural area only 20 miles from Saigon. There were over 75 miles of tunnels from the Cambodian border to move men and supplies during the war. You can see how small the tunnels were from my shoe vs. the opening. Next we stopped at the Caodai Great Temple which was built between 1933 & 1955. This religion is a mix of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism fused with popular Chinese beliefs. The pictures and the video show the noon prayers, which included about 100 or so people. More thumbnails ...
Latest Comments (2)
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Darcy the Brave (reply)
Jan 26, 2008 09:10 EST by tendashseven
I can NOT believe the video of Darcy walking accross the interesection in HCMC! However, it does not surprise me that Larry did not volunteer for that role in the death defying action scene!
Darcy - Learn NOW to use the motion picture mode of the camera. Your life may depend on it.
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Cambodia (reply)
Jan 21, 2008 23:05 EST by buchheim
While you are over there you are supposed to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. See the following link http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/lifelist.html
Have fun and careful crossing those streets
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