New Saigon,Old Charms
Trip Start
Unknown
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7
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Trip End
Ongoing
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Monday, November 23, 2009
Cambodia ,Laos and Vietnam shared common borders with each other.With better roads now, overland journey from one country to the other is less arduous than ten or twenty years ago when overland travels were not only difficult and time-consuming but were also very risky particularly when going through less-traveled routes.
I took a bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City.The journey took about 6 hours with about 4 hours spent on Cambodian soil and the rest through Vietnam densely populated areas before reaching Ho Chi Minh City.Although, there are some similarities between the two countries, the contrasts and differences are more obvious
Reunification Palace
.For those who are not well-versed with the history of the region, it would be hard to understand how the difference in ethnicity, color and culture could be so diverse and endemic to a region that were so closed in history for thousand of years.The image, color and culture changed conspicuously as one crosses the border from Cambodia into Vietnam.
The Khmers looked very much like the Malays,Indonesians or Filipinos and are of darker complexion.The Vietnamese are more Chinese looking and in contrast with the Cambodians are fairer.In Vietnam, some of the phonation of the Vietnamese words even sound Chinese.
Ho Chi Minh City, is a city of motor-bikes, there mush be million of them here.After a few hours walking the street I realised they also form part of the city public transportation system, unofficially though.You can either hire a bike and ride it yourself, if you have the courage to meander through the maze of motor bikes in highly congested roads and the possiblility of being run over by another motor bike or worse still, by a car or truck.For a first timer, it could be very unnerving.The easier way is to hitch a ride from one of them for a fee.There are always a few of them hanging around any side streets looking for business.They are cheap, fast and seemed dangerous, if you are not used to it.There are three million of them in the city
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
.Taxis? It can drain your pockets very quickly.This must be one of the cities of the world where the taxi fare is ridiculously expensive.Never pay your fare in US currency, the mistake I made when I first got here.
Coming from Cambodia where the US Dollar is common denomination anywhere you go and you don't have to worry too much about exchange rate, I assumed neighboring Vietnam would be the same.Based on this assumption I didn't change currency at the border.
The taxi driver will take advantage of the exchange rate if you pay in US currency.The one I took converted US1.00 at 15,000 Dong.When I got to my hotel I checked the hotel rate was around 17,500.
In a city, where dogs eat dogs, doesn't matter where you are, could be any where in the world, never change your money with the hotel, particularly the five-star type.They have the worst exchange rates in the world.
As sure as the sun rise, next morning, on my way walking to the Notre Dame Cathedral I stopped at a money changer and the rate was 19,450 Dong to US$1.00.So, my taxi driver has made a small fortune out of my ignorance
Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica
.If you take a taxi just make sure you have enough Dong with you.Another trick which many dishonest taxi drivers throughout the world do and Ho Chi Minh City is no exception, is to take you on a merry-go-round before delivering you to your destination.Unless you are familiar with the city there is no point arguing with them.
I stayed at Hotel Majestic in District 1, this is the area where you would want to stay if your are a tourist or businessman. Most major hotels are situated here, from the biggest five-star to the no star and close proximity to shops,restaurants,bookstores,markets and most of every things that tourists would want easy access to.It is also close to some historical attractions.The Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace,Opera House, Central Market and many more are just about 15 minutes walk from most major hotels in the area.
This is part of the city where you need to do a lot of walking.It has streets with wide pedestrian malls and walkways well shaded by trees and numerous small parks scattered over the area.With the cool weather even brisk walking wouldn't hurt you.
A walk to the Reunification Palace took me about 30 minutes, which should have been only 15 minutes if I didn't take a wrong turn and went on the wrong street.The Palace was once the home and working place of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.Its most significant history was the fall of Saigon when the North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gate on 30 April 1975 that saw the surrender of South Vietnam and end of the Vietnam War.There are thousands of American and European tourists visiting this place.A lady I spoke to says her father used to fight in the Vietnam War.He passed away about 10 years ago
Interior - Saigon Notre-Dame
.I find visit to the Palace a let down, nothing much to see except for the two tanks and fighter jet on the palace ground, the rest inside the building were meeting halls bedrooms,dining rooms, offices and library mocked up for display to the public.
My walk to Notre Dame Cathedral took slightly more than 15 minutes, stopping at the Opera House taking photographs.
The Notre Dame is quite an impressive structure, a mixture of Gothic and Roman architecture. It has two bell towers.It was built by French colonists and was completed in 1880.In 1962,it was anointed by the Vatican the basilique title, naming it Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.
As it was Sunday afternoon there were still some worshipers but a lot more tourists, mostly Westerners taking photographs of the place.
Saigon did not suffer massive aerial bombings during the Vietnam War hence a lot of its old colonial buildings were not destroyed.Some are in a state of disrepair or marked for redevelopment but there are many that still stood proudly reminiscing its past colonial glory.
Due to time constraint I couldn't stay long enough to explore more of the city's attractions.This is a charming city and I wouldn't mind coming back.
