Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon)

Saigon (most people still call it that) is a pretty cool city. After 5 or 6 hours on the bus from Phnom Penh we arrived, dumped our bags at the travel agents' and had a look round town for place to stay. On the bus we'd met Matt & Fenja (Eng & Ger) and all 4 of us checked into a room above an art shop. We managed to find Bia Hoi on the first night opposite our place and drank happily for only a few pence all evening. Most of the days were spent just knocking round the city really. Nothing too stressful, but then what's new? Evenings, though, were great for getting stuck into the Bia Hoi after cheap food. This is a cheap city. Full Stop.

'Mobile' radio equipment

We saw the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants museum, both of which were impressive but for different reasons. The Palace was huge, with many state rooms and reproduced underground rooms such as the President's wartime bedroom and radio rooms. The war museum, unsurprisingly, contained very vivid images and artefacts from the US war, including many US tanks, planes, choppers and seismic bombs, captured at the time.

Black Hawk Down

We also saw a Catholic cathedral in Saigon, and the HSBC building next door. Those bloody bankers get everywhere!!

There was a lovely park in the centre of the town, just 1 street from where we were staying. There was a weekend festival there the night before we left. John wanted to eat Oysters but the queue was too long and it was closed when we came back.

HSBC Saigon

More war remnants

Park by day

Park by night

Presidents Kitchen

Tanks a lot

Topiary chicken

Where did you get that hat?