Discovering Ho Chi Minh City
(Image by Aunyarat Watanabe from http://www.aw-illustrations.com)
After a long night’s rest, preparation for the day began with another buffet breakfast and a few making use of the hotel gym. According to the daily brief we packed our bags and waited for the clock to tick 9:00; a slow start to a big day.
First up on our list to-do was the Great Race; a 2 hour scurry through the dense heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We were given a list of questions to answer from points around the city and split into our teams for the day, hastily organising our plans of attack. We set off for the Post Office; an old yet well-maintained relic amidst the bustle of the crowded streets and overlooking a remnant of the French occupation; the Notre Dame Cathedral. We then boarded three-man cyclos to take us through the traffic and to the Reunification Palace for a quick photo before re-boarding and heading to a large market. Inside was a sea of coloured fabrics, cheap footwear and accessories, the overpowering smell of offal, and exotic fruits such as durian (which we tried). Emerging from a side street packed with statuettes, we craned our necks to see the full extent of the Saigon Skydeck before actually experiencing the awe-inspiring view which overlooked Ho Chi Minh City in its entirety. Although the race was more about the experience, team Penguins (Meg, Ry’annah, Jay, Rhys and Nick) triumphed overall and were awarded an all-expenses paid gourmet lunch. All biases aside, the Great race was a highlight for most and made all realise that they are in another country on the Big Experience.
Despite our short expedition to the Chinatown Markets, they provided an amazing experience for the senses due to the humidity, tight spaces and writhing colours. We weren’t able to purchase any items so this was purely to give us a taste of the life of the Vietnamese.
The War Remnants Museum was an eye-opening history lesson on the topic of the Vietnam War. Comprised of three levels, the Museum was constructed for veterans before being opened for the Vietnamese locals and now is a tourist attraction. The first level’s walls are lined with posters and protests in different languages opposing the war. Although quite tame this level shows the lack of support that the Americans had in their incursion into Vietnam. The second and third levels are all photos detailing the horrendous war crimes committed by the Americans and the effects of contaminating Vietnam with Agent Orange. Although confronting the War Remnants Museum was a very important experience in understanding the Vietnam War and its effect on the country today.
The finale to an epic day was a barbecue dinner which we cooked on our own personal grills in the centres of our tables. Subgroups within our group began to break apart and conversation flowed between us as we ate, unified.
Big thanks to Suny our tour guide for allowing us to glimpse the culture and the life of the Vietnamese and for making our lives easier. Looking forward to travelling down into the Mekong Delta tomorrow!
By Nick and Rhys