Good Morning Vietnam

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Saigon, Vietnam

Coffee is very popular and concocted in various ways, both hot and cold. It is very strong but can also be very sweet. No Starbucks here, coffee shops abound. Rice is ubiquitous, is a staple in the Vietnamese diet and they grow and export massive amounts of rice.

Ho Chi Minh City was formerly known as Saigon until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 when it was renamed for the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh City bears the architectural and cultural influence of its French colonial past, as well as the scars from the Vietnam war. During the Vietnam War, Saigon served as the capital of South Vietnam and was a significant center of military and political activity. The Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, marked the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. The images from those events are seared into our memory banks.

Onboard an Onward dinner under the full moon as we sailed toward Saigon. The pool area was festooned and each food station represented a different Asian cuisine. Nice!

Big gnarly thing is bread fruit — an important tropical fruit that can feed a family!

Egg shell lacquer work — pretty cool! Yes, we did purchase and helped the economy. Despite Communist regime, free enterprise is well here! Reportedly the Vietnamese realize that communism is not the answer! DUH!

motorcycles are EVERYWHERE and there seem to be no traffic rules. Motorcycles weave in and out and children under 12 are not required to wear helmets! YIKES! Somehow it works and we didn’t see any accidents! When pedestrians walk out in front of hundreds of oncoming motorized vehicles, the people on foot somehow are avoided!

Mah Jong table in the “presidential palace”