Easter in Vietnam - Part ONE - SAIGON

A cyclo was a mainstay mode of transport - but now the
Saigon government is threatening its existence in attempts
to modernize this up-and-coming international city.

Vietnam is one skinny country - both in its land form and its people. We thought we could do both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), but as it turns out, Vietnam may look tiny on a map, but it's one long country. So, instead of our usual whirlwind trips, we decided to stay in the south, starting in Saigon.

Saigon is one chaotic city with very few traffic lights but lots of traffic: scooters, cars, vans, bikes, cyclos, motorcycles, taxis, and lots of carts with food, furniture and everything else you can't imagine. There is a pleasant mix of French colonial architecture and old Vietnam with the thrill of feeling like you are part of the culture as its people are open, welcoming and willing to humour as in our feeble Vietnamese attempts.

Again, I'll let the photos tell the story...

Traditional Vietnamese art includes this type of painstaking
silk embroidery. Skilled work shows a picture on both sides.
(And to think I can barely sew on a button.)

Mmm... glad to know the Vietnamese food
we eat in Canada is the same stuff in Vietnam.
Good pho, good spring rolls, good shakes -
all for a very un-Canadian low price.

I'm not sure as to the inventor's idea/motive for this motorcycle
as the poor guys can barely see above their cargo!

The next few shots are from the nearby and famous Cu Chi tunnels. Cu Chi is the area where a lot of the most intense fighting occurred during the Vietnam War. The Viet Kong designed an intricate series of underground tunnels and rooms where they hid and lived for months.

Kris' attempt at entering a tunnel. Not a very good Vietnamese
soldier.

Marion's attempt. Much better, but she would have passed
out at the first sound of a gun. These openings were
already widened for "Western-sized" tourists.

We went and tried a few shots of an AK-47. Notice the folks
in the background. The guns were LOUD - so loud that we
had paper in our ears and earmuffs, and yet they still hurt.

Going into the tunnels. There's a much better
shot of just how tiny these tunnels were, but
it wasn't suitable for internet posting :). The tunnels
were pitch black - this shot was taken blindly.

Tapioca - the main staple of the Vietnamese for the duration
of the war. It tasted like bland potato - great for a snack, not
so great for sustenance during a war.

Snake wine - we never quite understood the
significance of this and how it tied to the Cu Chi tunnels,
but nevertheless, we succumbed to touristy-ness and
took a photo.

Just outside of the tunnels was this great billboard.

Rubber Tree orchard.

Back in Saigon, older women vendors abounded - this one is
selling Tofu Pudding (Do Hua) - don't worry mom, we didn't
try this one off the street!

We got to experience a little Easter in Saigon.
Dozens of people gathered at the local Catholic church.
No seat? No problem - just park your bike outside and
enjoy the service. Very cool to see how dedicated people
were to faith.