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Forget everything you learned about the 'Green Cross Code'
Arriving in another fast paced city we started to crave some time by the beach so we planned a short stay in chaotic Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) before taking the train all the way to the top to start a coastal descent.First impressions of Vietnam are that it is far more developed and not nearly as poor as Cambodia, resembling Thailand more.Although it doesn't quite have the same disorganised feel as Phnom Penh, Saigon has a huge amount of very fast moving traffic.It's a good job we'd had practise at slowly making our way across the road so that they simply swerve around us, or we wouldn't even of made it into the hotel.As we arrived in the late afternoon the heavens opened and the rainy season lived up to its name - we didn't care much since we were so tired that we settled in a café with a beer, tofu for me and noodles for Sam.We had a perfect spot for watching the world go by and in this case the world was plastic poncho covered motorbikes (the rain cover sometimes shielding several children as well as the driver).
The main day in Saigon was spent at the War Remnants Museum and as usual, the market.The museum, we felt, was a must on visiting another country with such significant recent history.Again we learnt a lot and the photos especially explained more barbaric actions by a supposedly developed country.The after effects of Agent Orange (the toxic poisoning) during the Vietnam War can still be seen and many of the next generation are suffering the consequences.
Sam needed his hair cut again which suited me as I passed the time in the salon having a manicure and pedicure for 80p each!The early evening proved excellent timing for more people watching as we sat in a park (more like a large central reservation or roundabout) as city workers and local women gathered for an aerobics session accompanied by music from a loudspeaker.We mulled away the hours until it was time to catch our late sleeper train destined for Hanoi.
Liz
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