We headed off north today to visit the Cu Chi tunnels. It took nearly 2 hours to get there mainly due to the traffic getting out of HCMC. The tunnel network was created by the people of Cu Chi during the 1960's and 70's and helped the Viet Cong (who were in league with the North Vietnamese) to control a large rural area very close to Saigon. In assisting the South Vietnamese Government and spreading communism, the American army (supported by the Australian, Thai, South Korea and New Zealand) launched major attacks on the area. The landscape was transformed and significant casualties were incurred as a result of conventional infantry and artillery attacks, carpet bombing by their B52's and controversially using napalm and chemical weapons, known as Agent Orange. The Yanks also suffered major casualties primarily due to the guerrilla tactics deployed by the Viet Cong. Sections of the tunnels have been reconstructed for visitors and you can crawl through to get a glimpse of what life must have been like for the local people living in them. We did just that and whilst we only went 25 metres along a tunnel, 4m below the surface and only 1m high it brought home to us what these people went through and their resilience to not only survive but fight back; no wonder they won! Over 16,000 Vietnamese people lived in the area at the start of the war with only 4,000 surviving. It's very interesting and makes an excellent day out although a poignant reminder of the atrocities of man. We arrived back early afternoon and headed off to see a few of the sights around HCMC. It's an interesting city but somehow doesn't quite have the appeal and old world feel of Hanoi. We went to the Reunification Palace, originally South Vietnam's Presidential Palace. Communist tanks crashed through the gates to the Palace in 1975 when Saigon surrendered to the North. The building has been left as it was then and included some really interesting photographs in the small museum. Afterwards we headed to Notre Dame Cathedral which looks completely out of place and also the Post Office building, which was a very early 20th century building. On the way back we indulged in a Haagen Dazs which was the most expensive ice cream we think we've ever had! Saigon is certainly a city full of contrasts including prices! Back at the hotel we packed up before heading out for our last evening in Vietnam. We had dinner at a nearby restaurant and then enjoyed a late night drink in the extremely busy street opposite the hotel. Despite several offers we declined having any drugs. The main offer was marijuana with the odd mention of opium. All in all we'll be sorry to leave Vietnam........
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| Local guide demonstrating Cu Chi tunnel access |
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| Diane about to enter one of the reconstructed tunnels |
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| And demonstrating the width and height of it ... |
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| Simon exiting after having to crawl on his knees |
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| Tanks outside the Reunification Palace |
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| HCMC Post Office |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral (in HCMC!) |
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| Toys'R'us have done a roaring trade in kids tables and chairs! |
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