"There is a history in all men's lives."
This Shakespeare saying is especially poignant in Vietnam, a country that has gone thru the horrors & grief of war and is fast catching up with the rest of its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Behind the chic cafes & eateries, the high-rise buildings, the rising number of expats & the growing infrastructure lies the story of a courageous people torn by war.
At Cafe Kesera with my old friend from university, who kindly offered his house for my stay.
I spent hours in cafes just indulging in the famous Vietnamese coffee. This one is called Au Parc, near the Notre Dame Cathedral - a memory of French colonial times.
No one goes to HCM without experiencing some kind of fear at crossing the roads. Motorbikes are everywhere, going in all directions. Traffic lights are few. They actually station Tourist Security guards at major road intersections near tourist attractions to help tourists cross the roads!
I was petrified before someone taught me: Cross slowly, never run across (which was what I did). This gives the drivers time to decide if they should cut in front or behind you. Which works!
I was adept at road crossing after a day LOL. Miraculously, motorbikes just part & find their way around you, in front of you, behind you. And before you know it, you are on the other side!
L'Usine... totally chill & laid-back cafe/boutique/exhibition space.
Besides the upmarket cafes, I also love the roadside stalls which still give you the feeling of yesteryear.
Having breakfast by the Saigon River before going to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
A typical camouflaged trapdoor leading to the tunnels. The Cu Chi Tunnels were built by the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War and served as the Viet Cong's base against the Americans. It is a powerful & moving testament to the dogged tenacity of the people. Crawling in the tunnels was claustrophobic & gave me a newfound respect for the Vietnamese & their sacrifice of an entire generation. It is a must-see if ever you go to HCM.
Walking around the city... Hotel de Ville is another example of French colonial architecture.
Enjoying the calm of the river with my 2 guides...
It is impossible to recite everything you see or experience in a new country, but what's most important to me is not how many attractions you manage to squeeze in, how many photos you take, but the human connection be it with the natives or people you know that make the journey worth remembering.
Forgive me if I have not had the time to reply to all your comments & messages & emails... I've been all over the world in recent weeks, missing my room especially. :(
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