Saigon, or Ho Chi Mihn City as it is now officially named, is a large city in southern Vietnam. Formerly the capital of South Vietnam, when the country was split in half, it is still a massive business and industry hub. The roads are packed with motorbikes which is the main mode of transport in Vietnam and there are very few pedestrian crossings so to get across the road, you just have to confidently walk out and hope they weave around you. It takes some getting used to I can tell you!
We spent 10 days in and around the city, which was perhaps a little longer than it deserved but we really did like it there. We met some great people which aided in the length of time spent but it's just an interesting place to explore and enjoy. It's a great place for sightseeing.
Independence Palace once was the central administration building for the government in Saigon and was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnamese war, but has since been converted into a museum. It was here in 1975 that the Northern Vietnamese tanks took the city during the fall of Saigon - they drove through the palace gates and ended the war; the South conceded power over to the North and the two countries became one again. The story goes that the President of South Vietnam told the North Vietnamese soldiers that crashed through the gates, 'I have been waiting since early this morning to transfer power to you.' A soldier replied, 'There is no question of you transferring power. You cannot give up what you do not have.' It was built in the 1960s after the original building on the site was bombed in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the President. The outside was designed to look like bamboo.
The War Remnants museum, or the Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression as it was previously known, is a permanent exhibition about the First Indochina War (1946-54) and the Vietnam War (1955-75) and is comprised mostly of photographs depicting the horrors and destruction caused by both wars on Vietnam. It was a pretty horrendous afternoon looking around the museum; the photos and other exhibits are brutal in their attempt to show the truth of what happened. There's a room dedicated to the after effects of Agent Orange, a toxic substance dropped by the Americans, which is still affecting people to this day. The survivors who were exposed to these chemical bombs have been genetically affected and the evidence is seen in their children, who are born with mutations such as misshapen or no limbs, or as conjoined twins, some with skin diseases or congenital medical problems. Many children have been abandoned after birth, the parents either ashamed of them or afraid of the cost of raising a child with so many medical problems. It was really upsetting to read about. Like I said my blog about the Cambodian genocide though, as horrendous as these things are to read or hear about, it's so important to learn and remember, for the sake of the victims.
Our sightseeing in Saigon wasn't just about museums; as much as I love them, there's only so much information one can absorb before needing a break. So part of our experience of Saigon was visiting some of the rooftop bars that look out over the city! This was a fantastic way to see the city lights (both visits were at nighttime) and quite a contrast to the backpacker experience of sleeping in hostel dorms and sharing bathrooms with 9 other people. Was a lot of fun!
We also visited Saigon Zoo which I would not recommend to anyone, not if you care about animals in any way. It was a very sad place and had we known it would have been so bad, we wouldn't have given them our money. I love London zoo and Whipsnade zoo but I don't think developing countries care for animals in the same way, zoos are purely a money making device rather than for conservation or protective purposes. I won't be visiting another.
Despite all the gallivanting around, I was very unwell during our time in Saigon, having picked up a parasite in Cambodia (naughty thing crossed a border illegally) so had to visit a doctor. I had been optimistically hoping it would just go away if I ignored it but apparently that's not how modern medicine works. The clinic was great though; I didn't have an appointment so wasn't sure how long I'd have to wait but I was in and out within two hours. I had a consultation at first, then had a blood test and an ultrasound in case it was something to do with my organs, but the conclusion was acute gastroenteritis caused by a parasite and I was prescribed four types of medication to sort me out. The whole thing only cost me £30 including the four prescriptions and was a hell of a lot quicker than any medical experience I've had in the UK. There are definitely advantages to private healthcare, couldn't believe how quickly they processed all the test results for example - they can take a week in England! This is now the second time I've had a parasite, the first time being in Guatemala, and it is very unpleasant. A downside of travelling I suppose. (One upside is that you lose weight! I've lost 4kg which is a bit extreme but you have to stay positive in these scenarios.) You'll be glad to hear I'm all better now though. Ready for more street food and adventuring, will I ever learn?!
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