Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

We took a three day trip to Ho Chi Minh City with David's parents, Ruth and Robin at the end of April .  This was our first visit to Ho Chi Minh City, so we were not quite sure what to expect.  It turned out to be a very busy city with an enormous amount of motorbikes (crossing the roads and dodging the motorbikes was challenging to say the least).  We ended up exploring the city by foot and managed to visit most of the places of interest.  

Saigon Notre Dame Basilica

This cathedral was constructed by the French in the 1800's and is distinguishable by its Gothic and Roman-style architecture.  The entire cathedral was constructed with materials from France: the red bricks came from Marseille.  Most of the original tiles still bear marking from France, although many new tiles have replaced the ones that were damaged during the war.  It is one of Ho Chi Minh City's landmarks and attracts many visitors.  

Saigon Central Post Office

The Saigon Central Post Office is another landmark in Ho Chi Minh City and it is situated across the street from Saigon Notre Dame Basilica.  The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the late 19th century.  Not only is it the largest post office in Vietnam, but it is also a popular tourist attraction.  

Cyclo Resto

We had dinner at this amazing little restaurant one evening, where we had delicious Vietnamese food and where we got to make a contribution to their walls!  Patrons are encourage to write on the walls and many of the messages are to thank the restaurant and chef for the excellent food.  David did a good job of drawing both the Canadian flag and the Singapore flag (see the 3rd photo).
We enjoyed a six course meal that included spring rolls, soup with shrimp and winter melon, fried vegetables, stewed fish in a clay pot, fried chicken with lemongrass, steamed rice and fruit.

Independence Palace

Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace is one of Ho Chi Minh City's major landmarks.  This palace was the home and workplace of the President of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.  It is the site of the end of the Vietnam War during the Fall of Saigon in 1975, when a North Vietnamese army tank crashed through its gates.  Today the palace is open to visitors as long as there are no official meetings or receptions taking place.  On the day we visited, we were given access to most of the palace including the basement with its telecommunications centre, war room and tunnels.  

Cho Ben Tranh Market

This is a large marketplace in central Ho Chi Minh City and the market itself is one of the earliest surviving structures in Saigon.  The market is very popular with tourists and offers a wide variety of souvenirs, handicrafts, textiles and food.