Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) Vietnam

Our visit to Hanoi was like taking a step back in time and served as an introduction into Vietnam’s past, while our visit to Ho Chi Minh City was like a fast forward into the intensity of modern, industrious times. Ho Chi Minh City is the economic centre of Vietnam and often abbreviated as HCMC and the name commemorates the first leader of North Vietnam. It is also the largest city in Vietnam, with close to 9 million inhabitants. It was formerly known as Saigon and still referred to as Saigon, especially by the elder generation. Confusing to visitors for sure! We tended to gravitate to using the name Saigon, so it seemed only fitting to us to call this, our visit to Saigon.

Located on the Saigon River HCMC is a busy port and which is part of the Mekong River Delta waterways that lie immediately west of the city. River cruises include visits to the many floating markets and are popular day trips for tourists, however we elected for a short private tour of the Saigon River. It was no luxury speedboat or a dinner cruise just a small wooden craft at a slow intimate pace to see the varied lifestyles and skyscrapers.

It ‘s a working river with smells and floating garbage and not a tourist attraction, although flows so close to the financial centre with large modern skyscrapers.

Bitexco Financial Tower

One example of Saigon’s thriving areas that include export processing zones, industrial parks, software and hi-tech parks.

Definitely an appealing tourist area is the Paris square. Here buildings go back to the 19th Century Colonial French era.The Saigon Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Central Post Office are three iconic buildings within the square, surrounded by trees, parks and streetside cafes. The post office is famous for its neoclassical style, created by architect Gustave Eiffel. A bright yellow exterior with a huge clock and roman numerals while inside is the stunning vaulted interior, more like that of a train station with a giant portrait of Ho Chi Minh gracing the back wall. Elegant and unique as it is still a functioning post office that and sells postcards and stamps, so for the first time on our trip I decided to test out a postal service.The cards reached their destination in 12 days (Abbotsford). I just learned the building has been repainted as the yellow was a wrong choice!

Saigon Central Post Office

I always want to see pieces of art and to learn to more about a country’s history and that’s why my morning spent on Sophie’s private Art Tour was perfect. What an  unique way to take a journey in modern and contemporary history while viewing works of Vietnamese artists. She explained how under French colonial rule, art schools were established and classic European traditional styles were taught. The tour centered around a visit to a private collection, the art gallery and an art school. Of particular interest was the work of war artists, Combat Artist of Vietnam War who bravely sketched soldiers  in war zones, with meagre supplies and paper. Also it was interesting to see the visually effective messages of the Propaganda posters of both the American and Vietnamese. A different kind of art used to celebrate military action. Women, as subjects were portrayed in their roles as war participants. All this gave me a better sense of the convoluted history of Vietnam.

Motorbikes are everywhere in Vietnam especially clogging the streets of Saigon, They stream and weave around you as a pedestrian trying to be calm and while crossing the  street. The noise of horns and brakes, the smell of fumes and the hectic pace is all grating yet fascinating. Step out, step slow and steady and do not hesitate or make any sudden movements. Have faith, you will make it across the street!You see all kinds of drivers and passengers; children on stools in front of the driver, pregnant women, animals, etc. Helmets are supposedly now compulsory!

As we left Saigon preparations were visible for TET, the countdown to the Vietnamese New Year on March 19,2015. Bright yellow flowers adorned entranceways and bright red  paper decorations were everywhere. 2015 is the Year of the Goat. In Vietemese culture, people born in the year of the goat are hard-working, determined and never give up easily yet are peaceful. They are also humble and vulnerable to exploitation by others. Forecast is for a year of tranquility and cooperation. I sure hope so. These traits are those I have come to know and admire about the wonderful people in this country.

"Life is a struggle in which sorrow leads to defeat" Kim Thuy, Ru