Ho Chi Minh

29 March 2012

Every year, my family from the mother’s side would spend a short vacation together. For the past couple of years, I haven’t been able to join the annual vacation but this year, my schedule (or my lack of a schedule) permitted me to join them. And this year, we all went to the former capital of Vietnam… formerly known as Saigon… Ho Chi Minh City.

When we arrived, the first thing everyone noticed was that Facebook was blocked. Haha!  After we have settled in, our tour guide Nguyen suggested that we have lunch at Pho 2000. US President Bill Clinton once visited this restaurant and you could see a photo of him with the restaurant staff mounted on the wall, inside the restaurant.

Pho 2000 restaurant

One thing distinct about Vietnam is its traffic, which was mainly composed of motorcycles.  As we rode the tour bus around the city, I noticed all sort of Vietnamese iin motorcycles: women in business attires, men carrying bulky items and a family of 3 in one motorcycle. Their helmets look like hats, some with cute designs, with not a lot of padding in it.

Vietnamese Traffic

Our hotel, the Blue Diamond Hotel, was conveniently located a few blocks away from one of Vietnam’s market, Cho Bến Thành. From flowers and fruits to fake bags and local clothes, you can find all these in the market. Cheaper goods sold wholesale can be found at another market, Cho Bình Tây at the Chinatown. Fake but relatively good quality bags are supposedly cheap in Vietnam. However, I don’t know much about bags or shopping so I can’t verify that.

Cho Ben Thanh

Cho Binh Tay

Our second day started with the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. The tour brought us to the complex underground tunnels. Some of the entrances and exits were so small that you have to be quite skinny to fit into them. There were also different sorts of hidden traps that look like they were from a horror movie.

Secret entrance to the tunnels

A rolling trap

After the Cu Chi Tunnels, we spent an hour at the War Remnants Museum (Bảo tàng chứng tích chiến tranh). The museum exhibits documentary photos during the Vietnam wars. It shows the sad consequences of the war: innocent civilians mutilated by chemical weapons and malnourished prisoners. A number of photos were quite grotesque; they tell the stirring stories of the victims.

War Remnants Museum

Our last destination for the day was at the Independence Palace (Di Tích Lịch Sử Dinh Độc Lập), which used to be South Vietnam’s presidential palace. Today, it’s a historical relic and a venue for government events. I find the basement the most interesting part of the palace. There, you can find the President’s war room, vintage telephones, radios and typewriters. 

Independence Palace / Reunification Palace

On our third day in Vietnam, we had a half day tour at Mekong Delta. Before reaching the green and muddy village of Mekong, we rode a motorized boat along the Mekong River. The village was quite tourist oriented. Tropical fruits and drinks were served, there was a Vietnamese lady singing in costume and local souvenirs. My favorite part at Mekong was riding a small boat at the river, manually paddled by women wearing nón lá hats, the Vietnamese conical hat.

Riding a boat at the Mekong River

The Vietnam war had made a poignant affect to the country. Vietnam was the first communist country I've been to. Ho Chi Minh may not have the amazing temples of Bangkok or the amazing beach of Boracay, but it is in a country where you can easily be a millionaire (1 Million VND≈  50 USD). 
 



29 March 2012 ETD 07:15 ETA 08:55
01 April 2012 ETD 15:30 ETA 19:10

Bataan and Corregidor: A Road through history

3 hours by bus from the bustling city of Manila, Philippines is the quiet province of Bataan. Together with some friends, we spent a weekend at historic sites brought upon by World War II.

Every 9^th of April, Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) is celebrated in the Philippines to commemorate the Fall of Bataan during the Second World War. Today, at the summit of Mount Samat, in the province of Bataan, is the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor). Inside this historic memorial cross, a lift could bring up to the viewing deck, which offers a breathtaking view of the leafy surrounding mountains. 

Memorial Cross

At the Viewing deck

View from the top deck

30 minutes from Bataan, we travelled by boat to the island fortress of Corregidor, known as The Rock. It is also accessible from Manila by taking an hour-long boat ride.  This island is strategically situated at the entrance of Manila Bay and was used by the Allied Forces as a military bastion. Today, Corregidor’s big guns and ruins from World War II are a tourist sight.

Battery Hearn

Battery Way

We traversed the 835 feet long passage of the Malinta Tunnel, which showcased the laterals of the Fort Mills Hospital in this bomb-proof shelter.  In 1941, President Manuel L. Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmena were inaugurated into their second term at the west entrance of the Malinta Tunnel.

Inside the Malinta Tunnel

Aside from the enormous guns and mortars in the batteries, the island tour also brings you to the ruins of the mile-long barracks; to the Pacific War Memorial, built to honor the Filipinos and Americans that participated in the war; to the ruins of Cine Corregidor, a theater built before the war; and to the Spanish lighthouse where the souvenir shop is also located.

Top-side Mile-Long Barracks

Cine Corregidor Ruins

Spanish Lighthouse

Bataan and Corregidor are destinations that brought us back to the World War II era, where we can see a part of Philippine’s history.