Windwalker's Mountain Post: Traffic and Biking

On Tuesday we left the gentle, easy countryside and flew in to Ho Chi !inh City or Saigon as the city is still frequently referred to. This is Vietnam’s largest city. It is a fast-paced metropolis full of contrasts, with street vendors selling fruit and vegetables next to glitzy western-style bars and boutiques. Amazingly, the city’s history dates back only 300 years. In 1859 the city was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin China. From 1956 until April 1975 it was the capital of the US-backed Republic of Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is very much the heart of Vietnamese business and entrepreneurial activity. The French left their mark with some fine colonial-era buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. An interesting and frenetic city to say the least. Contrary to what we've experienced thus far, there are many, many more cars. There are at least 4 lanes of traffic going in any direction, both sides of the street. Lines in the road are only rough suggestions, as are traffic lights. One lives by the horn here. It means: coming through, watch out, move over, turning, look out pedestrian, hello, and much more. When crossing streets as a pedestrian, one just walks slowly into the traffic. Don't stop, for heavens sake, don't turn back, just keep moving and things just seem to work out. This day we saw...The Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office: Built between 1877 and 1883 this is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Remarkably every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. Her two forty metre towers, topped with iron spires, still dominate the city’s skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also the country’s largest post office.

The Reunification Palace: This is one of the most important buildings in the city. Here on April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.
The War Remnants Museum: Formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes, this is a poignant display of the futility of war. Some of the black and white photography in the ‘Requiem’ exhibit is particularly touching, dedicated to both foreign and Vietnamese journalists and photographers who perished during the conflict. The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine. This was a particularly difficult place to visit. The Requiem exhibit is truly touching and I''ll leave it at that for now.

This morning we were picked up at 7:15 A.m. We drive out of the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh Long. We have 40 km cycle ride along a combination of well paved, sand and dirt paths. It was obvious that not many tourists come here biking. Little kids, old ladies and construction workers to name just a few ran to the side of the path to stare, smile, call out "Hello," and wave. Lovely. At the end of the briking, we have a 2 hour traditional boat trip from Cai Be to Vinh Long to experience river life. We went from the Cai Be floating market, to lunch on the Mekong Deltaand back to My Tho where our van is waiting to drive back to Ho Chi Minh city. The delta is a huge water way. We think about the young John Kerry and so many others who traveled these waterways. Amazing.

Tomorrow we check out at 9:00, visit the Cu Chi tunnels, and then in the early afternoon, we fly to Cambodia where we will stay in Siem Reap.

Hotel, Saigon