Thursday late morning-------------Tom finished reading all three of Steig Larsson's Millennium series as I borrowed the second one from a local gal @ Kim Travel then bought the 3rd one from a Britt on the bus to Mui Ne (beach resort). We stopped by to return book two @ at the travel office,which I am in the middle of reading so we bought another “copy”, only type available in English. Then we ventured off where our taxi intended to deliver us at the “better” Ho Chi Minh Museum, which he did, only to discover that it was closed for another 45 minutes. We decided to see other sites instead of waiting for the museum to re-open.
As today was our last day in Vietnam, we walked from the Museum grounds along the Saigon River –once witness to the departure of many from Saigon in boats trying to escape the Viet Cong take over in 1975. It was an eyrie feeling thinking about how so many people must have felt on a similarly hot, humid day not knowing how long and how far out into the Mekong Delta they would go. I am certain they never imagined ending up in refugee camps in Cambodia, drifting longer than their bodies would last, or ending up anywhere along the shores of the delta scraping for survival.
We walked by the most exclusive beautifully designed hotels, several built by the French in early 1900s. Formal tea available beginning at 200-300 times the price for tea in a local shop. We were only dressed to casual tour so they probably would not have accepted us in the fancy hotel restaurant anyway. Many folks appeared to be in serious discussions around tables in the lobby, which was the size of a major movie theater.
This area near the river's edge is now filled with very upscale internationally known shops such as Gucci, Armani, & the like. Vietnamese men and women even more so were dressed very chic in primarily western clothes and styles. My thoughts of the boat people, several whom I have met in the US over the years, made it all such a contrast.
Fresh coconut milk and it is COLD! Deliicious!
Waiting for customers
After a few more blocks away from the Saigon river-strand, we passed a lovely park (did I mention earlier that Ha Noi and Saigon even more are strewn with wide boulevards, lovely parks, fountains, outdoor sculptures and lots of sport & art space? Several park benches and badminton courts are set up for the choosing).
Tom bought water from coconut/water saleswoman when I spotted what looked like a Henri Moore sculpture. Then we landed on Pasteur street to enjoy a fabulous “last supper” of grilled shrimp & octopus with greens in garlic and as always, steamed rice at the at the Pasteur Garden.
We are now at the airport getting ready to board, so long for now. Photos to follow if I cannot get them on now.
Bringing home more a few more things than I took.
Ho Chi Minh Museum in Saigon near the riverwalk.
Our hotel attendees. Very lovely folks.
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