Saigon city tour

In the morning, i visited the War Remnants Museum For about 2 hours. The museum has 3 stories of exhibits and various U.S. military hardware (tanks, jets, helicopters, howitzers) on display outside the building. This disturbing display of man's cruelty during the Vietnam (American) War includes halls full of gruesome photographs, a simulated "tiger cage" prison and jars of deformed foetuses attributed to contamination by Agent Orange. An exhibit on the 3rd floor tells the story of the war journalists from all over the world who documented, and often disappeared or died in the war.

I then has lunch with an old colleague who is stationing in Siagon. Beside his job, he is committed to find a way Ti locate and sponsor young Vietnamese who need money for education. I also learned that Vietnam interest rates are in the range of 12-18% which are worth looking into.

In the afternoon, i visited the Reunification Palace, also known as Independence Palace. This is a restored 5 floor time warp to the 60s left largely untouched from the day before Saigon fell to the North (construction started in 1962 and finished in 1966). Formerly South Vietnam's presidential palace, the war ended on April 30, 1975 when tank #843 crashed through the gate. A replica of that tank is now parked on the lawn outside.

An English speaking guide touted us via the impressively kitschy recreation room, featuring a circular sofa, and the eerie basement, full of vintage 1960s phones, radios, and office equipment, supposedly left exactly as it was found when the North took over. There is also a photo gallery and a propaganda film recounting how the South Vietnamese supporters and American imperialists succumbed to Ho Chi Minh's indomitable revolutionary forces, upon which point the South Vietnamese supporters were forgiven and everyone lived happily ever after.

There was no winner in this war.

I then visited the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Post Office.