A trip to the modern Vietnam, a rising economy

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24. 12. 2004 Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
After ten hours of flight landed in the small airport in Yangon (Rangoon), capital of today Myanmar (formerly Burma)
From time to time, we could see the domes of the classic oriental religious monuments, pagodas and already very similar to dreaming it would have been nice to visit that place ... A world so different from ours! Landed they expected only those staying here, we have to wait in air, even here there are no stewards or stewardesses but only military, just think that the form of government is the military dictatorship!

After a bit 'ridecolliamo the time of our destination: Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), transfer to the hotel since we taste that haunt us all the time: scooters ... Rivers, oceans of riders, nearly all on board limited copies of "Hello" or "Yes" running in all directions, on the sidewalks, two, three, four and carry it all! I even saw one carrying on his little scooter a full glass! When you have not noticed almond eyes smile and greet you ... especially girls ... and how cute they are! Walking, some drew the attention of friends like to say: "Look West!"

I enjoyed so much about struggling with scooters to take a walk or while I was shopping, which here is most fitting! On the street I tasted the coconut juice directly from the nut open with a machete blow, right in front of me!

But what of our hotel! Simply amazing! Suffice to say that the New World Hotel (five star superior) is the one chosen by Bill Clinton and his staff when he visited here! (At that time he occupied the entire hotel!)

Dinner New Year! All seafood: prawns, sushi, salmon and many other fish! Finally, a platter of tropical fruit and off in the sea of scooters to celebrate "Christmas" ... "Holy"? "But when the Vietnamese celebrate Christmas?" In fact, although a small proportion of the population is Christian, while the rest are Buddhist or Hindu, Christmas is seen as we see Halloween, ie, as a reason as any to revelry. Here, however, this festival is celebrated as a sort of Summer Carnival ... All are dressed as "Santa Claus" in a sleeve ... never celebrated Christmas in shorts!

I used to think that all three Christmases were spent abroad are very sad and melancholic, but not today! Maybe because no one was around me with loved ones or simply because Christmas here is not really heard!

Meanwhile approaching midnight and I am lying alone in this King Size bed in my room after a shower to shake off all the confetti that girls mischievously, I threw the shirt!
25. 12. 2004 Cu Chi (Vietnam)
Visit the Cu Chi tunnels which follow long paths nearly 250 km and were built by the Viet Cong during the French occupation at the time of the war against America, and even visiting the city of Saigon. I am ventured together to help one of those tunnels were very small ... and very long, but definitely avoid if you suffer from claustrophobia.
We have shown the traps, how to kill American soldiers ... for the first time I saw the war from the other perspective ...

In the afternoon we visited the Saigon Chinese: first stage: Colon, a typical Chinese market is very colorful and animated. Then the Thien Hau Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in the city, dedicated to Lady Celeste protector of sailors and seamen. At the entrance we were handed spirals of incense burning scented helped to create a mystic atmosphere and in accordance with ancient tradition.

Visit to the Museum of Horrors of War with a photo documenting aspects even bloody conflict with the Americans.

Visit immediately after the Notre Dame Post Office designed by Gustave Eiffel.

In the evening I am allowed a relaxing ride in "risk" that feels good "slip" sitting quietly in the middle of the river all'infernale scooters ... but poor lungs!


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