Last part of our stay in
Vietnam has brought us to visit
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the ancient capital of the state. Obviously we have to get used the usual bus, but for not nearly negligible: "only" ten miserable hours. Just arrived, the first problem we faced was to find a worthy abode for our tired limbs. Unlike the usual, no bus stopped in front of a hotel, but in the classic book office. Backpacks and shoulder in the search for a hotel ... the problem is that at six o'clock in the morning all sleeping and it is difficult to find un'accomodation. Fortunately we met Madame Cuc and all his staff to strictly female model Moulin Rouge. This is not simply a good hotel apparently some 'expensive ($ 20), but inclusive of breakfast, dinner and banana shake a freewheel! Unfortunately, the dinner has identified some 'monothematic, noodles and spring roll as if it rains. Saigon is a city different from those seen previously. It is composed of a mixture of modern buildings and traditional Vietnamese houses on the edge of the slum. But it is really huge, continuous expansion, the first suburb made up of new manufacturing buildings in European style.
Our stay lasted only for two days but despite this we were able to essentially capture the spirit of the city. In detail, we first of all directed towards the Chinese quarter (anything that) and then point to the Palace of Independence and its gardens.
The palace is a symbol of the war that has plagued the
Vietnam straddling the years'60-'70 and is surrounded by a huge garden fenced all around. Not far away is the Cathedral of Notre Dame, already seen in many documentaries on this country. In fact, his porca figura, very impressive and kept in excellent condition. New day, new goals: the market in classic Asian style and the museum of the war. The market is really interesting and articulate, superaffollato. To extricate the maze of all the thousands of stalls that make it up, serve a compass. Inside there is everything, from clothing to jewelry, to finish with the restaurant ... many people sleep there, we live and work within us ... incredible size of some stalls that you can find inside, at times the floor space is not sufficient even for the same owner that it sits above the goods.
The museum turned out to be really interesting, perhaps most impressive for its raw and naked reality.
It is divided into six halls, full of photos (known and less known) in color and black and white step by step guide visitors in a daily war. On display are also some military vehicles and their weapons, and some of the most abused and cruel instruments of torture. In the end if the aim is to make people understand what it means to the war, there have been successful.
The next morning we left Saigon for a tour that took us to visit the
Mekong delta, the largest river of South East Asia which flows precisely in the south of
Vietnam. These three days spent between boat and bus in which we could realize the real living conditions of the inhabitants of the river. These people are deeply linked to the Mekong in the sense that depend on it: we get the fish they eat, water to wash and eat and the main route. The houses along the river are built on small piles with straw roofs and for the luckiest sheet often in dilapidated condition, but people seem to ultimately lead a happy life dedicated to rice and coconut from which derive the impossible. Another attraction of the tour the floating market, specializing in fruit and vegetables. The market consists of a countless number of boats from all over the Mekong, also from Cambodia. People who engage in this work go to make their lives shuttling between the place of production and of exchange, eating sleeping and gave birth in their boat. Strange but true that there is a great breeding alligators (ten thousand copies), even though in reality, the Mekong is totally free.
Last stop a fish farm that raises obviously built on rafts floating in the middle of the river, managed at household level that ultimately allows the owners to lead a dignified life.
The tour was concluded on the third day with the transhipment in Cambodia. Rite usual procedures for crossing the border and this is our new goal!
Conclusions about Vietnam
The country has been deeply affected by. Will be for heat, the landscape of coconut trees and multidimensional quality of tropical fruits, or just for people that inhabits it. Simple people, very often below the poverty line, living on their condition with dignity rather than be happy they have. Although our visit was characterized by fleeting stages, interspersed by odyssey by bus, we could enter into the spirit that animates this country. Although our intention is a desire to move away from traditional tourist activities in
Vietnam, we decided to use two packages: the Halong Bay and along the
Mekong delta. Well ... we can advise at all, because despite the presence of tourists sites and people have still maintained a certain identity and originality. For all those who decided one day to visit
Vietnam, do not forget that this is still a developing country, meaning that you will not find all the comforts of the most popular tourist destinations, although there are certainly regrettable. Moreover the prices are nothing short of derisory both accommodation and the food ... thing that should not be underestimated.
The country is changing very quickly to meet the needs of Western tourists and could lose part of their identity for commercial needs. Hurry, the party is nearly over!