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Travel Photos...Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh CIty (Saigon)
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When I first landed in Vietnam, at Hanoi Airport in the North of the country, the name Ho Chi Minh City was the only one mentioned anywhere on official signs alluding to this Great Southern City. But when I moved to the South of Vietnam, the name Saigon miraculously appeared. Even the Railway Station here is still officially called Saigon.

There is also a notable Catholic influence still to be seen in the South. The Church above is just one example.

There are still quite a few buildings in Saigon displaying the old French Colonial style. Most of these buildings, indeed most of the main tourist attractions, are to be found in District One, the most opulent part of the city, close to the Saigon River.

It is quite pleasant walking through this District, exploring one attraction after another.

This old French structure is now the People's Committee Building. It used to be the Hotel de Ville de Saigon, and it was built in 1902 - 1908.
This statue of Uncle Ho, with young girl, sits in a park in front of the People's Committee Building.

I found that quite a few of these public statues were an interesting variation of the old Soviet Socialist Realist style, but strangely touched by a modern aesthetic. I know that sounds peculiar, but take a closer look at this statue of Ho Chi Minh. See what I mean?

These are the famous gates of the old Presidential Palace, now called the Reunification Palace. It was on the 30th April, 1975, that a North Vietnamese tank crashed through these gates and forced the President of South Vietnam to accept unconditional surrender, thus ending the Vietnam War.
And this is the tank which crashed through those gates.
This is the Old Post Office, built by the French. It is still in use today.
And this is the interior of the Old Post Ofiice. It is as busy as ever.
Apart from the Saigon River, there are smaller tributaries North and South of Saigon. It is fun exploring these rivers as most of them have well kept paths running alongside the water.

Google maps have been such a boon to the traveller. It is now easy to plan simple journeys on foot, and know how to find your way back to your hotel.

A giant turtle swimming in a pond in a street in the Old Quarter.
This old bridge, built by the French, seems to be a favourite spot for wedding photos. I saw three pairs of newly weds having their photos taken here.
Yep. You can just make out another wedding couple on the old bridge.
The old and the new in District One.
This path runs alongside the Saigon River.
This rapid fire gun sits in an old Huey helicopter. They are both part of the exhibits at the War Remnants Museum.

This museum is not for the faint-hearted. The pictures and documentation can be confronting.

Thich Quang Duc was a Buddhist Monk who committed suicide by setting himself on fire in Saigon on the 11th June, 1963. He was protesting against the policies of President Diem who was engaged in the wholesale persecution of Buddhists in South Vietnam. Diem was a fervent Catholic who wanted to turn South Vietnam into a Catholic State.

Eventually, Diem's stupid policies caused the army to stage a coup which toppled him and led to his execution.

This statue, with its allusions to flames, depicts Thich Quang Duc.

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