After leaving Hue, I got a lift to the next big town further down the east coast called DaNang. Looking at it, I think DaNang is very up and coming. Lots of investment and new hotels being built. Where I was staying was near the beach, which was very beautiful and clean. The sea was a little bit rough so I just paddled…not that warm, but still warmer than the UK!!
If I’m very honest, I didn’t do very much in DaNang, just a few walks along the beach. I had wanted to visit HoiAn, which was about an hour drive away, but never quite made it. Sometimes it’s good to just have some down time. And the most important thing about DaNang, is that my little apartment had a washing machine….It’s the small things when you are travelling. Everything got washed twice….my whites still look grey though ?
Following the 3 nights in DaNang, I‘m back on another flight, with my sparkling clothes, to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon to the older folks). This southern city is much more westernised than Hanoi, in the north. Lots of Starbucks coffee places and fast food outlets, like McDonald’s and KFC!!! The weather is also warmer and more humid. My hotel was in a good district, within walking distance of a lot of the main sights. I also booked myself onto a city tour for one of the days. I usually look at trip-advisor for tour recommendations , which so far has worked out. The young lad, that was our guide on the HCMC tour was clearly against the communist party led government, that they have in Vietnam. It was really interesting to hear, from him, how the people are too scared to say what they really are thinking, or that Vietnam will ever be anything other than a communist led country. I guess there still is a north/south divide in Vietnam, that may always be there, but at least they have peace.
Like the north, HCMC having been colonised by the French, had a lot of buildings that had a French ‘feel’ to them, including their own ‘Notre Dame Cathedral’. The cathedral is undergoing repairs at the moment so is only open for mass on Sundays. The masses are help in Vietnamese, English and French. We also had a visit to the War Remnants Museum. Our guide made it very clear, that the museum was a government sponsored museum and this was very obvious. The Americans were portrayed in a very bad light, and I’m not denying that they did a lot of horrific things, in Vietnam, but there was no balance as to the awful things the Vietcong also carried out. A very sobering visit, with lots of graphic pictures.
Following the end of the war, Vietnam went through reunification and what used to be the palace for the king, is now a museum. I think it was used initially for the government, but that was all moved to the north and the palace was seen as unlucky….it’s yin and yang are all wrong, apparently!! A very beautiful building, with wonderful views across HCMC.
My final visit on the tour, was to a temple where people pray for woman or fishermen/the sea. Not quite sure what the connection is but a nice place all the same.
HCMC has a beautiful Opera House, and while I was there, they had a traditional show on called ‘Vietnamese Bamboo Circus’, think cirque soleil. I got a cheap seat, and had a very enjoyable evening. The ticket also included a mini tour of the Opera House.
So that was my time in Vietnam. A very brief visit, mainly because as a UK passport holder I can get a 15 day visa for free, and every bit of money saving helps, when you’re travelling. I definitely would have liked longer, hopefully I will be able to return in the future. I now also understand how Asian people are so tiny….they use chopsticks….I have just about mastered getting 8 grains of rice into my mouth in 1 go!!!
And when travelling, it’s all about getting your food balance just right ??…..I think I’m getting better with Asian food ?
LUNCH 
DINNER