Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Last Monday was a national holiday and therefor we had a long weekend. What better time to head out of Singapore. My friend and colleague Kate recommended we take a short trip to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City,formally known as Saigon is where we spent the weekend. Kate, Erin, Sandee, Shawn and I took a two hour flight on Friday night and spent the following three days discovering the makeup of the vietnamese people and uncovering the layers of its past. We ventured the busy streets on foot and by cyclo. Although the cyclo ride was a great way to see the sights, sounds and smells of the city, the change in the agreed price of the ride by our drivers and the hassle that followed caused us to tour the remainder of the city on foot. An experience not to be missed is a visit to the local markets which sell everything from knock off Michael Kors to pickled ducks. Another must do is the he war remnants museum, where we spent an afternoon. This museum displays graphic photographs and artifacts that show horrors of the Vietnam war. The atmosphere is somber and hushed as you make your way from one exhibit to the other. Without a doubt it was a sobering experience but one needed to truly understand their past and the scars so many will carry with them for the rest of their lives. After taking in the exhilarating AO Show Saigon at the Opera House and eating the best Pho, we decided to spend our last day traveling down the Mekong river. Along the way we stopped and visited Pagodas which are temples or sacred buildings, village markets, homes of local families and had lunch at an orphanage. Not only do the people of Vietnam share a past filled with suffering and tragedy, they also share a smile of hope and gratitude.