Our Last Day in Saigon

Saigon is a city of 8 million people, many motorcycles and few cars, this is because there is a heavy import tax on automobiles ranging from 100% to 250% so a $50,000 German car will cost a Vietnamese $125,000. They also only allow the importation of new automobiles. Today we traveled to the Mekong Delta which required us to go through southern Saigon. This is where the growing upper-class lives, this is where you see the imported cars, the larger homes, the upscale shops and the massive apartment complexes. We didn’t see any of north of Saigon in any of the other cities that we visited. We proceeded to the Delta where we boarded a tour boat to see how the local fishing industry worked the river, the China Sea, and the growing fish farms. This was the area that the US Gun Boats patrolled winding in and our of the numerous islands in their attempt to drive out the Viet Cong. The government of the north had two army’s, the Viet Ping, recruited men and woman of the north who served the Peoples Republic of Vietnam and the Viet Cong the people of the south who either sided with the political views of the north or more often the people of the south who wanted to rid their country of the invaders.

We got out of our tour boat and boarded a san-pan, a small three passenger boat that was able to navigate the shallow waters that ran between the numerous islands. Our passage took us to a bee farm where we sampled the honey, had snacks and played with their python, an opportunity which I couldn’t pass up.

We then took a mile walk to a coconut candy factory that wouldn’t meet OSHA standards but did put out a unique and tasty form of taffy. Then a trek through the coconut plantations where we saw deserted plantation homes that had been the property of South Vietnam supporters that fled the country at the end of the war. We stopped in a small village for a fish dinner Vietnamese style (see the pictures) the young lady presented a grilled fish which she stripped the meat from and combined with rice, herbs, and vegetables to make a spring role which you wish you could buy in the US. Back on out tour boat and back to our bus we made our way back into Saigon.
Our Vietnam farewell dinner was held at Po Cho, a stylish restaurant, but not memorable food. After our meal our group went to the Grand Hyatt for a cocktail, a Chocltini, which I will be drinking more of in the future. The pianist vocalist was an added treat to a very sophisticated room that added a new element to your 36 day journey.

In the rain five of us made our way to one of Saigon’s most famous bars, Apocalypse Now, dating back to the early 60”s and the Vietnam War. It’s now a techno-pop club with loud DJ spinning and strobe lights. Although we found the bar unique the balance of the young Vietnam patrons found us unique; American 60 something’s that were willing to get-down to their music. We were truly an oddity in their domain and they welcomed with smiles, pictures and dance. It will be one of our cumulative captured memories.

This morning we board a plane back to Bangkok for a nigh layover and then a 23 hour flight through Tokyo and back to Atlanta.

Vietnam is a beautiful country that will change dramatically over the next ten years, the people are friendly, and most of all forgiving. They have a long history of wars with the Chinese, the French, America, and Australia, and they now welcome them all to their country as tourists.
Tomorrow morning we catch a 5:00 am flight to Tokyo than on to the US.