It's not Ho Chi Minh City, it's Saigon - obviously!

I left Hoi An in this:

And arrived at Saigon in this:

So it was odds on that I'd like Saigon anyway!

The short journey from the airport to the centre of the city put a smile on my face:

Yes, I like it already!

First on the sightseeing agenda was:

Otherwise known as How To Get Depressed In 1 Easy Lesson.

Being the age I am I remember only too well the images of horror, death and destruction that appeared on news bulletins every night. Yet another example of a pointless war that wrecked so many young lives. Having now travelled extensively in Vietnam I am even more aware of what a shock to the system it must have been for raw young recruits from the back of beyond small towns in America to be suddenly dumped in the middle of the Vietnamese jungle fighting the invisible enemy in the debilitating heat and humidity or draining monsoons in terrain so completely alien to anything they had ever encountered. What a total waste.

The museum is superbly laid out and presented but the anti-American slant gets wearing after not very long. The French don't fare that well either but the propaganda is very much against the imperialist enemy of the proud and perfect Vietnamese people, the evil Americans. However the current exhibition, of the American War as seen through the eyes of war correspondents, is brilliant, albeit in a desperately sad way.

There is also some seriously impressive hardware out in the courtyard, captured or abandoned American weaponry:

As though that isn't enough to turn you into a pacifist you then have to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. This is an area renowned for the mile upon mile of tunnels carved out by the Vietcong for moving fighters and supplies. The tunnels are tiny, although I was told they have been enlarged for (fat) Westerners to be able to crawl through. Also on display in this area are replicas of the traps set for the American troops slithering through the jungle. (No wonder there was the vocal anti-war movement in the U.S. at the time: Hell no, we won't go! Seeing what I've seen here you can't blame them)

That was all more than enough misery for one day so the next day I resolved to only visit uplifting sights!

There is a delightful Cathedral:

A magnificent French Post Office:

With a superb interior:

Along with some very photogenic mahogany telephone booths:

A seriously good looking City Hall:

With some very modern buildings behind highlighting the contrast between the old and the new:

There is a classically inspired Opera House:

With the Number 1 Opera Fan posing on the steps:

Some very swanky shops:

A great fish BBQ in the market:

And the standard traffic problems:

But at night the effect of the old versus the new is thrilling:

And to me it will always be Saigon.  Renaming one of my favourite musicals Miss Ho Chi Minh City just wouldn't have the same ring to it!