HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON), VIETNAM (DAY 2)

March 10, 2023

More about Vietnam.    Vietnam is a Communist country, with a population of nearly 100 million.   Only 5 million are members of the Communist party and only Communist members can hold office.   We asked our guide if he could become a member and he said no because he has an uncle who had lived in the U.S. and that automatically disqualified him.   They do have elections but he said the outcome was pretty much predetermined by party leadership.   Nepotism and corruption have plagued the party for many years, but our guide said the new president is hell-bent on reform.   

Like China, the government embraced capitalism in the late 1980s in order to turn their economy around.   Now all businesses and most land is privately owned.   Over the last 35 years they have experienced a major boom and the standard of living of the average citizen has increased significantly.   Unemployment is only about 2% and we didn’t observe homeless people or beggars.   There were, however, lots of people hawking souvenirs on the street.

They are tough on crime.  Gun ownership in outlawed and drug possession over a kilogram is dealt with harshly…death penalty in some cases.   They drink a lot, according to our guide…particularly alcohol derived from rice (beer, wine, liquor).   A common saying: “If you don’t drink, you don’t have friends”.    

Another word about the motor bikes.  Most of the people on the bikes cover themselves head to toe including face masks, despite temperatures in the 90s.   Both guides told us the young people have an aversion to dark skin and the coverings protect the skin from the sun.   Also there appeared to be more females than males on the bikes.    

We tend to observe the trashiness of the places we visit as it might be an indicator of civic pride.  Trashiness was very low in Australia and New Zealand, higher in Indonesia and Vietnam (but trashiness in Vietnam was lower/better than some Austin areas we hate to say).   

Today we toured the city and visited a factory making lacquer-finished art objects, the Jade Buddhist Pagoda, several major buildings constructed by the French and the central market of Saigon.   Our guide also pointed out the CIA building where the last American helicopter took off in 1975 after the North’s final invasion. The CIA building was used because at 5 stories it was the tallest building in the city at that time.  

                                   Buddhist Jade Pagoda in downtown Saigon

                                             Cool guy they worship

                     Woman is pouring oil over candles....some ceremonial act

One of several alters were many people in the temple were worshiping.   We were surprised that most appeared to be young professionals.

                                  Post Office built by the French in the 1880s

             Inside the Post Office.   Portrait of Ho Chi Minh in the center

 Bank of telephone booths, appears made of mahogany.   No longer functional.

Administration building built by the French in the 1880s.   Now Mayor and municipal offices.

The yellow building in the center was the CIA building where helicopters removed the last of the Americans after the North took control in April 1975.   The CIA building (which has since been enlarged) was the tallest in Saigon at the time.   Note the modern sky scraper in the background.

                Old picture of the extraction that we remember seeing on TV.

     Taken from bus as we left the city.   Mass riders some within inches of the bus.

On the street--note guy behind us on a motor bike taking aim at us (just kidding).