Saturday, March 30, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Where in the World Are We?

We are in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in Southeast Asia

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
A PLACE WHERE OLD MEETS NEW WITH STRIKING CONTRAST

A chaotic, enchanting swirl of sensory stimulation – Ho Chi Minh City is a place of incense-infused temples, colonial
architecture, warm people, and delicious street food. Formerly known as Saigon, the city was affectionately labeled the
Pearl of the Orient by the French.

Afternoons here drift by lazily on the gentle chaos of the River Saigon as taxi boats and motor canoes flit up and down
and parks fill out with locals playing jianzi kicking shuttlecocks back and forth. You’ll also find the celebrated Ho Chi Minh Post office erroneously credited across the road as a Gustav Eifel creation. In reality, the architect was another Frenchman, Alfred Foulhoux.

Taste the street food to get under Ho Chi Minh City’s skin with humble restaurants serving up rich flavors – from the
Vietnamese take on the baguette a banh mi sandwich – to the local staple of pho, a delicious noodle soup.
The Tortoise Pagoda is a tranquil escape and a serene place of worship for Vietnamese who practice Buddhism and
Taoism, while the Vietnamese medical museum has a fascinating collection of remedies and potions – some dating
back to the Stone Age.

Journey to learn more about the Vietnam War at the Remnants Museum and Cu Chi tunnels. Offering a vivid glimpse
of conditions and the ingenuity and resilience of the soldiers you’ll learn of the guerrilla war campaign raged from
within this claustrophobic 70-mile network of war tunnels.

FITO MUSEUM
The first Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO) is in a beautiful old five-story building framed by bamboo. It’s worth a look for anyone interested in alternative medicine. The museum displays thousands of items related to traditional Vietnamese medicine from the Stone Age to the present day.

SIGHTS

• Thiên Hau Temple
• Reunification Palace
• Saigon Square
• Ben Thanh Market
• Museum of Vietnamese History

Today’s Excursion – Saigon Discovery

This excursion provided an introduction to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly named Saigon, a vibrant and exciting city.
History Museum
Start with a visit to this outstanding museum, which is considered the best place to get acquainted with Vietnam’s history. Housed in a building from the early 1900s, the museum displays artifacts from the Bronze Age to the early communist presence in Vietnam. Other exhibits feature Cham art, ceramics, and traditional costumes.

Next was the Notre Dame Cathedral, distinguished by its imposing twin spires, the Post Office, Reunification Palace, and the elegant Saigon City Hall.

Saigon Market
In the Saigon Market, we visited the large marketplace in central Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh. A short stroll through Ben Thanh market offers a kaleidoscope of colors and a hive of activities.

Thien Hau Temple
Next, proceed to this beautiful temple built in 1825 and dedicated to the cult of Thien Hau, Goddess of the Sea and Protector
of Sailors.

Lacquer Factory
The last visit is to one of Saigon’s best-known establishments for an introduction to the making of the city’s renowned lacquer
ware. Browse through the showrooms, where a fascinating array of items tempts even the most jaded shopper.

Departing street and river scenes.

Check out today’s Chronicle.