Ho Chi Minh

"Our resistance will be long and painful, but whatever the sacrifices, however long the struggle, we shall fight to the end, until Vietnam is fully independent and reunified."

~ Ho Chi Minh

We arrived in HCM after lunch and the drive to the hotel was quicker than excepted. The hotel was luxurious I had got a special deal included buffet breakfast USD$25.00 food voucher, welcome cocktail and room upgrade to the Carraville hotel we had a view of the L’Opera we could just see the spire of the cathedral.

The food at the hotel was outstanding the breakfast had everything from western, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese the coffee was also excellent

Bone marrow raw beef Pho is worth writing about the broth was delicious and rich. Afternoon tea was outstanding cakes were so inexpensive if you had a coffee and not to forget the roof to cocktails each night. A seafood buffet was not to be missed that both of us forgot to take photos it included lobsters, prawns scallops, oysters, sashimi so the list goes on there was even Peking duck which was delicious

We spent a lot of times walking the streets near the hotel there were 2 great market my wallet was open many times we also visited the post office the cathedral has scaffolding for renovations it was about 600 metre walk back to the hotel so our location was ideal.

On a previous visit I had done a motorbike food tour so it was great to do it again with a friend. The tour was very similar maybe a little different but still worth the excitement riding through the streets at night sampling food weaving in and out the traffic

A day trip to Cu Cui Tunnels helps you understand the journey the Vietnamese people of done for freedom you are able to go into the tunnels as with last time I’m not good in small spaces so I didn’t do it but my friend was brave and explored many of the tunnels. You are also able to fire American guns abandoned after the war you get 10 rounds and can’t share between people a good day trip

The last full day we made the most of Uber using it to travel short distances of 1.2km to 1.5k in the hot humid climate it very cheap so why not. We visited the War memorial museum another place to remind you of the journey the Vietnamese people had made. Photos inside the museum are very vivid showing the impact of agent Orange on the local and American solders very sad.

During motorbike tour we were told of the best Banh Mi shop so using Uber we thought we would take lunch the line was long so high hopes. They only had pork so I thought I take out most of the pork the rolls were large so we shared one, I found a seat at there shop next door ordering drinks. Finally the Banh Mi arrived we cut it in half both were disappointed to see most of it was processed meat we both took majority of it out as it was so fatty and not my favourite. Let’s sat Hanoi was far better

Sadly we had to leave HCM with our cases a little fuller with our puchases and head to Bangkok