Today we visit the Cu Chi District Tunnels. This immense network of tunnels was used by the Vietnam Cong soldiers during the American-Vietnam War.
The drive to the tunnels from our hotel is approximately two hours. Along the way Linh tells us more of her compelling personal story. In summary, her father (a supporter of South Vietnam during the war) died when she was young. Her family was very poor, somewhat shunned due to her father’s support of the South, but worked hard and she was a good student learning some English. She took the exam for college and passed. Somehow her mother was able to provide a little money and convince the extended family to also contribute for her tuition. She rented a spot on the floor of a family’s kitchen for her housing, and often went hungry. She successfully graduated from the University, the first in her family to do so.
The drive to the tunnels from our hotel is approximately two hours. Along the way Linh tells us more of her compelling personal story. In summary, her father (a supporter of South Vietnam during the war) died when she was young. Her family was very poor, somewhat shunned due to her father’s support of the South, but worked hard and she was a good student learning some English. She took the exam for college and passed. Somehow her mother was able to provide a little money and convince the extended family to also contribute for her tuition. She rented a spot on the floor of a family’s kitchen for her housing, and often went hungry. She successfully graduated from the University, the first in her family to do so.
We arrive at the Cu Chi Tunnels visitor center and first go through the exhibit of weapons and bombs used during the war. Linh leads us out to the area of the tunnels where we have an opportunity to try out the hidden entrances and the tunnels themselves.
There is an exhibit of the various booby traps that the Viet Cong built. Unfortunately for many supporting South Vietnam, the booby traps were very effective inexpensive low tech which was commonly used.
There is an exhibit of the various booby traps that the Viet Cong built. Unfortunately for many supporting South Vietnam, the booby traps were very effective inexpensive low tech which was commonly used.
Other examples of the Viet Cong low tech solutions are the manual sewing machines used to sew their uniforms. They also built sandals from old tires, with the soles designed to look like they were walking the other way.
After the tunnels we have a nice lunch and then relax during the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Back in the city we stop by Notre Dame Cathedral. Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 1880s by French colonists, borrowed most of it’s design from the iconic French landmark. It is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam.
After the tunnels we have a nice lunch and then relax during the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. Back in the city we stop by Notre Dame Cathedral. Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the late 1880s by French colonists, borrowed most of it’s design from the iconic French landmark. It is one of the few remaining strongholds of Catholicism in the largely Buddhist Vietnam.
Near the Cathedral is the former US CIA headquarters which was one of the scenes of helicopter lifts at the end of the war in 1975. Across the street from the Cathedral is the Post Office. It was completed in 1891 and is commonly attributed to Gustave Eiffel as an architect, though it was actually fellow Frenchman Alfred Foulhoux.
In the evening we have tickets to the A O Show at the Opera House. We arrive early for a short tour of the impressive 1898 building designed by French architect Eugene Ferret. Of course it has gone through extensive restoration, most recently in 1996-1998. We thoroughly enjoy the A O Show which tells the story of Vietnam through acrobatic acts and music.
After the show we have a delightful dinner at an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. On our way back to the hotel we pause by the illuminated statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of City Hall.
In the evening we have tickets to the A O Show at the Opera House. We arrive early for a short tour of the impressive 1898 building designed by French architect Eugene Ferret. Of course it has gone through extensive restoration, most recently in 1996-1998. We thoroughly enjoy the A O Show which tells the story of Vietnam through acrobatic acts and music.
After the show we have a delightful dinner at an Italian restaurant a few blocks away. On our way back to the hotel we pause by the illuminated statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of City Hall.
RSS Feed