Vietnam first visit report

[barbaro]

I must say uncle Ho did look a bit like a waxwork figure ! Someone said they take him to Russia every couple of years to touch up his makeup sounds like bs to me . Enjoyed the experience though very interesting .

Many people in Hanoi think that the body in the mausoleum is not even Ho Chi Minh. They think it's too tall.

Regardless, the whole concept of keeping a dead body and "maintaining" it for 44+ years is morbid and creepy, and also copying the failed Soviet Union.

It's part of the cult of personality to give the current powers that be legitimacy.

Creepy. Weird. Kooky.

Uncle Ho does not get a free pass in Saigon or parts of the South.

[roamer]

Thanks for the pics. I think I went to that same pagoda - is it in Da Cau, near Dien Bien Phu street in the 1st district? IIRC, there's a wet market near that area. If that's the place, then my aunt lives near that place.

I've a question re: Vung Tau. How much did the ferry cost, one way, per person? Is a day trip from SGN doable? I'm thinking of recommending it to some colleagues who'll be going to SGN later this year. Aside from the usual city tour, Cu Chi tunnels, is a day trip to Vung Tau worth it? Is the beach free/public or is there an entrance fee? Thanks in advance.

Hi katie

The pagoda was in Mai Thi Luu Street District 1.

The ferry was 200,000 VND each way but 250,000 VND on weekends, we went out Sunday and back Tuesday.

After an unfortunate incident with a later ferry catching fire and sinking ( thankfully nobody died) the service was suspended.


Vietnam latest news - Thanh Nien Daily | Boat catches fire in Vietnam hub, passengers jump ship

I don`t know if it has been resumed yet but even so, I think with 90 minutes each way plus getting to the pier it might be tight for a day visit, some do it though.

There was no entrance fee to the beach.


I`ve some more Vang Tau pics to put up, will add more comment then but we both enjoyed Vang Tau, nice and relaxing.

[katie23]

^ Thanks for the info. I looked into Vina Express, and it was ~10 USD one way. According to another site, there are also buses doing the SGN-VT route, and with the new highway, what was formerly a 3-hour trip is now 1.5 hrs. The bus fare is ~half the ferry fare, but of course travelling by bus is less scenic than by ferry. I guess I'll just give the info to my colleagues and let them decide if they want to do a rushed day trip to the beach. They know that I've been to Vietnam so they asked me for advice. Re: that pagoda in District 1, I don't remember the street, but I remember the colour & design. I have old pics that I will try to scan this weekend, and see if it's the same pagoda...

[roamer]

^

Hi Katie, yes that`s right about US $ 10 each way.

Someone I met in HCMC happened to be going the same day as me but by bus, think he said about 3.5 hrs. for about 80 K VND ( $4 ).

I`ve also read of the new highway since cutting the bus journey time down to 1.5 hrs so it is a decent alternative.

[roamer]

OK, on with a few more pics, first 3 of room at Green Hotel, I liked it, clean, staff OK and quiet at night, usually a taxi or two just outside to use going towards the more central part of Vang Tau, about $4or $5 each way if memory serves.










































The beach nearby was very quiet, pleasant enough for a short stroll

[roamer]

On the 2nd day there, met up with the British guy who I`d met in HCMC plus his Vietnamese wife, both very nice people.

My Thai GF and his wife got on really well, as did myself and the Brit, on to some sight seeing, a place called Jesus Statue, about 500 steps to climb.


















Looking out, less than a quarter of the way up

















The disciples I guess, school just a distant memory for me




















A fair few little seating areas along the way































Time for more steps




















Getting higher again now















Approaching the statue
















Some name plaques of Vietnamese who had left the country during the war























Nearly there
































Nice here

[roamer]

Picture blurry, sorry but shows part of the staircase inside the statue, narrow and steep











































































War & Peace ?

[katie23]

Great pics and nice views from the top of the hill. Thanks for the pics. The area of the Jesus statue seemed deserted. Is it not popular with tourists? Or it wasn't peak season when you visited?

[roamer]

^
Hi katie

Thanks.Yes, I loved the views from the top.

We visited on a Monday and from what I was told Vang Tau is generally very quiet week days, mostly coming to life ( as such ) on weekends.

[roamer]

Walking back down was bit easier


















Some Vietnamese taking a break, friendly lot























On the way back to hotel, visited a Chinese/Buddhist temple






























































































Prayer wheel machine, constantly spinning

[katie23]

Again, thanks for the pics roamer.

Was this the same pagoda from a few pages back? I think it was. These are scanned pics from my 2005 trip.


During that time, I made a physical photo album and still had time to make printed captions!

[roamer]

^
Hi katie, yes that`s the same pagoda.

I`ve got a few more pics from last couple of days in HCMC to put up, one day this week.