Saigon - Buffalo Tours

To help us find our way around Saigon we booked a half day city tour. Our first stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral and Old Post Office:

Notre Dame Cathedral

The Cathedral was Built between 1877 and 1883, it is a fine example of French colonial architecture. Remarkably, every stone used in its creation was shipped from France to Vietnam. The two forty metre towers, topped with iron spires, still dominate the city’s skyline. The Old Post Office is another example of French colonial architecture and is also Vietnam's largest post office.

But the thing that intrigued us girls the most was all the brides having their photos taken outside the Post Office. It is customary for Vietnamese to have their wedding photos taken in white wedding gowns, but when the wedding day arrives they wear a traditional red!

We visited the Reunification Palace but did not go in..... To the Vietnamese this is one of the most important buildings in the city. On April 30th 1975 the ‘American War’ (as they call it!) officially ended when tank number 843 of the North Vietnamese Army crashed through the gates of what was, at the time the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam.

Instead we were offered a trip to a lacquer & eggshell painting studio. We were so pleased we took this option. They had some of the most beautiful works from not only paintings, but jewellery, plates, bowls, trays & even furniture.

Little Miss Charlie again stole the limelight, we lost sight of her at one point & when I looked around the corner to see, there she was entertaining the entire shop staff of 10 to 15 people... Oh how the Vietnamese love children! 

The War Remnants Museum formerly known as the Museum of American War Crimes is a poignant display of the futility of war. 

The courtyard outside contains the spoils of war, namely rusting jets, tanks and cannons captured from the American military machine. Inside there are many photos that are particularly moving, & horrific. I felt sick through some it & extreme sadness through the rest. I am still blown away by the beauty & kindness of the people here when they have lived through such atrocity.

I still remember as a child, my Mum & Dad watched the six o'clock news every night, &  night after night the Vietnam War (as we called it) was brought alive in our lounge room - not exactly dinner time entertainment! Our tour guide was concerned as to how I would be affected by this visit. Even writing this now the thought makes my eyes water. How can you visit this place & not be effected?

Last stop of the tour Binh Tay Market selling everything from hats to dried squid, & of course shoes & handbags! It is a busy bustling market & don't think for one minute that you are going to get around with a minute of peace.

(Imagine Vietnamese voice over the din) " Look tee shirt your size, what colour you want"? "Yes, look here, I have nice dress", " come in, come in, take a look" & this is what happens every time you even look sideways at a stall. However, if this is not your thing & you don't like to barter then you can go to the stalls on the outer edge of the market that are government run. You get to look in peace & the prices are all set, & are very reasonable.