Ho Chin Minh City

Ho Chi Minh was an interesting city and again, I would say, a walking city.  However, there are quite a few places to get to if you do take a taxi.  We went to the war museum, Cu Chi tunnels, and the presidential palace.  I would recommend all three if you have the time and don't be scared to try the street food.  Plus, there are a lot of good foreign restaurants in the area as well.  Alas, here are a few photos from Ho Chi Minh.

(Propaganda poster or motivational poster depending on which side of the aisle you are on)

 (Tank outside the war museum)

(A poster showing the ties with Cuba)

(Again, as a westerner, brought up on an entirely different account of events, it was interesting to go to the museum and see what the Vietnamese government had to say about the war)

(Declaration of Independence with Ho Chi Minh's name on it)

 (Cages where prisoners of war were kept, I think they were called Tiger Cages)

 (A view of the market in the area)

 (I think this was in a restaurant we went into - Ho Chi Minh himself.  The people seem to love him and have a lot of respect for him.)

(Traffic shot and like most countries in SE Asia, a lot more motor bikes than cars)

(Entrance to the tunnels from inside one of the bunkers.  There were over 200 kms worth of tunnels built and some people lived in them for years.)

(Booby Trap)

(Can you spot the booby trap?)

(Fox Hole)

 (People in this part of the country weren't necessarily aligned with the North or South so they created their own flag.  Eventually, if I remember correctly, they joined forces with the North to expel the US.)

(Termite mound that was also used for ventilation)

(Sandals made out of tires - nothing was wasted)

(Inside one of the tunnels.  There were 3 levels built to satisfy the needs of the moment.)

(Coming out of the tunnel.  I was exhausted after walking down there, or crawling I guess for about 5 minutes.  I couldn't imagine spending hours in a tunnel, let alone days or weeks.)

(Another motivational poster)

(Baguette sandwiches, a French influence still around today)

 (Presidential Palace used by the South and US forces during the war)

 (The poster on the back depicts the founding of Vietnam)

(I believe this is where the cabinet meets)

(A special rug that depicts the power of Vietnam)

(A special lacquer wall made for the president.  There were a few secret tunnels so the president could immediately go to the safety of the basement.)

(The atrium)

(The library which had a sweet lamp in it)

(Dining Room)

(Game Room)

(Bombs were dropped on those two big red circles and shortly after the US began its evacuation from Saigon or Ho Chi Minh)

(A few of the old computers in the basement)

(I believe it says property of the United States of America)

(Communication Room also found in the basement, used for war communications)

(Some war paraphernalia)

(Another shot of traffic as we were leaving)