Started out at the Museum of Traditional Medicines which was established by one of the modern pharmaceutical companies to recognize the place of traditional eastern medicines in the history of Vietnam. It is a beautifully built building designed to replicate traditional houses with a large amount of carved doors and walls. First we watched a video telling about the history of traditional medicines and how they evolved along with a blend of herbal remedies from China as well as other neighbouring countries. Most of the exhibits on each of the three top floors were of the tools used in making and giving the medicines - kettles, storage jars, scales, etc, while the ground floor was a small shop with many different types of tea and herbs as remedies for various ailments.
From here, we went on to the War Remnants Museum, which houses many exhibits relating to the American War, including an interesting photographic exhibition called Requiem. It is a series of photos taken by war correspondents many of whom died in the conflict. There were also displays of armaments and photos of the damage caused by the defoliants used by the Americans during the war.
Outside the museum is a replica of one of the prisons used to house dissidents during the period after WW2 and during the American War. There is even a guillotine, last used in 1960 to behead a local who was accused of being against the communist regime. We also saw a number of US tanks, aircraft and helicopters left after the Americans left Vietnam.
The next stop was the Reunification Palace, built originally for the President of South Vietnam, but now a museum and used for conferences and meetings. We just looked at it from the outside. Then back into the card for a short trip to see the Notre Dame Cathedral and the General Post Office designed by G. Eiffel - the same person who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is a beautiful building, well kept and still in use as a post office today. From here you can also see the US embassy from the time of the American War- now a fairly old and tatty looking government building - where the famous scene of helicopter landing on the roof to evacuate personnel from the compound took place. We did not get a chance to go into the cathedral as it was closed when we were there.
Back to the hotel after the tour and a brief rest before heading out for an ice cream. After a delicious treat, we went back to have a look at the market again, then braved the busy road to cross over to Saigon Square - a shopping center and another big shopping center built by a Japanese company. Big department store as well as other smaller stores.
Bought a couple of things there, then back to the hotel.
Went to a local restaurant close by the hotel for a meal which cost 168,000 dong - about $10 NZ!
Food is very cheap here and the restaurant was very nice. Had an interesting art form on the wall which was supposed to represent the country of Vietnam.
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