Saigon, Vietnam

Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel

Embroidery display

Meeting room upstairs in former Presidental Palace

Dancers....

Young dancers...

Jungles outside of Saigon

Saigon (pronounced “shy-gone” by our Vietnamese guide) remains Saigon to the locals, even though the name was changed to Ho Chi Minh City nearly 30 years ago. And, strictly as a rebellion, we also continue to use Saigon.

The Mariner docked at Lotus Port, nearly an hour from town. We were berthed in a very run down industrial area. And, as this was our fourth visit to this city, we opted to stay onboard (and catch up with our blogs, photos for Cruise Specialists’ guests, and preparations for an evening departure at 5:45 for the Virtuoso shore excursion).

The Virtuoso Voyager Club event is provided to guests of Cruise Specialists, as well as other member agencies, at no charge to us. We started with a night drive through Saigon and commentary by a wonderful 30-year old (unmarried) young man. He said he was looking, but no one had caught him yet!

It seemed as if most of Saigon was out on the town as we snaked through the city. Motor scooters with 2, 3 and even 4 people were everywhere. Open air coffee cafes and restaurants were the most popular destinations. Because motor scooter theft is so rampant, each establishment hires guards to watch their customers’ vehicles while they are there eating or drinking. Most scooters are Chinese built, and cost around $400 U.S….but, don’t last very long.

Our arrival at the former Presidential Palace (now called Reunification Palace) was met with great fanfare, including a band, local artisans doing calligraphy, embroidery, clay animal creation, rice husking, vegetable vendors, etc. It was fabulous! After hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a second floor tour of several opulent offices and meeting rooms (which “regular” people are not allowed to view), we were ushered into the Grand Ballroom for an incredible Vietnamese meal complete with entertainment. We enjoyed children and young women dancing in a variety of costumes, musicians, and commentary. Everything meshed together for an unforgettable evening in Saigon!

French influence is evident throughout Saigon, especially in the design of their buildings. An example is the Post Office, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel and built in 1891. The French occupied the country from 1859 to 1954.

Although we did not take any ship’s tours this time, many fellow guests did…visiting the Mekong Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, and various city tours…while others just shopped and shopped. We had done all those things in the past except for the Viet Cong tunnels, and we had an update on that excursion from Cruise Specialists’ guest, Wayne Baldwin. Wayne said, as they walked some of the fields of the 155 mile underground network, a Viet Cong soldier (fortunately, an actor) with a gun would suddenly appear from under the soil beside them. Can you imagine what our soldiers were up against? Living quarters, trap doors, and command posts with narrow tunnels between them allowed the Viet Cong to live undetected for months as they began to control the rural areas and move in closer to the city of Saigon.

Jan also had the opportunity to speak with another Regent guest who was returning to Vietnam for the first time since 1974. He was a Navy Seal and it was an emotional trip for him. He knew the streets and rivers well, and was excited to visit the back streets again after 24 years. Much has changed on main street Saigon, yet much is the same off main street. As we departed Saigon, we cruised down the river where the jungle was so solid with tropical foliage, right down to the water, that it had to have been nearly impossible to fight a war there.

Saigon Fast Facts…
· There are over 800,000 motor bikes in Saigon. You must be over 18 years old to drive over 70 cc bikes; over 30 to drive 250 cc
· Since December 2007, helmets are required for both drivers and riders
· No guns are allowed in Vietnam by the general population (although, those who toured the Cu Chi Tunnels were permitted to shoot an AK47 after purchasing bullets at $1 each)
· Vietnam has the death penalty if caught selling drugs
· The official Saigon population is 8 million, but it’s actually over 10 million
· The population of Saigon had doubled in the past 3 years