City Tour

An inadequate first night sleep and the 12 hour time difference had us feeling a tad sluggish at Sunday breakfast. We were, however, excited to see an amazing selection of Asian, European and America delicacies at the Sofitel restaurant. We enjoyed all genres of food in a cheery and crowded room before heading to a morning briefing by the Ama Waterways cruise manager.

The morning tour included a visit to the hoppin' Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The museum could also be called the Museum of American Aggression. It was a one-sided collection highlighting the atrocities of the American war, with a special emphasis on the destruction of the country through the use of agent orange. It did have an impressive collection of US artillery and photographs documenting American savagery.

A somber lunch at a local restaurant followed, presenting an opportunity for discussion and conversation among the group. The traditional Vietnamese fare was quite good and so was the Saigon beer.

An afternoon excursion to Cu Chi, an underground system of tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City, was intriguing. The extensive network of tunnels allowed the Viet Cong to move around Saigon undetected during the war. The forest around the tunnels provided a glimpse of the hardships soldiers had to endure during active duty.

Sights on the three hour bus trip, in heavy traffic through the city, provided a fascinating window into the life the Vietnamese people.