Days 92-93 Monday-Tuesday April 15-16, 2024, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Arrival: 11:00 Overnight Departure: 14:00 April 16

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly SAIGON) is the largest city in Vietnam and its centre of commerce. We have not booked any tour for today so decided on heading into the city for a look see.

It is estimated that the number of motorbikes in the city is 15 million while the city has a population of 9 million. You need to be aware of your surroundings as the bikes travel in all directions. They even drive on the sidewalks. When you start to walk across the street just keeping walking and do not stop. Be aware of the cars yes but the bikes will just drive around you.

We took a taxi into the city near the opera house. Janice wanted a pedicure and foot massage. I spent the next 90 minutes walking around the city centre avoiding the motor bikes wherever possible.

Upon returning to the spa Janice was still there. She will need to explain her interesting adventure.

Hi, it's Janice. I was in desperate need of a pedicure and manicure so decided that this was a good place as they are very inexpensive. I avoid the overpriced ship spa as such as I can. So, I had one person doing my hands and another my feet simultaneously. When the manicurist was finished, she was ending her shift, so I gave her a $5 tip. Well big mistake as a total of 5 people ended up working on my feet. I guess they all wanted a tip!!! Therefore, so much for my cheap spa day. The lady boy even chose my colour, sparkling platinum. Her/his beauty as stunning.

A quick stop at the mall followed for some shopping then it was back to the ship.

April 16

I went solo today on a ship tour of the highlights of Saigon. Parts of the tour were to places I had visited the previous day.

One of the stops was to the Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace. This modernistic white building was home to the president of South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It must have been a field trip day as many school children were taking a tour of the Palace.

A brief stop to Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon was also on the itinerary but like Notre Dame in Paris, the Basilica was under renovations.

We say goodbye to Vietnam, and it is off to Bangkok Thailand 643 nautical miles away. Tomorrow a seaday, we will be cruising the Gulf of Thailand.