A:

Day five in HCMC, and after a thoughtfully prepared breakfast of Vietnamese soup ie Pho, with vegetables added for my benefit (M: When does it cease to be pho? I think in the mind of our friendly breakfast staff, soon after Anne mentioned veggies:)). Then we were off in a taxi called again by Nang to the first of two museums about or connected primarily with Ho Chi Minh, or Unce Ho as he is affectionately known here.

The first was called the Ho Chi Minh Museum and it contained items belonging to the great man, plus a load of photos of him with other world leaders, with his soldiers, with children and visiting schools. We agreed that he must have been a charismatic leader as well as a clever and at times perhaps forceful one. For all of these photos to even exist implies that he thought it important that these stories be told and the records kept. Of course the ongoing story we see everywhere here is of brutal American oppression- the Aussies barely get a mention- and of a leader and an army that saved the people from this in the end. The sad part is that Ho himself died in 1969 before the North finally conquered the south and so never saw his dream fulfilled. There was a strong Lenin influence on Ho. As one of the other Australian tourists on the Cu Chi tunnel tour said yesterday- we certainly grew up with a different view. (M: I learned of his many years away from Vietnam using any number of different names, and agree with Anne that he certainly had - that should be HAS - a great PR machine!)

The next museum which we reached by taxi again was the Museum of HCM City, which was a collection of bits of memorabilia from different times in history, including HCM himself of course. We thought it was not a very good presentation although it was in a lovely old airy building. (M: The building itsef is often used for wedding shoots, and I reckon would be worthy of its own display. As it is, the museum is an assortment of not so impressive displays, some in a poor state).

Lunch was a the Nha Hang Ngan on Pasteur Street again as it was close and had been good before and it didn't disappoint again. The place was humming as before and we were directed upstairs. We hadn't realised that it was even bigger than it looked.

We walked past the ornate People's Committee Building and a statue of HCM in a well kept garden near the Rex hotel where Mick stayed last time he was here. (M: Since then all the HCM prices have skyrocketed, and an extensive refurbishment of this, the hotel where the American generals lived during the war, has put it well out of everyday reach!) It was near an air conditioned shopping centre and we had a look around enjoying the cool and even had our first coffee since we left Rome. It was good too- in Highland Coffee.

Back to the hotel for a shower/ email check and then at 4 we were due to return to the tailor for a fitting for our suits. I was so pleased with my shirts that I ordered a third. We collect these on Thursday at 4. We seem able to negotiate this arrangement with very little language. On the way back we stopped at Sozo, a small cafe style place that was set up to assist disadvantaged Vietnamese children, for a refreshing drink and a carrot muffin and decided to return for tea. (M: We were served by a deaf girl, who got on famously by pointing at the menu)

After another short stint in our room we jumped into a taxi again expertly hailed by Nang to see the "Vietnamese Water Puppet Show" which Nang had booked tickets for on our arrival. It lasted 45 minutes and was delightful with music and singing. The audience appeared to love it and I saw a little girl clapping gleefully in the middle of the show. Tea at Sozo- for me a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich and for Mick a beef and noodle dish- and we returned to the room for the night. (M: I'll share my review of Sozo on Tripadvisor with you. Stick to the western food here. The lovely service, good atmosphere and good cause were spoiled somewhat by noodles that tasted like the sauce had come out of a bottle!)

M:

Two days of "holiday" left. Board the plane on Friday. Tick tick tick.....