Saigon,

Warning graphic images- read section war remnants museum below

I have had regular comments from readers who tell me that they enjoy reading the blog and that at times it feels like they are travelling with me. Well thank you for those comments. My interests are wide and varied and while trying to be unbiased I still think I should allow myself to show my surprise, happiness, disappointment, euphoria or even anger at times. This would mean that the pictures I include in the blog could reflect this. It is nice to see the beautiful landscapes, the funny situations, the surprising architecture etc but what do I do when I see or experience the less pleasant or even shocking things? Should I be like a reporter and just make it part of it all? At times I seek them out, at other times I just happen to be there or they form part of my journey through life, today as I am writing this whilst travelling by train from Saigon to Hanoi for example the unexpected happened..
Last night, half an hour out of Saigon the train suddenly jerked and the driver slammed on the emergency brakes. We had hit a person who apparently had crossed the tracks. These things happen. The person had bounced off the front of the train and had been catapulted down the side of the track. We saw the collection of the body all in front of us. The body was taken on the train on a stretcher and dropped off at the first station down the line. As for this blog I can only say-"What you may read or see may shock you or Warning graphic images!"
However they are the experiences of myday.

I would appreciate it if you could leave a comment about this, that is if I should write about these things or not?

Saigon is a city of about 6 perhaps 7 million people and 5 million motor scooters no doubt. Having traveled this way before makes it all fairly easy and without stress. Jet Star took us from Singapore to Saigon in less than two hours. After leaving customs we bought three Vietnamese sim cards to keep in touch with the home base but also in case we get separated somehow that we can connect again.

While in Singapore Paul C discovered that they had issued him with the wrong type of visa. We had applied for multiple entry visas but his visa stated a single entry. Paul had taken a picture of the application form which showed clearly that the multiple box had been ticket. When discussing this with the "visa on arrival “officer we were met with apathy and mumbling and a facial expression which said “tell someone who cares". He asked for the “the form”. Paul showed him the form on his phone which had the same effect as showing a picture of his grandmother so we walked on. At passport control we had more success where the officer advised that it was best to apply for a new single entry visa in Cambodia.
Saigon was hot and sticky with a temperature in the high thirties but at any time it is pleasant on the 9th covered roof terrace.

Vietnam is still a “communist country” whatever that may mean nowadays. Prior to the nineties it was like Eastern Europe where everything was state owned. When communism fell in the late 80's I take that the Vietnam regime saw what was happening and decided to give the people the freedom to run their own businesses. It feels like just everyone takes the opportunity to do some business even if it just a crate of soft drinks on offer outside their front door. Offering things for sale is easy but getting people to buy calls for an activity that not many of these small sellers have heard of and that is marketing.

I have stayed at the Vietnam Inn Saigon hotel several times. When we walked in people recognized me and greeted me with a smile. Back in September I had a coffee on the roof terrace with the manager. He told me that because of the competition between hotels that his hotel was often only half full. They had decided some years ago that they would use 3 of the floors and turn the larger rooms into hostel accommodation as they are large enough to hold 6 to 8 beds. All rooms were being used now and at least some money would come in. We talked about marketing were the important things is to have a point of difference. “How?” he asked. I told him to check the various websites and offer services others don’t and advertise on all possible booking sites. Offer free breakfast like the others do and do Bicycle tours or things like that. “But no one rides bicycles” he had said. I said that that’s more the reason to do it. Yesterday I was told that the manger is no longer there but now there is free breakfast and even a free beer at night. Perhaps our discussion had something to do with it.

At night we met up with an old friend Phuong who had arranged the train tickets to Hanoi for us and had invited us for a meal in a sidewalk restaurant somewhere in the city. Phuong and friend are heading for Europe in a few days and are even staying in Holland for a week.

War Remnants Museum

we visited the war museum, not a place where you leave with a smile on your face but rather in a sad state. This war museum is different than any other war museum I have been. On April 30 there will be great celebrations in Vietnam marking 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War. Everywhere there are signs and banners advertising this fact and we have seen several places where stages are being erected for the festivities.

I remember 1985- 40 years after the Second World War, they war had ended 40 years before that and that was it. But what about Vietnam? It finished 40 years ago but for many people it is not over and never will be. The American War they call it here. During the 70’s the USA sprayed 1000s of litres of chemicals over this country- (know as agent orange) The effect it was suppose to have was to kill the vegetation and expose the “enemy”. Today the effect of that is still very visible for many people and will be for perhaps generations to come. This was only one side of the coin, the other side was that 1000’s where killed incl. women and children, complete villages where every person was killed only because they suspected of aiding the “enemy”. US commanders are named and shamed, also a man who is now a US Senator who went on a killing raid.

In Australia here are motorcycle riders groups who call themselves Vietnam Veterans. I suggest that these men go and do a motorcycle trip around this beautiful country and visit both the Saigon and Hanoi war museums. I wonder how many would still be wearing the jackets displaying the Vietnam Vets Logos.