Saigon

It's funny, the further south we went the more the name 'Ho Chi Minh City' was replaced by Saigon, (or abbreviated as HCMC). It seems that there is still some North/South tension to be found, although it is hidden pretty well from the tourists. Whereas the threat in the North seemed to be China, here it is Hanoi! Still, as with everything else, they seem to get on with things and put their differences aside, for the time being at least.
The city itself is big (7.5 million) but surprisingly well laid-out, as least as far as we could see. In addition, most intersections had traffic lights and MOST TRAFFIC OBEYED THEM!!! Bikes, cyclos and some motorbikes still charged through, but the pedestrian experience was not too scary at all. We didn't have long to spend here, so we just concentrated on walking-distance destinations from our hotel. We had a look at the Reunification Palace (site of the famous NV tank crashing through the iron gates to end the American War), the War Museum, Opera House, Post Office and of course the Bloody Great Big Tower (actually the Bitexco Tower) with its magnificent view from the 48th floor Skydeck and its incredibly smooth (and quick) elevator.

We attack at dawn!!

We found an excellent restaurant in an old opium den called the Refinery, and spent a couple of hot afternoons sampling their excellent fare. Thanks Ian and Heather, who we met in the queue at Dalat Airport. Did a bit of shopping in and around the Market, where the prices were very good! Found a 'real' French patisserie with the best coffee and cakes to be found. 2 coffees and a plate of florentines for $6. I didn't want to leave, especially as SWMBO wanted to shop at a nearby Department store! Oh well, you can't win them all, as we Buddhists say...

And so our trip was over, just like that. A short trip to Singapore through some stormy weather, then a very relaxed flight on a half-empty Jetstar to Tulla. Touch down at 6am!