The port at Phu My (pronounced "foo me") was out our window this morning when we got up at 5:45 (ugh). Not much here--just a port. Brekkies and off the ship with our Cruise Critic group. Mr Hui, a 25 year old tourist guide/English student was waiting for us, as was Mr Driver--we never got his name--for the bus and off we went. Its a 2 hour trip from the port to Ho Chi Minh City--the first 5km into Phu My proper was over quite bumpy roads--even worse than Winnipeg's! The rest of the trip was over Winnipeg-spring-style 4 lane bumpy roads--but that was less of an issue than the traffic. Busses and trucks and about 250,000 50cc scooters, carrying families--Dad, Mom and a kid or 2, lots of single drivers, Laurel got a picture of 2 people on a scooter with 2 huge sack of live ducks, and a myriad of other examples of things you would not EVER see on the road in Winnipeg! The traffic flow itself was crazy too--As was said to us, keep moving--if you ever stop, they won't know where you are going. The traffic circles were beautifully landscaped in the middle and a horrendous puzzle of more or less randomly moving vehicles on the outside, coupled with much blowing of horns. (Fortunately, and amazingly, no accidents and just about every scooter occupant had a helmet on--although none of them would be DOT approved)
Our first stop in Ho Chi Minh City was the War Museum--weaponry, pictures from the French conflict as well as the "Vietnam War", stories and pictures of atrocities as told by the victor, the prisons, Agent Orange, etc.. All in all, depressing and sad. But, fortunately, the rest of the day was much better.
The second stop was the Reunification Hall--the wartime American embassy redone as the main governmental ceremonial building in HCM City. Beautiful furnishings.
A quick stop at 2 French-era buildings--a cathedral--think Notre Dame but smaller, and the Post Office--Huge, ornate, built in the 1800s and busy with both postal and telecommunications business.
Lunch at Pho24, a very good noodle shop for tourists, then off to the central market and the Tax Free shopping center for, guess what, shopping! Laurel got a formal Vietnamese Ladies outfit and we got a couple of other things. Then it was time to head back to the ship.
The landscape was pretty flat the whole way, but you could see mountains probably about 10km away. Green, green, green everywhere between the buildings. From Phu My into HCM City was pretty much solid buildings along the roadsides--mostly commercial but some residential...
The temperature was hot--over 30C and humid. The sun was burning down all day too. Thank goodness for the air conditioned bus and a few air conditioned shops and ample water. Will continue the story in tomorrow's post after we get back from Nha Trang.
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