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Monday 28th September 2010

We checked out of the Song Hong Hotel but before we did the reception stuffed up and tried to charge me

again for the weekend x two rooms. About VND3 million. I kept the receipt from my earlier booking and

showed her this – I did a Western Union Money Transfer several months back to the travel company who I

organized the room through. So once she checked via phone with them – it was all cool. I had to cough up

for mini bar (four waters we drank).

Caught a taxi to the Vung Tao Ferry Terminal and waited for our ferry. We all got on board across a very

small gangway plank and got our seats. The ferry really booted along – probably about 40knots I

reckon. It docks right near all the action of Ho Chi Minh City.

My bruise from the Water Park Tornado Ride

We arrived at Saigon Ferry terminal and waited for most of the people to get off; coz we were lugging about

small suitcases and the like and it was just easier. One of the porters grabbed Jamie's suitcase and

brought it up top – then demanded 20,000 VND (AUD$1). I didn’t pay him at first and made him sweat and

get the shits; because I didn’t ask for his service and he was a rude prick to boot. But I coughed up and

then reminded the kids to keep a hold of their gear and don’t let porters at airports or ferries get hold of

their gear – coz then they want some type of gratuity. (There is a debate here that I won’t get into about

service workers and tips).

Did lunch next door at the 'Dai Phat’; a quaint little restaurant on Le Thanh Ton St in District 1. Several

Tiger Beers and a prawn dish for me; fried Spring Rolls to share en masse.

We split up for the afternoon this day. Malani, Jamie and Jack all went and had pedicures and foot

massages. Zach and I ventured further out and started with the Reunification Palace.

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The Ferry from Vung Tao

We walked down to the Palace, crossing roads, dodging motorbikes and entered the gates of the palace,

like the Communist tanks did in 1975; without the tanks and machine guns; I had to check in my SLR at the

security desk! Paid the VND15,000 entry fee and joined a tour already in progress. We saw the Banquet

Hall; kitchen; Cinema Room, Casino, Private Living quarters of the former President and first Lady. We got

down into the concrete bunkers below where the real work was done by radio operators using all sorts of

equipment probably taking orders from the map room above.

Up on the 4th level of the Palace you can see a Huey (UH Model) Helicopter and the spot where a bomb

was dropped from a F5 Fighter. A Communist Pilot was working as a spy pilot for the South and he had

orders to bomb some other target and diverted his aircraft to the Palace and dropped a bomb on the roof –

which damaged the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd levels – no-one was killed. After the war he became a national hero,

ended up Vice President of Vietnam Airlines and is now retired. A replica F5 is on the grounds.

From here we caught a taxi to the Notre Dame Church. A fairly unassuming church and to be honest a

waste of time to visit if you were just looking to compare the architecture to the Notre Dame In Paris

Our Hotel Room in Saigon (We have 2)

We walked in and had a quick look about and then left. We get stared at a lot in this district; a lady at a

shop who spoke good English warned me about how I was carrying my camera; we popped in to her shop

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for a chill out from the hustle and a drink. She said either stick it in your pocket or have it around your neck

– she was concerned that someone may snatch it out of my hands whilst riding their motorbike. Her advice

was well received and I put it in my pocket. (I do wrap the strap around my wrist; so the would-be bike

bandit would get a shock trying to pull it from me – coz I am no lightweight and I reckon strong enough to

rip the bike rider from his mount – LOL).

Our next port of call was the Pho Binh Noodle Shop, also in District 3. This noodle shop was a front for

subversive activities by the Viet Cong. Noodle shop by day, VC activity by night – the owner who was a

fully fledged Communist and VC sold noodles to American Soldiers during the day.

It is where the chiefs of the VC had their meetings to plan the attacks of the Tet Offensive. We walked up

and I took photos of the outside; entered and ordered a beer and coke. The Manager brought out the

drinks and some paraphernalia about the history of the shop.

Reunification Palace - the front facade

When I finished with the books – he invited us up to the 3rd Level of the building and we saw the actual

room where the VC had their meeting.

In a cabinet at the centre of the room; within a sliding door are the many medals from the Noodle Shop

Owner, Mr Ngo Toai. He has a Ho Chi Minh Medal too – I am not sure if this is a Victoria Cross or Medal of

Honour equivalent – but the Manager was pretty chuffed by it.

Also adorning the walls are photos of the VC men and women who performed the fighting of the Tet

Offensive. The manager pointed out one female suicide bomber and several others who died in the

fighting at the American Embassy. An excellent trip and highly recommended for history lovers. I paid a

donation of VND60,000 for my privilege.

Back in a cab to the hotel and we went out to dinner. Just down the local Ben Thanh Night market and not

a big massive dinner tonight. We did a bit of shopping and bought some Billabong brand shorts among

other things.

Massages were the next highlight of the night.

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The 4th Floor

Before we did this however I went and had another cut throat shave, my last in Vietnam. Also Malani

highly recommended the pedicure – so I had one of those two. (Cut Throat Shave = VND15,000; the

Pedicure VND40,000, or AUD$0.80c and AUD$2 collectively).

Zach, Jack and I had a foot massage first and then a full body massage next. The kids liked this

pampering – during the body massage they use ‘hot rocks’, a heated up rock where they place a towel over

your back and put the heated rocks on; which transfers the heat to you. Was fun with the boys to have a

couple of hours of good massage and they appreciated it. Jack was flirting with the chicks and they

thought he was ‘Nabjar’, or beautiful. Jack now has a big head. (Its ok, his brother and I will bring him

down a peg or two – LOL).

Noodle Shop where the Tet Offensive was masterminded.

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Upstairs in the actual room of the VC Commanders. Their photos on the wall behind us.

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Tanks that broke through the gates in 1975.

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Tuesday 28 September 2010

We checked out of the Thuan Tien Hotel in HCMC and took a taxi to the Legend Hotel; we stored our baggage with the Concierge. Flagfall in taxi's:

- Vinasun 4 seater: 9,500 VND

· Vinasun 7 seater: 10,000 VND

MALINH Group 7 seater: 10,500 VND – all the above went up at 2,500 VND every 0.8 kms.

Saigon Tourist taxi was the biggest rip off – the meter was dodgied by the driver Im sure, because it went up at a severely rapid rate. For example in a Vinasun Taxi the same trip cost 30,000VND and the Saigon

Tourist Taxi cost 100,000 VND. Rip off.

We got to the Legend Hotel and had their breakfast – it was a massive smorgasbord including a chef making omlettes with your choice of fillings; a cakes area; a hot buffet area; with two types of bacon and a host of fresh juices, coffee and tea. The cost was US$65 – which is a bit rich but we wanted to lap it up in

Vietnam for the last few hours.

Following breakfast we used the toilet and marveled at the buttons that were attached to the toilet. There was a seat warming button; with a sliding scale of warming; a bidet button; again with a sliding scale of

pressure and a couple of other buttons too. Was interesting to play with – LOL.

We went out to the pool and paid the pool guy the fee for swimming in their pool. The pool was at the back of the hotel and was a great spot to relax in the banana lounges. We had some Pepsis, Pineapple juice

and Chocolate Milkshakes. Whilst our time at the Legend Hotel was expensive we had a good time lapping it up for the last few hours in the country.

To the airport garcon and dodge those pesky motorbikes! The airport Vinasun cost VND$120,000 direct. We were a little bit early and just queued up in the spot where we to wait at our check in counter. Checked our baggage in and we were under our total 75kg weight by 10kgs; which was

pleasing. We haven’t purchased a heap of stuff really so it is no surprise. Check in bags done and we are away.

Put the carry on bags through the security X-ray and I get summoned over to the Customs guy whose

looking peeved with me. He pulls a handful of dodgy DVD’s out of Jack’s backpack – Oh crap. (I bought these with Jamie at the Nightmarket ). He shows me a laminated A3 size paper with their rules re DVD’s and copyright and all that jazz. I see there is a 1,000,000 – 2,500,000 VND fine – Im immediately thinking

– ok that’s a fairly large fine. I see on the same note there is a word called, 'Caution’, the Customs guy could caution me, but he’s more interested in a bribe. He puts his finger under the 1,000,000 sign on the

notice; I put mine under the word, ‘Caution’. He then moves his finger to the 500,000 VND fine mentioned for less than 10 DVD’s – I say Ok, coz I have 30. My sleight of hand and the VND500K (AUD$22) to the

Customs guy and join the queue for the next checkpoint.

There is another X-Ray machine to go through and Im not doing the bribe thing again. So I told Jack to bin all the movies. So no movies – but at least no more bribes and there was still KL Airport to go on the other

side; and we were carrying these bloody things.

I haven’t had to pay a bribe to an official since 1997 when I was on the Thai/Malay border and had Duty Free Alcohol and wasn’t out of Malaysia long enough to be entitled to it. (Have to be out of the country 72 hours or some crap and I was only doing a weekend across the border when based in Malaysia with the

RAAF - I was stopped by an Army MP too – and you would think he would find some allegiance to his fellow MP – but nup – that cost me 50 Ringgit back then – which was AUD$25. Better than a night in the slammer – which was the alternative. There was some piss and moaning – but that did me know good

either.

That is an annoying experience but really nothing that is too monumentous to worry about – just means one less beer at the airport. Bugga.

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Got to KL without further incident. Caught a van to the hotel which was about 12 minutes from the

airport. We did Chinese for dinner which was good quality tucker, The surrounds of the hotel were not very nice - bit of a run down area.

Thats it for this trip - the last entry - tommorow we are on a bus back to KL Airport and home. Until the next

trip. Andrew

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The Legend Hotel – HCMC.