Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

We spent 4 days in Ho Chi Minh City - 2 full days and 2 half days. The weather was dry, but vert humid. The high temperatures plus high humidity meant we needed to drink a lot of water.

March 5 - We didn’t have an excursion for the first day, so when we arrived in the afternoon we opted to take the shuttle bus in and walk around the city on our own. We were warned that the traffic was bad and that it would take about 90 minutes to get from the port to the city center, and the Opera House which was the drop off point. The traffic was heavy - especially the motor bikes - but we made it to town in just over one hour. Our first desired destination was the Notre Dame Cathedral, but it was under renovation so it had boards around the whole exterior and scaffolding blocking the towers. After that, we walked around the Parliament Building, Independence Hall and then arrived at the Ben Thanh Market. After the market, on our way back towards the opera house, we saw the decorations for the Chinese New Year (year of the dragon), in the pedestrian walkway just around the corner from the Opera House. We had a great time just walking around the city! As we headed back to our shuttle bus we did get to see some of the city lights and then had our hour and a half ride back to the ship.

March 6 - On our first full day, we had an excursion to the Saigon River Artist Village. The traffic was a bit heavier for the morning rush hour but we made it to our first stop - an artist village where they displayed lacquer paintings and where we saw artists doing silk screen paintings as well as hand painting scenes on the trademark conical Vietnamese hats. The craftsmanship was beautiful. We were tempted to buy hats - as they were only $20 - but the thought of how we would get them home ended that idea. Our second stop was at a textile and pottery museum, which was located in a beautiful park setting. We were only able to see the portion with the clothing, but some of the hand painted clothing was stunning. Our third and final stop was for a traditional Vietnamese meal at the a rooftop restaurant called Opus Saigon. The food was great and the space was covered, but with open air and very traditional decorations. After battling rush hour back to the ship, we enjoyed a wonderful performance by local musicians onboard. The traditional instruments were really intersting, including a set of long bamboo poles where music was created by clapping at the ends. It was a wonderful example of keeping the old traditions alive — and the music was exceptional.

March 7 - On our second full day, we took a trip to the Mekong Delta. It was a long day, but a rewarding day to get out of the city area and to see the fields and the rivers - and the wonderful people who cover to protect us from the sun. The boat ride itself was wonderful — but getting on & off definitely created some adventures. Our first stop was at a Pottery factory. There was no “dock”, we just pulled up to the side of this building, stepped off our boat onto a small concrete platform, and then walked up 2 foot wide concrete ramp that had a wall on one side and the river on the other (no handrails). At the top, we then had to climb into the building through a hole chiseled out of the side (no door or threshold). The factory itself was a beautiful old brick building with room sized kilns. We saw some workers doing etching in stone, and learned that they work 10 hour days for just a few dollars, and of course no air conditioning or other amenities. After a brief walk around, we got to negotiate the same way out - this time downslope - back to the boat. Our second stop was a facility where we watched people make rice paper, rice candy and rice bars (like Rice Krispie treats but better) and where we drank rice wine, that was flavored with either cheery, coconut or snake (yes they put snakes into the bottles while aging. We were not fans of the wine, but Cathy did make friends with one of the boa constrictors and actually held it around her neck for a picture. Our next stop was lunch where we had elephant ear fish - which was put on the table in a stand-up dish and which they pulled pieces from and made spring rolls using rice paper right at our table. In addition to the spring rolls we enjoyed fish soup, shrimp, chicken, rice and some fabulous local fruits for dessert. We once again boarded our boats and headed for our last stop - which wasn’t a stop but a transfer point. We stepped off our big boat (held 20 people) into smaller boats (4 people each) which was gondola style river boat. Stepping off one boat onto another was certainly an adventure (as was doing it in reverse after our paddle through the small canals. But our guide was great in helping with the transfers and the ride through the canals was spectacular. After this we went back to the bus for our anticipated 90 minute drive back, that due to an accident, the traffic took almost 3 1/2 hours. As a result it was a 12+ hour day - but it was an awesome experience. The people on the Mekong Delta make a simple but peaceful life and are happy with what they have.. After a 2 1/2 hour drive, we arrived at the boat launch where we boarded a traditional river boat - which luckily had a , Boats, Pottery Factory, Demos making rice paper, popped rice candy, chance to sample that and snake wine. Then lunch at restaurant owned by family, served fish, which was served whole and a local women showed us how to make a fish spring rolls. We then had soup, shrimp, rice and local fruits for dessert - apples, mangos, Jackfruit, it was all so delicious and picked right of the trees on the property.

March 8 - On our last half day in Ho Chi Minh City, we were booked for an included panoramic tour of the city. Given it meant another 90 minute drive into the city Ann Marie opted to skip it. Cathy headed out and although we did see many of the sights we had already seen our first evening on our own we also stopped at a Lacquer shop where they actually make the lacquer art. The owner explained the process to us and we were able to watch the artist at work. It was fascinating to watch the many steps it took to create each piece of artwork. We then went and drove past the area where locals shop for all the items they need for every day life. Block after block of stalls with all kinds of goods; household items, furniture, especially little plastic chairs that seem to be everywhere in the city, toys, food and paper goods. We tour then headed back to the ship as we were sailing out at noontime.

As we sailed out of the Saigon Harbor, our sister ship the Viking Neptune (also doing a world cruise 3 days behind us) was just coming into the port. Guests from both ships were out on the decks yelling and waving to each other as the captains each sounded our ship horns in answer to each other. What a wonderful experience in Vietnam - start to finsih.