Ho Chi Minh
We arrived at Ho Chi Minh City after a two hour limo van trip.
It was back to the same, big city scooter chaos that had bewitched us in Hanoi.
In Ho Chi Minh City locals prefer the old name, Saigon.
This pulsating place has everything from cheap guesthouses to fine hotels.
You can eat at street stalls or in the finest restaurants.
You can shop in the markets or splash the cash in the classiest of boutiques and designer shops.
And you can explore ancient temples beneath 21st-century skyscrapers.
Mekong Delta trip
On our first full day we took a tour to the Mekong Delta, AKA the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam – the world’s third top rice exporting country.
We first visited Vinh Trang Pagoda, where a great white Buddha statue smiles over lovely grounds complete with ponds, bonsai trees and statues.
Our guide Van, of Vietnam Adventure Tour, enlightens us to what Buddha defines as the three poisons.
They are greed, anger and ignorance.
Replacing them with charity, compassion and wisdom isn’t a bad philosophy when it comes to Buddhism.
We then took a boat to so-called Unicorn Island for some activities.
First, we ate some local fruit while being serenaded by local musicians.
We then hopped onto golf buggies and sampled some water coconut milk, which was watery but refreshing.
From there we were rowed up a water coconut fringed channel.
At the end we handled some local bees and learned of the life-enhancing qualities of Royal Jelly.
We also dropped by a coconut candy producer, busy creating delicious sweet treats with flavours including peanut, chocolate, coffee, durian and pandam.
This trip also proved to be our introduction to snake wine.
Who would have thought that after stuffing a snake and a lizard into a glass jar and letting the contents ferment for months, you end up with a 40 per cent spirit that could blow your socks off?
After that it was back in the boat and time for lunch at so-called Phoenix Island.
This included fresh fish spring rolls as well as pork, rice, vegetables and fruit.
On a walk afterwards we found a young woman fishing at a tranquil spot, who showed us her day’s catch with pride.
It was then back to Saigon, and the craziness of the big city.
Ho Chi Minh Central Post Office
On day two we braved the sweltering 37c heat and scooter horde and strolled to the Central Post Office.
Designed by Gustave Eiffel it had historic maps of South Vietnam painted on its walls while a portrait of Ho Chi Minh takes centre stage at the end of the barrel-vaulted hall.
There are numerous souvenir shops but it is still a working post office, so we bought a postcard and two stamps and sent it to ourselves back home.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral, across the road, had one end ensconsed in scaffolding.
War Remnants Museum
So we took our bearings and next headed to the War Remnants Museum.
The museum displays a wealth of US military hardware, including helicopters, fighter aircraft, guns and tanks.
Throughout its roomy halls it documents the horror of the Vietnam War, with a plethora of photos and film footage recording man’s ability to be inhumane to his fellow man.
It will leave you moved, especially when you learn of the casualties suffered during the conflict as well as those who suffered after due to the evil of chemical weapons.
As a bell made of a bomb casing tolled, we grabbed cold drinks before walking on to the Saigon Skydeck.
Saigon Skydeck
An entrance fee of £7.50 each gets you up to the 49th deck of the imposing tower, described by some as a CD rack with a tambourine stuck in it. (that’ll be the helicopter pad)
The elevator, travelling at 7 metres a second, whisks you 178m up to a 360-degree observation deck from where you can survey the sprawling metropolis in all its glory.
Cafe Apartments
We rounded off our walk with a visit to Cafe Apartments, where a building has been taken over by an array of little cafes and restaurants.
After nice cold drinks served by a friendly young lady at Buihaus cafe, we ambled back to our small but perfectly formed La Opera hotel.
Walking Street
We spent the last night of our trip downing cold beers in Walking Street, where tourists channel through a bar-lined street and dancers jig to the beat as the music blares.
Burgers from McDonald’s suited us for supper, as we reflected on a fantastic trip.
Trip summary
Vietnam has wow factor; old shacks and posh shops, street food and gourmet dishes, T-shirts and bespoke suits, sweltering heat and scooter mayhem.
Go and take a look some time.