With the mere mention of Vietnam, two images come to mind – not of a country but of a land in constant conflict and turmoil and of my uncle Pete who was an entrepreneur in one of their few bustling enclaves.
Today, after that eye-opener of a journey, Vietnam holds a new meaning – a nation that is slowly, gradually waking up to global modernism while still remaining firmly attached to its country roots.
Upon approaching the destination by air, one instantly is made aware of the distinct lack of dense tropical forest common in this part of the world. Some areas still glaringly show the ugly remains of the damage brought about by the destruction of war, a fact that cannot be denied or ignored. Our generation can relate to this hostility as our parents did to World War II. But life goes on.
Our first day in Ho Chi Minh City brought us to the Presidential Palace, the home of the former President of South Vietnam Nguyen Van Thieu, until the fall of Saigon in 1975. It is now aptly called the Reunification Hall.
Next stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral, the city’s most famous church built in 1877.
We then proceeded to the War Remnants Museum where we found an extensive collection of military artillery and equipment. But what really got more than just my attention were the glaring photographs – that seemed to number in the thousands – of the horrifying effects of the use of Agent Orange, the unthinkable inhuman tortures and the war crimes. A model of the infamous Tiger Cage gave us an idea of where some political prisoners stayed. It was a sad, melancholic, sobering, heartbreaking experience.
Walking down the streets, I came across little, if at all, anti-American feeling after such bloody tragic encounters through the years. But then again, we later learned, 60 percent of today’s Vietnamese are under 15 years of age and were not even born yet when the skirmishes started.
The following days’ adventure was definitely on the tourist trail. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an intricate maze of 250 kilometers of underground passages. Started in 1948, the tunnel provided a refuge for the Viet Cong guerillas from the constant bombings and operation of allied troops. The place was designed to be impenetrable, the hidden pits with sharpened bamboo to stop GIs from getting through and secret underwater entrance from the Saigon River. The portion which is open to the public has been enlarged for Western physique, but just the same, it is still a claustrophobic experience.
Some 136 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, a drive through rural Vietnam, is Vinh Long town, a core area of the Mekong Delta. Armed with Vietnamese hats, we enjoyed a leisure cruise on a motorized boat, transferred to a hand-rowing sampan and even happily hopped on a cyclo (their version of our pedicab). We immersed ourselves in the daily activities of the locals, tasted their delicious fruits and shared an excellent Vietnamese lunch served with honey tea.
Any tour would not be complete without a day dedicated to the national pastime called shopping. The best buys we discovered were found at traditional downtown markets. Among our favorite was the Cho Ben Thanh, a large covered area that had everything, from food to toys, clothing to electronic equipment and a wide variety of souvenir gift items. We were reminded of the possible combination of our own Carbon, Tabu-an, Magallanes, Colon and more rolled into one.
All too soon, it was time to say our farewell. Saigon, or shall I say Ho Chi Minh City (old habits are hard to shake off), after being in the center of an arena of opposing beliefs for so long, is booming again and is on her way to regaining her position as one of the premier cities of the Orient.
For the convenience of Cebu passengers, they can avail themselves of the check-thru luggage departing at 5:30 in the morning in time for their connecting flight at the NAIA at 7:35 a.m.