South Vietnam

Party Headquarters, Saigon, or to Some People

in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

In Saigon we toured the War Remnants Museum (the Vietnamese refer to the war as “The American War”). I felt aghast at how the Vietnamese can welcome us into their land with the atrocities which occurred here. The photos in the museum were taken by photojournalists who for the most part lost their lives capturing these for future generations to view. Faces stared back from the dead and dying experiencing grizzly deaths. Photos looked back of demented soldiers such as the ones who scalped their victims and posed with smiles. There were those who chose to rampage a village for the sheer exhilaration of it – despite the fact that there were no Viet Cong there. The U.S. got involved to eradicate communism and its associated evils and in the end hundreds of thousands perished, millions were left with birth defects from the chemical Agent Orange. We see some photos of people who suffered from this – one man’s legs are twisted and contorted over his head so he is wearing his shoes on his hands to drag his maimed body around. So what did the U.S. accomplish here? The devastation of a land, a society - innocent lives lost. The pain of torment in all of the prison tortures; a land ravaged; and ecosystems destroyed. In the end Vietnam remained a Socialist Republic - the Viet Cong won. Americans and South Vietnamese fought in stinking, rotting mud with monsoon rains without the ability to see their enemy who could blend in so well with the earth’s terrain. I could almost hear the screams of those who where struck with bayonette rifles; with M 60’s; and/or sprayed with chemicals. And what about those who watched their loved ones march to their deaths? What was the purpose for the U.S. to play bully and engage in another country’s business? In my view we created a threat much larger than the one that existed. We perpetuated dominance and control; and treated others as less than human. Peace cannot exist within such motives. Forgiveness must be at the heart, soul and fabric of the Vietnamese people and their Buddhist traditions. For how else could they invite us so openly to partake in their culture – to greet us with warm, engaging smiles and shout Hello as if they really are glad we are here. We have a lot to learn from this culture.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon,

Built Between 1877 and 1883.

Post Office

8 million people live in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and 3.5 million own motorcycles. The Vietnamese like noise as we heard them honking horns in unison at all times. They set up their busineses and eat on the street sidewalks to be "in" the action. In fact, the majority like to sit on little tables and chairs as one would find in a Kindergarten classroom. Our guess is they are 'kids at heart.' The homes on the busiest streets are the most sought out and the more expensive - $800,000 in USD. With the average salary of a doctor making $300 per month and a person in the travel industry earning $150 per month - we're not sure who are buying these particular homes. All we know is the Vietnamese do not seem to like being 'inside' and they want to be heard!

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Chuc Mung Nam Moi - Happy Lunar New Year

This Year is the Year of the Pig

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Tens of Thousands of Saigon Citizens Hit the

Streets to Celebrate the New Lunar Year

The streets of Saigon (HCM) were packed with a sea of people moving together - many dressed up taking family photos by day alongside decorative fountains, ceramic pigs or they'd place their children in barrels of rice prepared for the occasion (dry rice that is). Red lanterns hung above our heads; musicians performed a range of music from symphony to rock in different areas; drums sounded bang - bang; dragons encircled us; people giggled and shouted all around us; unicorns swirled in their own rhythmic dance and neon lights flickered during the night. As darkness approached the promenade of people filled the streets with revelry - like schoolchildren being released for summer vacation. For New Years the city is decorated with flowers - yellow and red flowers brighten all landscapes. These colors are used to symbolize abundance, prosperity and long life for its people. On New Years Day the Vietnamese go to their Pagodas (places of worship) to pray for they want/need and long for in their lives. Their lunar New Year festivities last about ten days - most Vietnamese take one to two weeks off vacation (often the only vacation they will take all year) - and their families from overseas fly out to join them during this auspicious time of connection and a renewed opportunity for blessings to flow into their lives.

Cavorting With the New Year Namesake, the

Year of the Pig - Which One is it?

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Young Children Dress Up in Special

Outfits to Welcome the New Year

It's the Snow Cone Lady, It's the Snow Cone Lady!

Riding Down a Street Near You.

Would You Like Some Cold Water?

This saleswoman had been puffing a cigarette - hanging on her pursed lips - until Jim asked if he could take her photo. She yanked it out of her mouth and snuffed it - as Vietnamese women are not to be seen smoking.

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A Colorful Temple of the Cao Dai Religion, Which

is a Blend of 5 Different Religions.

The Cao Dai Temple was founded in 1926 in Vietnam and is a blend ofBuddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Hinduism and Taoism. They worship the left eye and have paintings of this eye on the temple walls. They believe the left eye is the closest to the heart and one's wisdom. Through this 'eye of the soul' - everything can be seen. As I (Suzan) have an eye condition which generally affects my left eye (puffy - sometimes infected eyelid) - I'm ready to seek counsel with these practicioners!

Young Vietnamese Ladies Playing Traditional

Folk Music Instruments. Beautiful Sounds.

We enjoyed traditional music while dining at Vietnamese House near the river and blocks from our hotel. A delicious meal that included spring rolls, braised tofu/mushrooms and rice and a vegetable noodle soup. Saigon Beer for Jim - Lime Soda for Suzan (club soda, limes and lotsa sugar - so refreshing)!

The Nighttime View of the Saigon River, From

Our Hotel Room.

Vietnamese do not usually have breakfast – though they do drink coffee. If they have anything to eat it is likely noodles with beef. Lunch and dinner are important and there are no set times for meals. Rice is the staple item with lunch and dinner along with fish, or pork or beef and vegetables). They generally do not snack --- must be why the Vietnamese are so thin!

The Vietnamese regularly imbibe on beer or rice wine (which they make at home) or buy easily on the streets. The women drink the pink wine and the men, the white. One of their favorite appetizers to wash down is raw clams. If the Vietnamese are not enjoying food and friends at their small tables outside on the sidewalks; you may find them at one of the MANY rest areas. We saw them all over along the sides of roads (in countryside – outskirts of cities) – they are areas with tables, chairs and hammocks for people to bring their food and beverages to while hanging out “in community.”

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