People's Committee Building, HCMC, Vietnam

Day 24

We left Mui Ne this morning. I enjoyed views to the beach, and beautiful gardens at the resort.

A six hour drive to Ho Chi Minh City. A slow road, through many towns. So interesting to observe the fishing boats, then street sellers. We stopped a few times at roadside stalls, to buy dragon fruit (red variety inside), Durian (I passed on tasting that again), and huge bamboo shoots.

In the countryside, we passed by acres of dragon fruit bushes, rubber plantations. Rambutan, Durian, Pomelo growing beside the road.

The approach to HCMC was so slow, much worse than the crawl over the Kingston Bridge! Found our hotel, new, very nice. Then off to explore.

The People's Committee Building was designed by French architect P Gardes in 1908. A statue of Ho in front on Walking Street, a wide, safe space with no access to all those motorbikes. The famous Rex hotel at the side. I can hardly believe I am here, memories of awful Vietnam news stories during my teenage years.

We also found the General Post Office, designed by Gustave Eiffel between 1886-1891 (see extra of interior), Notre Dame Cathedral, the Independence Palace, and the Opera House. A lot of grand buildings, and many classy top hotels. One has a helicopter landing pad coming out at the side half way up.

Vietnamese dining at Lemongrass. Delicious tastes, confusion over our tea drinking order. Not a lot of English spoken in Vietnam, we've had to use a translator app on several occasions. It is easier if the menus have photographs. Reflecting on our adventures so far, much to be thankful for.