Trip to Ho Chi Minh - Day 3

Met the Tour Guide at 8am at our hotel lobby. Today the tour is only 2 of us.

We went to Cuchi Tunnel, which is 22 miles Northwest of the city, approximately 2 hours by coach. Cuchi Tunnel is famous for its network of underground tunnels 200km long and 12m deep, created by the Viet Congs (vietnamese soldiers) during war.

They showed us a opening of the tunnel, it is so small, the tour guide keep asking me to jump in to take picture, i refused cause i scared i will be stucked and how am i going to get out......


Then we come to a place where they demo how to make rice paper, the basic food during war time. The tour guide take one for us and one for himself, he love it.


We walk further on, they showed us the trap that they set inside the tunnel incase some intruder went in, all the spikes etc. Also how they make the weapons etc. We come to an opening of a tunnel, its bigger, especially for tourist to try. From the surface its only a 5 sec walk, but under the tunnel its seems so long. The tunnel is very narrow and low, we got to walk with our body bend, its so dark that u hardly can see, luckily our tour guide lent me a mini keychain torch...by the time we come out of the tunnel, we are perspiraring and tired.

There is a longer tunnel for tourist to try but no thanks..... so we proceed to a hut, a resting place, where they served us some tea and steam tapioca.


We chatted with the tour guide while resting. He spoke quite good English and he is taking BA in English language. He already had his degree in tourism. He is not from rich family hence he is earning while studying so he worked almost 7 days a week because during the off peak time, around May and June, he will have no work and no income. Then he will go back to his campus to study more. He is very upright and hardworking man.

After the rest, we go to a resturant for our Vietnamese lunch buffet.

After lunch, we proceed to City tour. We first went to the old Saigon Post Ofice.



Opposite the Post Office, its the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is said that the statue was found crying one day and therefore alot of pple come to this church. Unfortunately its close when we are there. They have masses for the foreigner every sunday morning.


Then the tour guide decided to bring us to the Chinatown and showed us the oldest temple. Thien Hau temple built by Chinese emigrants in 8th century. There is a lot of craving on the roof of the temple which make it very unique.

We visited the American War Musemum, there are lots of pictures taken during the US war and weapon, aircraft and tanks used. The tour guide gave us an hour, and we finished within 1/2 hour.

Its time to set off to our hotel, we asked the driver to drop us at Parkson for some shopping. We shop for a while and took a cab back not knowing its just arnd the corner. We rested for a while and then set off for more shopping.

Crossing the road is a challenge, there are alot of motorbike on the road, and there isn't much traffic lights and alot dun follow the rule. I once asked the tour guide how to cross the road, he said, just close your eyes and walk...... we are so stressed while crossing. Thank goodness we are still in one pcs.

We go the the shop opposite our hotel, also a nice place to shop but prices is abit higher then the Ben Thanh Market. But at least its air condition and there is a bigger supermarket.

After shopping, we drop our bags at the hotel and set off to find some food. We look at the traffic, terrible, scary haha, more bike then evening, horning and speeding, we walk around our hotel trying to find some nice food, finally, we are ended at the Ben Thanh Market. The market is close but the stalls outside the market was set up, there are food stalls and stalls selling bags, shoes, clothes etc. We ordered a noodle, fish, rice paper wrap, 2 coconut drink, cram soup, toufu and it cost us only VN167,000 which is about S$18.40.

We are too tired to bargain so no more shopping, go thru the stressful road and went back to hotel to rest...