DAY 74---HO CHI MING CITY (SAIGON), VIETNAM

 

We are in Saigon (Ho Chi Ming City) today and tomorrow.  High temp today was 85F under sunny skies with some smog.

Historical/Background Info:

        We were also here in 2010 & 2013.  Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam, with population of around 9 million.  It is situated in the southeast region of Vietnam just north of the Mekong River delta.

        Saigon was the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1902 and again in 1945, but became the capital of South Vietnam in 1954 until the fall of Saigon in 1975.  That’s when the city’s name changed to Ho Chi Minh City.  Beginning in the 1990's the city underwent a rapid modernization and expansion which continues today.  It's economy consists of industries ranging from mining, seafood processing, agriculture, construction, electronics, software, finance, trade, manufacturing, and tourism.  Tourist attractions are mainly related to periods of French colonization and the Vietnam War.  It has over 8 million tourists visiting here each year.

        We will slowly sail up the Saigon River for about 3 hours to dock in a marine industrial area an hour drive from the city.  Another crappy dock location.  Thank you Vietnam!

LAST EVENING

                                                                 Formal night for us.

This is Tanner, the assistant cruise director.  She is leaving the ship and going to the Splendor.  Prior to her present position she was a production cast dancer.  She will be missed.

Dara is taking our order for dinner.  Note they are using IPad like things to do it.  They hit enter and it goes directly to the kitchen.  They used to write it down on paper and take it to the kitchen.  Technology is great.  I still find it amazing that all our food comes to the table HOT.

                                                    Dara's assistant is Joshua.  Great guy.

                                                        Greek salad to start with was great.

                                   Miso glazed sea bass was perfection!!  Sooooo good!

                                                     White chocolate croissant pudding.

                                    Kellie recently joined the ship and was seating folks.

           We went to Scot Robin's show.  He was pretty good.  We lasted his whole show.

TODAY

        My alarm did not go off at 7:00 but I woke up at 7:24 thankfully.  Down to get our double shot Americano coffees at 7:30 as usual.  Room service breakfast showed up at 8:00.  They are on time every day.

Not sure what these boats were carrying down river but we sailed past at least 50 during the hour I had the curtains open prior to docking.

We passed lots of commercial industries to include acres of new cars parked for export.  The Saigon River was a beehive of activity.

                                             We arrived early at 8:20 at our commercial dock.

                                            This is our view for today and tomorrow.  YUK!!

        Yea!  They moved the blue crane from in front of our balcony.  Tour buses in distance ready to move on the pier.  Setting up a tent for souvenirs.  This is where we have bought t-shirts and polo shirts on past cruises.

         Buses moving into position.  We decided to not go on the Chinatown tour this morning.  We will work out and take the shuttle bus to downtown instead.

        Rebecca decided not to go (wise choice) but I caught the 11am bus.  They said the ride to Union Square downtown would take 1 1/4 hour but it was only 45 minutes.  The bus had quite a few crew members on it.  There was a VERY nice mall at the drop off with all the designer/high end shops.  I decided to just come right back on the same bus.  I was afraid the 1:30 bus might be full and besides it was VERY hot and humid with the sun beating down.  I moved up to one of the front seats on however for better photos.  I was back at the ship by 1pm so ran up to get some spaghetti for lunch.  Here are the photos I took on the bus trip.

      Many new high rise housing buildings since last visit and more in the construction phase.

                       Family with 3 kids living along the road with canvas for a roof.  Sad

                                             9 million people with 10 million motor bikes!!!

                                            Drop off for shuttle in front of a fancy mall.

                                                                    Shuttle bus

                                                  Driver.  How about the gear shift covering.

                                                                Heading back to the ship

                                                             Mayhem on the streets

                                                      Interesting motor cart in front of us.

                                                                         More traffic

                                         That guy is loaded down with liquid containers.

                                                   About back at the commercial port

After I had a bite for lunch we went out to the shops on the pier.  They had Polo and name purse knock offs.  T-shirts $8.  We did not buy anything this time.

                                These guys showed up just outside our balcony this afternoon.

Semi showed up this afternoon with provisions.  It is refrigerated so suspect fresh fruits and vegetables.  After all this is Vietnam and they have lots of both.  More trucks are arriving so this is a huge provisioning.

                                                              Tricky getting it on board.

                                            Looks like we're getting a new treadmill!!!!

        Most of the people are off the ship on long tours today so it's pretty quite on board.  The group (probably 50+) arrived back from their 2 day trip to Angkor Wat, Cambodia, this afternoon.  They were greeted with champagne.

                                                  Tonight's Compass Rose where we will be.

        At 7:00 this evening there is a Vietnamese Grand Deck Barbeque up on the pool deck.  I can't imagine the crew getting it set up this afternoon in this heat.  Nor can I imagine anyone wanting to eat out there this evening even though it will cool of a little after dark.  We never do the deck dinner so will dine in Compass Rose as usual.  Prime 7, Sette Marin, and Chartreuse are closed for the BBQ.  Tonight's entertainment is a "Rock the Boat Dance Party Under the Stars".  There is also a special 4 hour tour "An Evening Out in Saigon" leaving at 6:25.  It is dinner and traditional Vietnamese show.  It is a pay extra tour.  

        Early day tomorrow as I have a 7:15 tour.  It is an 8 hour tour that included lunch.  "Mekong River Delta" tour.  I will be getting back just before the ship is to sail again at 4pm.