Vietnam - Motorbike madness

It must be a special day when I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Just the sheer number of motorbikes on the streets rivals the bees on a beehives. Crossing a small street with no traffic lights proved to be a real challenge especially when you are carrying a large backpack. Nevertheless, I made it in one piece.

After settling down in a guesthouse, I had two delicious bowls of Vietnamese noodle (Pho) at a small local restaurant where Bill Clinton ate when he came to Saigon in the late 90s. I then took a 1-hour cyclo ride around town.

The next day, I visited the Ho Chi Minh museum and the war museum, where photos and details of the Vietnam war were echibited. Pictures of torture of women and children by American soldiers and victims of chemical warfare were vividly displayed in front of our eyes, with 300o tons bombs, tanks and fighter planes outside. I wonder if these photos are on shown front-page major newspapers in the States, will the public be more outspoken enough to change a regime which see war as nothing but a money-making tool.

I escaped Saigon quickly and arrived at Nha Trang, a beach resort for locals and tourists, after an overnight bus ride. This is my first time on this trip to see the ocean. Since there are many Chinese-Vietnamese here, I seldom get hassled by local women selling chewing gums or peanuts. While most foreigners lay under the sun for hours, locals sit and enjoy the breezy weather under coconut trees in groups. I enjoyed a nice walk along the Nha Trang beach on a Saturday night watching familes and children.