Saigon

There definitely are many differences in the two biggest cities in Vietnam. Hanoi (the capital) is more chaotic, more dirty, many more lady swith cone hats that sell on the street, more street stalls to eat food, it's also a lot harder to cross a street in Hanoi, basically I think it's more old Asia than here in Saigon. Saigon is more orderly, although there are many motorbikes (4 million) they are much more orderly in their way of driving. They actually sto at streetlights which were non-existant in Hanoi. Saigon is much richer, hipper and modern. Skyscraper buildings, police and security at many street corners, expensive and international restaurants. Even though they are different they both have their own charm. So far, nothing beats Hoi An. Yes, there are many more tourists in Hoi An but it's totally normal, it's beautiful and friendly. At first I didn't even want to go to Hoi An because of all the tourists but I'm happy I went because I would've missed out on something really nice with the lantern festival. Why should we miss out on something just because it's touristy? Touristy doesn't necessarily mean bad, when I think of Mont Tremblant in Quebec it's also touristy but it's normal because it's nice.

Yesterday I saw the War Museum and it's hard to take it all in with the atrocities that happened but then again I came here to see the actual Vietnam but also to see the history in Vietnam and how they survived so many wars. I prefer not to put the horrific pictures on my blog. I also went to get to the Cambodian consulate to get my visa and I got it today... that's fast. Today was the Cu Chi tunnels where the Viet Cong lived in for almost 20 years. Just fitting into one (which has been modified for tourists ... read: bigger) is a challenge and many claustrophobic just didn't even try. That I have a picture of me entering the enlarged tourist tunnel but none inside because we basically have to walk on hands and knees. What an experience that was. Just to give you an insight on the tunnels, they were sophisticated and well built. Kitchens, maternity wards, emergency exits, a system of fume exit from the cooking and many other systems that need to be had in a village. If I remember correctly there were 17 different villages underground. Thousands of people, men and women soldiers and also young teenage soldiers. Everybody was put to work. When I came back from the tunnels I went to the Saigon zoo which seems to be the outing for Vietnamese families. The entrance fee is less than one canadian dollar, cheapy compared to all the other zoos that I've been to.

Tomorrow I'm going to exit Vietnam via the Mekong Delta by boat. I already have my Cambodian visa in hand but I'm a bit sad to leave Vietnam and also the family at my guesthouse are great. It's really intergenerational, they are so sweet.

Gotta go take my second shower of the day, it's hot and humid in the south!