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This is the largest city in Vietnam.
It is the industrial, commercial and cultural
center of the country. The central city area is
still called Saigon.
War Crime Museum
 This
museum exhibit crimes committed by the Americans
during the war. Photographs of the famous My Lai
massacre, human embryos, genetically deformed
babies and innocent civilians being tortured can
be seen on display. An array of US armored vehicles,
artillery pieces, bombs and infantry weapons are
displayed in the courtyard. You can also see a
guillotine used by the French to de itate troublemakers
in the riots of the 1920s and a model of the famous
tiger cages used by the South Vietnamese to house
VC prisoners on Con Son island. The War Crime
Museum basically reveals a different side of the
stories about wars - the innocent victims of modern
warfare.
Historical Museum
 Built
in 1929 by the Societe des Etudes Indochinioses,
it was formerly named Blanchard dels Brosse. A
big statute of President HoChiMinh stands in the
main lounge of the museum. The museum has an excellent
collection of artifacts illustrating the primitive
age, bronze age, the Tran dynasty and the Le Dynasty.
Take a look at the array of musical instrument
especially the special monocord of the one string
musical instruments. There are many valuable relics
taken from Cambodia's Angkor Wat.
Reunification Palace
In 1868, the Norodom Palace (original name) was
built for the French Governor-General of Indochina.
A striking modern architecture was built when
the original buildings were damaged by bombs.
Rebuilt in 1962, it comprises of a ground floor,
3 main floors, two mezzanines and a terrace for
helicopter landing. The palace includes many tastefully
decorated rooms such as the reception room, the
cabinet reference room, the study rooms, the credentials
presentation room and the banquet room. It also
has a basement with a network of tunnels connecting
to the telecom centre and war room and one of
the longest tunnels which stretch all the way
to the Revolutionary Museum. The grounds outside
contain one of the first tanks to burst through
the gates of the palace to signify the end of
the Vietnam War as well as the fighter plane which
dropped further bombs towards the end of the war.
Independence Palace was renamed the Unification
Palace to denote the spirit and strong will for
national independence and reunification
Ben Thanh Market
The Ben Thanh Market, formerly the main railway
terminal, is the largest of the markets scattered
throughout the city. A wide variety of goods are
available, from imported electronics to imported
perfumes.
Notre Dame Cathedral
This Catholic church was constructed in 1883 and
is located near the Tu Do (Dong Khoi) Street,
the former red-light district.
Presidential Palace
This building is now called the Reunification
Hall. The center was built as a modern administration
center and is where the war and the American involvement
in Vietnam ended in April 1975, with tanks invading
the compound. Guided tours will take visitors
through the various rooms within the complex.
Cholon
Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. Sights include the
Binh Tay Market, the An Quang Pagoda (District
5) and the scenic Thien Hau Temple.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
A modern Japanese-style Buddhist temple, easily
one of the largest and most impressive in Ho Chi
Minh City.
Tay Ninh
Cu Chi Tunnels
An extensive network of nearly 200 miles (322mi)
of Viet Cong tunnels used in the French Indochina
war and American war. The tunnels have complete
facilities, from kitchens to printing presses
and even street signs, all of which were used
to aid the NLF (National Liberation Front) military.
Tours involve a description of the tunnels, after
which tourists are allowed to crawl about the
maze. Located in Tay Ninh (suburb of Ho Chi Minh
City), 24 miles (39km) northwest of central Ho
Chi Minh City.
Cao Dai Temple
 Cao
Daism seeks to create the ultimate religion by
fusing Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianist and Catholic
beliefs into a synthesis of its own. Witness the
solemn ceremony of the unique religion - Caodaism
at Caodai Holly See at its noon tide prayer service
with followers dressed in red, blue, yellow and
white robes. There is the divine eye above the
altar, the religion's official symbol. The temple
has nine levels which signify the nine steps to
heaven, each level marked by a pair of multicoloured
dragons.
Mekong Delta
 One
of the world's largest delta, the Delta Region
is formed by the various tributaries of the mighty
Mekong River which begins its journey to the sea
in Tibet and winds its way for 4500 km through
China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Southern
Vietnam. The vietnamese name for the Mekong is
Cuu Long which means "nine dragons"
and this is represented by the nine exit points
of the Mekong River as it flows into the sea.
The land of the Mekong Delta is renowned for its
richness. Known as Vietnam's breadbasket, it produces
enough rice to feed the entire country with a
sizeable surplus leftover. Take a sampan ride
that meanders through small villages and experience
the simple lives of the Mekong people
Vung Tau Beach
Located at the mouth of the Saigon River is the
popular Vung Tau beach resort. Pineapple Beach
is probably the most pleasant, with its villas
and generally tranquil atmosphere. The temples
are a definite must-see. The Niet Ban Tinh Xa
is the largest temple in Vietnam. Tourist accommodations
are available at the Hoa Binh Hotel, as well as
the Thang Loi, Thang Thai and Tho Nguyet. |
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