Saigon, Vietnam Dec 14, 2004
In Saigon, the children on motorbikes are most amazing - asleep, standing, reading, colouring or just plain board as they ride up front in high chairs or on the laps of their driver parents, sometimes piled 3 to a bike.
We arrived hoping for something ... less touristy, and found that the destination was definately worth the effort. This place made our jaws drop, and still makes us walk around a little dazed at all the activity - imagine 11 million people, 500,000 motorbikes, countless bikes, and history to make your hair stand on end. Our favorate so far.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 14, 2004
In Saigon, the children on motorbikes are most amazing - asleep, standing, reading, colouring or just plain board as they ride up front in high chairs or on the laps of their driver parents, sometimes piled 3 to a bike.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 14, 2004
This man we found on a very busy street weaving in and out of traffic with a propaine tank hooked to his back.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 14, 2004
The incrediable loads that are transported on bikes and bicicles across the busy streets of Saigon.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 14, 2004
Early morning dusk in the side streets of Saigon.
Siagon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
I think that the only rule is: if your bike tires can hold it, then it's fair game to try. This type of loading of bikes is very common here, and it's facinating to watch them manouver the traffic with all this STUFF packed high/wide/deep.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Busy traffic on the streets of Saigon - we are yet to figure out the rules of the road, but have never seen an accident since we arrived.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Grain sorters in the street of Cholon district, Ho Chi Minh City.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Grain and rice sorters peek over the bags of goods at the rice vender street in Cholon district.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Noodle vender at back streets of Cholon district in Ho Chi Minh city.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Back streets surrounding main market of Cholon district, in Ho Chi Minh city.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Street venders in the district of Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City. This area is mostly Chinese, and VERY busy.
Cholon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Making an incense offering at the temple for travellers, so that we will have a safe journey.
Saigon, Vietnam Dec 15, 2004
Making friends - and learing the essentials of Vietnamese (cung ly to everyone back home from our friends in Saigon!)
Cai Doi, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
Children at Cai Doi city sect liven up conversation with gorgeous smiles.
Cai Doi Temple, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
The service of the Cai Doi political and religious sect, who welcome outsiders to observe their city and rituals. This sect had a very powerful anti-communist army, and has over 30 temples throughout S. Vietnam and Cambodia.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
Underground cavers of the VietCong, at Cu Chi 30km from Ho Chi Minh. Some of the worst fighting happened in this "Free bombing" zone, and we did a tour of anarea covered in bomb craters and hidden tunnels. See the BBC report on the tunners: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/720577.stmstrict near
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
Small collection of cluster bomb shells and rocket launchers found by farmers on the fields of Cu Chi district. This land is riddled by huge bomb crators and mortar debris, as well as old American tanks and helicopters.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
Deep inside (an enlarged and concrete re-enforced) VietCong tunnel - we later got to crawl on all 4's through 200m of a typical tunnel, with bats flying past your shoulders, in the stiffling heat and dark. There are over 250km of these hand-dug tunnels and cavers, as deep as 9m below ground.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
Only in Vietnam can you have a pick of any military rifle and have a change to fire a few rounds - here Derek tries the AK-47, a Soviet-manufactured Kalashnikov semi-automatic and fully automatic combat assault rifle, 7.62-mm; the basic weapon of the Communist forces. Known as the Type 56 to the Chinese, it is characterized by an explosive popping sound.
Cu Chi Tunnels, Vietnam Dec 16, 2004
This concoction is snake wine - two snakes in a stong alcohol which is drank quickly and by the bottle.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 19, 2004
America invaded Vietnam in 1965, and used MASSIVE air and ground support to launch a war that lasted for over 10 years. According to the figures in the War Crimes museum, 7.850.000 tons of bombs were dropped on Vietnam (compared to 2,057,244 tons of American bombs over many battlefields throughout WWII).
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 19, 2004
Anti war posters, depicting laughing American presidents at the suffering of the Vietnamese people - posted at the War Crimes Museum.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 22, 2004
School children practice marches for Independence Day celebrations.
Ho Chi Ming, Vietnam Dec 22, 2004
Mr. Ho Chi Ming (who we got to see "in the flesh" at his mausoleum in Hanai) stands proud with the Vietnamese star at this head. This man is THE revolutionary leader of the Vietnamese people, and his picture can be found in every home and business, including the ethnic stilt houses in remore villages.
Saigon, Vietnan Dec 22, 2004
School children practice marches in front of the Palace of Reunification, in preparation for the annual celebrations of Vietnamese Idependence.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 22, 2004
Military guards at the Palace of Reunification, which has been made famous in flims showing the last American helicopter leaving the roof top in the middle of the revolution. A model of the helicopter can be found on the roof of the palace, and the two original North Vietnamese army tanks who broke through the gates are in the court yard below.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 22, 2004
Traditional music played on a horizontal harp-type instrument, which produces haunting melodies when played by the skilled hands of the musician ... and cat-like scratches when played by Derek.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Dec 22, 2004
Photos taken during the war are displayed at The War Crimes Museum, showing American soldiers in the thick of battle, and the horror of the Vietamese people living through the war.
