We were up early to catch the first flight from Hue to Saigon. It was a quick one hour up and down and we landed in Saigon. Due to the time, we checked into the hotel and went immediately to et lunch at Pho 2000. We selected this spot because it was quick, light and President Clinton ate there!

Our sightseeing began at the War Remnants Museum. Since more war events happened in and around Saigon (at least ones we are more intimately familiar with), it was very moving to see the correspondent images and leftover American military equipment. These iconic images showed the war in a non-flattering light. In fact, there was a whole room dedicated to items from protests of solidarity with the communist Vietnam government from all over the world. There was plenty of propaganda and even some replica tiger cages.

The next stop was the presidential palace (now called the Reunification Palace). When we pulled up to the gates, we were informed that the palace was closed in preparation for a VIP event. Everyone was disappointed because we really wanted to see this piece of history.

From the palace, we negotiated our bus through the motorbike choked streets to the post office square. On the square is a massive European style cathedral (Notre Dame Cathedral) and the main Saigon post office. We went into the church first and got to see a bride and groom walk down the aisle. I'm sure they had not planned on spending this special day with tourists, but that's the price of using a landmark! Inside the cathedral was surprisingly sparse. The required decoration was in place, but it lacked much of the charm and character that the outside facade promised.

We crossed the street to the post office and were struck by it's external character. The classic clock was mounted over enormous double doors, and the facade was classic french. The twist was the use of famous scientists and philosopher's names in the decoration. Once inside, we were impressed with the cavernous hall. Below a simple arched ceiling, there were banks of people waiting to help. The highlight were two intricately detailed maps of the Mekong Delta and Saigon itself.

Before climbing back aboard the bus, we walked the streets and saw the opera house, city hall, and the famous Rix hotel. Along the way, we were assisted by the green suited "Tourist Security" who helped us cross the streets. With eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, crossing the street becomes a task akin to fording a raging river. Every time we crossed a street, we felt like we had really accomplished something.

Our final stop of the day was a tour in Chinatown. We started in a lovely semi-hidden temple that had the distinction of having the most incense burning of any temple we visited. The air was thick and you could taste the incense. From the temple, we navigated to the market. This market was very different because it was focused on the wholesale buyer. We went up to the second floor where the clothes were sold and were instantly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of merchandise. We randomly chose an aisle and ventured deeper. THe market swallowed us up and all sound was muffled. We pushed our way down an aisle that was no more than a few feet wide, dodging large boxes and sellers on our way. The temperature went up and you really felt stifled by the stacks of shirts, pants and other goods that started on the floor and towered above you at the ceiling.

Outside, we watched in amazement as box after box was stacked onto motorbikes and driven away. Sometimes, there were so many boxes that there was nowhere for the driver to sit. We also saw many people with notebooks settling accounts or purchasing more goods through bartering.