| Thirty years after the end of the war, | | | | Cambodian boats pushing down the Mekong |
| the incredibly resilient nation of | | | | River. Cargo ships still to this day |
| Vietnam, and the Vietnamese people, is | | | | jostle with rice barges and fragile |
| beginning to emerge from the shadows - | | | | sampans (an Oriental boat propelled by a |
| from | | | | sail or oars), whilst porters sweat in |
| Vietnam is a country deeply scarred by | | | | the humidity loading the boats. |
| war and yet its outlook is forgiving and | | | | During the 18th century, the Khmers by |
| forward-looking. Its people believe last | | | | now had been ousted, Prei Nokor was |
| century's occupations, battles and | | | | renamed as Saigon and was made a |
| political influences have enriched the | | | | temporary capital between 1772 and 1802, |
| nation. | | | | after which the Emperor Gia Long used it |
| Washed ashore above the Mekong Delta, | | | | as his regional administrative centre. |
| some 40km north of the South China Sea, | | | | The French seized Saigon in 1861 and set |
| Ho Chi Minh City, known also as Saigon, | | | | about a huge public works programme by |
| is a city on the march, a boom-town | | | | building roads and draining marsh land. |
| where the rule of the dollar is | | | | The war against the French lasted thirty |
| absolute. It is a testament to its | | | | years after which Saigon was finally |
| war-torn past. Its history has made it | | | | designated the capital of the Republic |
| resilient, effervescent, charged with | | | | of South Vietnam. |
| initiative and roaring with trade. | | | | American troops withdrew in 1973 and two |
| The centre of Ho Chi Minh is compact and | | | | years later Saigon had been renamed as |
| ideal for wandering around. It boasts | | | | Ho Chi Minh City. |
| fine restaurants, immaculate hotels and | | | | This is a port that is steamy hot and |
| glitzy bars amidst its colonial villas | | | | searlingly stylish. The streets are |
| and venerable pagodas. | | | | lined with imaginative one-off |
| There are many interesting places to | | | | boutiques, design stores and busy cafes |
| visit including the markets, cathedral, | | | | where you will be able to meet the local |
| river-port, Presidential Palace | | | | people on an informal basis. Dong Khoi |
| (perfectly preserved for some unknown | | | | and Le Thanh Ton streets are favourites |
| reason!) and the nearby park which also | | | | for elegant silk clothing, hand |
| houses a museum of Vietnamese History | | | | embroidered scarves, and lacquerware. |
| and Culture and a small zoo. | | | | (Many stores will provide a service of |
| Ho Chi Minh City started life as a | | | | organising a container to ship purchases |
| fishing village known as Prei Nokor and | | | | home) In many ways Ho Chi Minh City is |
| during the Angkor period (the 15th | | | | far more cosmopolitan and hedonistic |
| century) it flourished as an entrpot for | | | | than the capital, Hanoi. |