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