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