My Around the World Adventure: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (VIETNAM)

Julio Giulietti, SJ welcoming me to Vietnam.

Well, here I am in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City! Of all the places I have visited, this was the first time I had a feeling of incredulity. Growing up in the generation that lived through the pain of the Vietnam War (called "the American War" here), I quickly recalled during the drive from the airport to the hotel of how many thousands of American soldiers died here. It is hard to imagine that this city was ever at war, and for such a long time. The city is a bustling metropolis. There are thousands upon thousands of people constantly moving, especially on motor bikes which are everywhere, even on sidewalks as they try to beat the traffic in the road. The city itself is filled with a lot of the old and a lot of the new. Modern high rise buildings dot the landscape and pastel colored buildings fill in the rest. It is a city of 6 million people, and as you will soon see in some of the photos from the window of my hotel room, the city sprawls out in all directions.

I was graciously welcomed to Saigon by Father Julio Giulietti, SJ. He took me on a walking tour of the city yesterday. The photos in this posting were taken during our expedition. He wanted to orient me to the city so I could do more exploring on my own, which I will do today. The only downside to yesterday's tour was my first mosquito bite in Southeast Asia! My fingers are crossed that it was a healthy mosquito!

One final note, Julio told me that the Vietnamese like to have their pictures taken. And, it's true! As we were walking through the grounds of a children's hospital (formerly, a convent and hospital in the care of French nuns), parents wanted me to take photos of their children. I have attached a few of those photos in this posting.

Taken inside the lobby of my hotel.

View of Saigon from my hotel room on the 17th floor.

City Opera House, which has not been used since the war, except for an occasional wedding.

Caravelle Hotel, from which Walter Cronkite would regularly report news of the war.

Another hotel, Hotel Continental, which was prominent during the war, but was made famous because of its association with Graham Greene's, The Quiet American.

Recently opened shopping center with such shops as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier.

Typical apartments above the shops in "downtown" Saigon.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Even non-Catholic brides like to have their pictures taken at the cathedral. This bride is waiting for the groom to appear to start the photo-taking.

The Post Office, where a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh greets you as you enter the colonial French constructed building.

Communist inspired sculptures were on both sides of the Post Office.

A souvenir shop inside the Post Office.

Modern Ho Chi Minh City, this building faces the front of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Communist propaganda billboards on the city of Saigon's Communist Party Offices.

April 30, 1975, the day Saigon fell to the Vietcong, or, as the poster reads, Saigon was liberated.

Communist Party Offices

Entrance to private medical clinic (best available in Saigon).

One of the 2 new ambulances in the entire city, both owned by the private clinic.

The grounds of the Children's General Hospital, formerly, a French Hospital in the care of French nuns.

Former chapel of the French nuns on the grounds of the hospital, now the hospital laundry.

Marian shrine is still maintained next to the main hospital building.

The 2 French physicians who founded the hospital are memorialized in this plaque on the grounds of the hospital, and, as you can see, still remembered with gratitude.