Bill&Theresa: Another Walking Day in Saigon

Our rigorous jaunt!

Our plan today was to do an aggressive walk around the city. Well, by city, like the neighborhood. And by aggressive…like 20 minutes. So, we launched out of bed by like 8ish, and headed to breakfast. Then back to the room for…what did we do all morning? There was praying, and not quite packing but pre-packing? Putzing…definitely putzing around. Anyway, we managed our way out of the room by like 11ish.

Theresa got the Banh Mi (sandwich) for breakfast.
(Big deal because it has pork pate, and she hates pate!)

Independence Palace.

First stop was the Independence Palace. We debated on this, still a little over-propagandized from the first museum. But this one was actually much better. It was buit by the French during their colonial period, and was the seat of government since the 1860s. When the Japanese invaded in 1945, they used it for their administrative base. Then the French were back until 1954, and the Republic of Vietnam (“South Vietnam”) used it through 1975 when they surrendered to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (“North Vietnam”, and post war “Vietnam”). Since the North had their Capital in Hanoi, they ceased using the building and turned it into something of a museum.

In the background, a Soviet tank.
In the foreground, a Soviet tank built by the Chinese.

This F5 looks decidedly less scarey with the busses behind it.

The Cabinet meeting room

There were many pictures of various State dignitaries (such as Nixon and Kissinger) next to the rooms where they visited. One interesting feature of the structure was the hallways were generally “outside” with the rooms in the middle. This allowed airflow which must have been appreciated since there was no air conditioning.

One of many out door hallways

The Conference Hall

The Central Command in the basement of the palace.

Clearly the Communcation Room...check out the phones!

A beautiful hallway...with FANS...we loitered under them!

The grounds were very nice.

Windows through the concrete "screen"

Not sure whose bedroom this was, but the mattress is THIN,
And who has a fancy conference table in their bedroom??

Evokes the last helicopter out of Saigon. Maybe the point?

There was an event coming up. Sponsored by a beer company!

Not sure the event, but the seating is very limited!!

"Street" food. In English! How authentic!! :-)

After touring the building and grounds, we headed on to the “Street Food” mall(?). It was a pavilion with lots of vendors in their own spaces (so not exactly ‘street’). But they are held to strict sanitation standards, so Westerners like us can pretend we’re getting a local experience (without the Immodium). We perused the options, and compared to a list a friend had given us of “must tries”. We found one and ordered it. By this point, Theresa was more hot than hungry, so we just got the one plate…and two beers…and then just the one coconut ice cream! We were happy to be back to the room by 2ish, and get showered and packed up for our commute across town.

First things first...something cool to drink!

Banh Bot Loc (Tapioca Dumplings)

Coconut Ice Cream...with a side of coconut water!
The coconut shell was frozen too!

The Vinpearl...an 81 story highrise.

We checked into the Vinpearl 81, a fancy Marriott property in the tallest building in Vietnam. The hotel lobby is on the 48^th floor, and the lounge (because, of COURSE there is a LOUNGE!) is on the 71^st(963 feet per my phone). Alas, our room was merely on the 56^th. After settling into our room, we headed right up to the lounge to get situated for sunset. But sunset was NOT the show we would be seeing!! We watched the rain clouds come in, greying out windows on one side, then more, and finally swallowing the lounge. We also got a lightning show, and plenty of thunder. So, it was dramatic in a different way!

Fancy room with beautiful entry way.

Not sure what the deal with windows into the tub is?

View from our room (on lowly 56). Note the river winding.

View from the lofty 71st floor!! That's all the sunset we're getting!

Part of the buffet

As the storm rolls in...

We're half in and half out of the storm!

Yeah...we're in the storm!

We started with a drink, and their feature was “Victory Vibe”, and we had to try the Sky (something). After ordering, Theresa mused on what “victory” it was named for, and when it arrived…well, a deep red drink with a yellow star garnish…OK, play on their flag, I’ll give points for that!

Drinking makes Theresa sleepy!!

Nui Bo Lo & Thit Bo.
Authentic because it's in Vietnamese!

The food buffet was pretty extensive!! Of course, we had to have Pho (last time in it’s place of origin). We got second round of drinks, and I went for the only Single Malt Scotch they offiered (The Glenlivet 12), but they were out. I had a beer instead.

All those little people in traffic. That must suck! Another drink, please!

Our "Welcome" gift(s)...delivered a bit late.
(There is a "lovely bunch of coconuts" joke here...)

Infinity Pool on the 47th floor.

After dinner, we headed down to the pool…down on the 47^th floor!! It was a little small, but as there was NO ONE else there…we had the whole place to ourselves! The water was very warm, like almost hot tub warm. So, it was more like soaking in a tub. But still nice. Then it started sprinkling…then RAINING. The rain was COLD!! We got out, and headed back up to the 57^th floor for the night.