Ho Chi Minh City

 Ho Chi Minh City is very busy with very modern buildings and old ones, fairly well kept given the level of activity. 

Vietnam has a turbulent history but now thriving. Occupied by China, Japan, France then US - their goal was independence, to get there they were forced to be friendly with Russia. Today Vietnam is less socialist than the US, there is no income tax, no healthcare, no welfare, no retirement program. Free market prevails (they don’t like calling it capitalism) people keep what they earn and own land, homes and businesses. Covid has been hard because tourism was big and slowly recovering, the Chinese were a large source of tourist dollars, they have not come back yet. 



Incense offerings at temple is old wifi, you add incense and pray for good things, your message is carried by the smoke.
Temple main alter dedicated to goddess of the sea, protecting sailors and fishermen.
At the Viet Kong tunnels a camouflaged entry was shown - a small hatch covered by leaves.
American bomber at tunnel exhibit.
Temple.
Helicopter 
Outside of temple to sea goddess.
Bomber.

Old presidential palace now renamed Unification Palace, used for some official functions. During the war the leadership of S. Vietnam used, there are rooms underneath that are safe from bombing.


View from our hotel window.
Outside of old palace.
Visited a lacquer factory, mother of pearl, egg shell and paint are used to decorate. This woman uses duck egg shells to create pictures such as those in front.
Old US tank.
Outside the sea goddess temple you can buy small birds to release as an offering.
Notice the modern buildings and cable stay bridge.

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