It's warm here, in the mid 90s for the afternoon. Our hotel, the Nguyen Shack, is charming with bamboo furniture and plants everywhere. We are in the city center and within walking distance of most of the sights.
We spent the first part of the day at the War Remnants Museum. The front courtyard is filled with planes, tanks, helicopters, patrol boats, guns, and other detritus from the American war. The museum contained somber reminders of the cost of so many years of fighting, with an emphasis on the effects of Agent Orange.
We went next to the Reunification Palace but discovered that it was closed because a former prime minister had passed away and his service would be held there. The Notre Dame cathedral was also closed.
We spent the first part of the day at the War Remnants Museum. The front courtyard is filled with planes, tanks, helicopters, patrol boats, guns, and other detritus from the American war. The museum contained somber reminders of the cost of so many years of fighting, with an emphasis on the effects of Agent Orange.
We went next to the Reunification Palace but discovered that it was closed because a former prime minister had passed away and his service would be held there. The Notre Dame cathedral was also closed.
We only could view the exterior
Luckily the Post Office was open and we were able to admire the architecture. It's a colonial French style typical of the late 1800s with tall ceilings to allow air flow. The cornice features the names of famous French luminaries of the time, as well as a few francophiles such as Benjamin Franklin.
We had a late lunch at Nhà hàng Ngon, which was a favorite of mine from previous visits. Most restaurants specialize in one or two foods so you would go to a restaurant that made pho or one that served broken rice but Nhà hàng Ngon is set up like a village market (but far more upscale) and you can order from many regional dishes cooked at various booths. The interior of the restaurant is designed with plenty of plants and ambient light. We ordered several dishes with banh chang (rice paper) and the family tried their hands at rolling spring rolls, with results that sent our waiter into a fit of laughter.
We finished the day at the Ben Thanh market, where we arrived at the perfect moment when the market transitioned from an indoor market to an outdoor food market. I'll post more of that later.
We are thankful that we are moving north with each destination and the temperatures will graduate from mid nineties to eighties. We have learned that the key to survival is keeping well hydrated and taking a few minutes between destinations to partake in fresh coconuts or lime soda.
BIL, trapped at the Post Office
Our hotel
We had a late lunch at Nhà hàng Ngon, which was a favorite of mine from previous visits. Most restaurants specialize in one or two foods so you would go to a restaurant that made pho or one that served broken rice but Nhà hàng Ngon is set up like a village market (but far more upscale) and you can order from many regional dishes cooked at various booths. The interior of the restaurant is designed with plenty of plants and ambient light. We ordered several dishes with banh chang (rice paper) and the family tried their hands at rolling spring rolls, with results that sent our waiter into a fit of laughter.
We finished the day at the Ben Thanh market, where we arrived at the perfect moment when the market transitioned from an indoor market to an outdoor food market. I'll post more of that later.
We are thankful that we are moving north with each destination and the temperatures will graduate from mid nineties to eighties. We have learned that the key to survival is keeping well hydrated and taking a few minutes between destinations to partake in fresh coconuts or lime soda.
BIL, trapped at the Post Office
Our hotel
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