11 Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam

Again not getting into transportation issues we finally got to our hotel in Saigon around midnight. At least we did not need to be ready until 9am to start your tour of Saigon. As best I could make it the 'old town' is still referred to as Saigon whereas the larger metropolitan area is called Ho Chi Minh City. This entire tour felt very rushed. Either they had too much included or the guides wanted to ensure we got to the ship with a "lot" of time to spare. The first stop was at the former Presidential Palace, now known as Unification Hall. It was made famous when a North Vietnamese tank crashed through its front gates in 1975, signaling the end of the Vietnam War. We were able to walk through and see many of the rooms inside. A short drive from the palace and we were at the History Museum. Built in 1929, this museum houses an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the evolution of the cultures of Vietnam, from bronze-aged Dong Son civilization to Cham, Khmer and modern-day Vietnam. A quick photo stop at the old post office and the Notre Dame Cathedral (which was under renovation and closed) and we were off to the Bitexco Financial Tower for anyone wanting to go up to the observation deck (only one person took up the offer.) We drove by the old US Embassy which had been converted into a war museum. A stop at a gem market for souvenirs and it was a 1 3/4 hour drive to the port to rejoin the ship.