Saigon (or is it Ho Chi Minh City)

I arrived in Saigon/HCMC after a quick stop off in Portland to say hi to the dogs and pack by backpack. It was rainy and cold when I left Portland, a big change from the weather here. It's ~35 degrees with what feels like 100% humidity and air conditioning isn't as common here as it is in Florida. Weather aside, Saigon has been a fascinating place to visit. My first two days here were spent visiting multiple museums that deal with Vietnam history and of course the history of the "American War" which is what they call our "Vietnam War". Actually, I've learned quite a lot more about the U.S. involvement in Vietnam since I've been here, especially since our school history texts never really touched much on this part of our history.

Yesterday evening I joined my cycling tour for dinner and today we did a short cycle out to the Cu Chi tunnels. These were a system of elaborate tunnels (200km in all) that the Viet Cong used in their guerrilla warfare against the U.S. and are credited with the Viet Cong's success in defeating the "American agressors". They've actually widened and heightened some of these tunnels so that we western tourists can enter them. Even so, they are still extremely tight and it is really quite incredible that groups of people were able to survive in them for weeks on end.

Well, must rush off as we are leaving for Dalat in the morning. More from the road.....

(Picture is of me lowering myself into one of the personal bunkers that the Viet Cong used to ambush U.S. soldiers. I'm smiling as I'm having a hard time getting out)