Saigon

Arrived in Ho Chi Min City at night and left the tranquil environs of a modern airport to be greeted by a mass of humanity and in stark contrast to the cleanliness of Japan this place is very dirty. Fortunately we had arranged a car so did not have to negotiate a taxi to the Majestic Hotel. We learned quickly that the Vietnamese do not like having their city renamed after a communist dictator so it is Saigon again. At night it is seedy Saigon as most illumination is provided by neon palm trees and light curtains which adorn the cafes and bars, everywhere else is dark and shadows lurk in every doorway and alley. The hotel is probably the best located of any, overlooking the Saigon river which does come alive at night.
Today was spent visiting the Ben Duoc tunnels at Cu Chi, now a historical monument, but for decades the underground home of the Viet Cong which deviate like a cobweb for over 200km. Imagine a network of tunnels up to 10 metres underground where people lived for weeks at a time to avoid detection. It is difficult to determine which would have been worse, the spread of agent Orange and Napalm or pain of being caught in a pit by one of the spiked traps designed to spear you in various parts of the anatomy after which you would bleed to death. See photos and note that the tunnels have been enlarged to accommodate tourists!