Thursday: Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City

What was supposed to be a seven hour bus drive from Dalat turned out to be only about 5-6 hours, with a few stops along the way. The trip agenda had us flying between these two cities, but the government shut Dalat airport on March 1 to extend the runway so jets can start using it. So plan B was the bus ride. The drive included zig zagging down the mountainside. The road wasn’t entirely finished due to landslides (!) so we were on a bumpy dirt surface for short stretches. Henry told us Vietnam produces a lot of oil; at the same time oil supplies are threatened by the attacks in Iran and the Middle East, the government in Vietnam significantly lowered the price of fuel last night.
Where it’s not developed for housing, most of the land is under cultivation with crops for its domestic market. When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City - more commonly called “Saigon” - we went to Pho 24, a local chain restaurant for bowls of pho with shaved beef and meatballs,, bean sprouts and Thai basil. The weather here is more tropical, but less oppressive than it had been when I checked before we left from home, and thus better than expected: about 90 degrees with about 55% humidity. The city is bigger and more modern in feel than Hanoi, with many high rise buildings, and elegant stores, including Tiffany and Co, Hermes, and Tumi.
This afternoon, most of us opted to go to the “war remnants museum” that tells the story of the Vietnam War starting with the French Occupation through the defeat of the South in April 1975. The exhibits included graphic photos about the effects of Agent Orange, descriptions of the My Lai Massacre and other war crimes, and post-war support from many nations to help repair the damaged countryside. Outside, there were munitions and American planes on display, as well. Though Henry told us that a prior trip participant complained about the content, it seemed pretty fair given the destruction our country effected.Les mer