Ho Chi Minh City - day 2

We started the day with a lecture on Vietnam history and culture at a local university, and afterwards had time to meet and talk with one of the students. It was interesting to learn how contemporary Vietnam balances a vibrant capitalist economy with a communist government.
Our next stop was the Reunification Palace, which served as the Presidential residence of South Vietnam and is now open to the public when not being used for official functions. Saigon fell in April 1975 when North Vietnamese tanks crashed through the gates and deposed the president.
After a delicious lunch at the Propaganda Cafe we did a walking tour of the main highlights of the city, including the main Post Office, the Rex Hotel, the Opera and City Hall. We saw an interesting balance of colonial French and modern architecture.Read more