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Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Saigon Central Post Office Vietnam

Vietnam: Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office

Date: 27 October 2019

Yesterday was spent on a full day tour that included stops at the Cao Dai temple and then the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. I was done with the day tours I had planned from Ho Chi Minh City so today was just going to be dedicated to exploring the other sights of this bustling city.

Ho Chi Minh city graffiti road
I hired a Grab bike taxi to take me from my hotel to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The short ride would cost me 13,000 VND (₹41/$0.57/€0.47)
Notre Dame cathedral basilica Saigon
This is the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon

Unfortunately, the Notre-Dame Cathedral was under-going renovation works and was closed off to the public.

Mary statue Notre Dame cathedral Saigon
A statue of Mother Mary

The church was initially named the Church of Saigon at the time of its construction by French colonists between 1863 and 1880. It was renamed in 1959 as the church looked similar to the Notre-Dame in Paris.

Notre Dame cathedral basilica Ho Chi Minh City
The church has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet)
Notre dame cathedral under renovation
Gates prevent people from entering the church

Which sucked, as I saw photos online that showed the church’s interiors and it did look quite nice. So it would have made for good photography.

Outside Notre Dame cathedral Saigon
There wasn’t much else to do here so I left after spending just 10 minutes
Ho Chi Minh City post office Vietnam
Close by the cathedral is the Saigon Central Post Office
Saigon Central Post Office Vietnam
Although it’s still called the Central Post Office, in today’s day and age, it’s mostly a tourist attraction
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Going down narrow hole Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam

Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels, a must do attraction from Ho Chi Minh City

Date: 26 October 2019

After starting my tour at a handicrafts workshop and then the Cao Dai temple, post lunch we were driven to our final stop on the tour — the famed Cu Chi Tunnels.

Green fields Vietnam
We drove past many rice fields
Entry shooting range Saigon Cu Chi Tunnels
Our tour van dropped us off first at a shooting gallery
Shooting range counter Cu Chi tunnels
You can pay for the rounds here
Shooting range prices Cu Chi tunnels
Here are the prices
Cu Chi tunnels shooting range
I merely watched some other guy shoot a gun. It was loud! (Watch it in the video below)
Welcome Cu Chi tunnels Vietnam
After that, our tour van took us inside the compound from where our tour of Cu Chi Tunnels would begin
US army tanks Vietnam Cu Chi tunnels
At the entrance were some old US military vehicles used during the Vietnam War
Old C130 Vietnam Cu Chi tunnels
An old Lockheed C-130 Hercules. All of these were abandoned after US forces fled Vietnam after defeat.
Map of Cu Chi tunnels Ben Duoc
A map of Ben Duoc area.

It’s a large area and some tours include a stop at Ben Duoc Memorial Temple, the large swimming pool, and there’s even a paintball shooting arena.

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Cao Dai temple Tay Ninh Vietnam

Vietnam: Cao Dai temple in Tây Ninh

Date: 26 October 2019

Yesterday’s day tour of the Mekong Delta was showcased across three posts: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Bến Tre canal boat ride, and coconut sweet making factory in Bến Tre. Today I embark on another full day tour and this is the first post in that series.

I am doing a full day tour (cost me VND330000 /₹1000/$14/€11.85) that would take me to the infamous Cu Chi jungle tunnels but before that, the first stop would stop at a handicapped handicrafts workshop before heading to the largest Cao Dai temple in Vietnam.

Saigon canal city Vietnam
We left Ho Chi Minh City in the morning

We took a long drive out of the city and arrived at a handicrafts workshop wherein most of workers are handicapped. We were going get a guided tour of how they create the various works of art.

An Ha travel handicapped handicraft Vietnam
This was the entrance to arts workshop
An Ha travel guide Vietnam
That’s our guide here showing some of the works and explaining how they are crafted
Agent orange victims lacquer painting Vietnam
Most of what is made at this workshop is lacquer paintings

The base of the painting is wood. The artisans then etch the designs and then inlay it with mother of pearl pieces or egg shells.

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