Day Two in Saigon

Today was another full on shopping day at both the local markets on Pham Ngu Lau St and Ben Thanh. We headed directly to the local markets for a quick look around and to take in the aromas of the early morning in the marketplace. Fish, pork, frog and several other animals were on offer to tempt the locals and tourists from their hard earned Dong.

Breakfast on a stick

It don't get any fresher

Later in the morning, we grabbed a cab and headed for the more 'luxurious' end of Saigon where the likes of Gucci, Louis Vitton and the like all chose to set up shop. We were dropped off at the Majestic Hotel on the waterfront, probably the most famous Hotel in the country built in the 20's in the french colonial style... (how's that for a history lesson!!)

A walk down the 'well to do' Dong Khoi Street found us at Gloria Jean's Coffee Shop where our medium sized flat white's were served in crockery cups (who's the 3rd world country now, I am wondering?). From Gloria Jean's we walked along the tree lined Le Loi Ave back to Ben Thanh for some our last 'shop' before leaving Saigon.

Murray observes street life from the 3rd floor

All this cabling and none of it is attached to the insulators at the top!!!

After shopping at Ben Thanh, Michelle was accosted by an 8 year old selling fans...."you buy fan?" she asked and Michelle responded  "No, I already have some". "You buy fan?", "I already have 5" was Michelle's response. "I don't believe you" said the young entrepreneur, Michelle then proceeded to show her the fan in her hand followed by the 4 she had bought in the markets just 20 minutes earlier..... Unfazed, the little girl politely asked "You buy bookmark?"

On our way back to the Hotel from the markets, we sat to enjoy the shade in the local park in District 1 when we asked if we could help a young schoolgirl with her 'english' lessons. We sat and listened, offered assistance where required and answered her questions. Unfortunately, after about 5 minutes, we realised we may have been the only 3 english speakers in the park and we ended up with 5 students all smashing us with questions and wanting to talk to us!!!! We ended up taking a group photo for the scrapbook.

For the last night in Ho Chi Minh, we headed down to the Saigon River for a dinner cruise aboard the 'La Perle de l' Orient' doing 8 courses for $15US per head . The night finished with Murray and Phil having a 60 minute reflexology foot massage prior to calling it a night. Reflexology? ha! Trying to press sharpened chopsticks through a foot equates to mucho pain rather than relaxation!

Phillip aboard the 'La perle de l' Orient' as it leaves the jetty

Saigon from the dinner cruise

Early start tomorrow with a 7am flight to Hue as we bid farewell to Saigon. Hopefully we will have the chance to upload some pictures from the Orchid Hotel in Hue. See you then!