R and D
- Jan 4, 2019
- 3 min read

Ho Chi Minh City

Hi All,

Happy New Year!

It is amazing to have been joined by our old friends from home Matthew and Imy (and a load of proper chocolate from our parents) in Ho Chi Minh city. Here, it feels like your life is at risk with every road crossing. The traffic is absolutely crazy; a sea of motorbikes threatening to mow you down at every corner. It is a much larger city than any we have visited so far in Vietnam. We have sampled all the food this vast city has to offer. From staples like banh mi and pho, to ice cream sundaes and restaurant platters - it is safe to say we have eaten like kings and queens.

We have had a busy few days visiting Saigon’s landmarks, including: the cathedral, old post office, the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. The war museum was incredibly powerful and illustrated the horrific impact the war had on the lives of the Vietnamese people. Agent Orange, a chemical dropped by the American army used to kill vegetation, has heavily affected those who became contaminated by it. Generations of families have since been born with severe birth defects due to exposure to the harmful chemical. The museum also described the torture methods used during the war and housed ex military vehicles.

We booked a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This impressive 250km network was used by the Viet Cong who were fighting on the side of the Northern Vietnamese but in the American occupied south. The tunnel system included rooms which were used for: fighting, sleeping, storage and hospitals. It was crazy how tiny the passages were, we felt thankful to emerge to fresh air after just 30m in the cramped, humid tunnels. They had been widened to allow tourists through but even then we had to crawl/ walk hunched over with our backs against the ceiling so it is unimaginable to think of what is was like for the people who lived down there for over a decade.

Back in Ho Chi Minh, we tried to book tickets to see a water puppet show but as they were fully booked, we visited a brewery instead - definitely a good choice. We ordered tasting flights of 6 different beers: jasmine IPA, chocolate stout, Saigon spiced ale, dragonfruit gose, passion fruit ale and pomelo IPA.

Seeing Ross’ suit, Matthew decided he wanted one made too. He chose navy with a pink check and a jazzy dragon lining. It was hard to tell who was more excited though; Matthew who it belonged to or Ross who was like a child in a sweet shop!

New Years Eve will be one to remember. Ross and Matthew went for a few pints while the girls were getting ready. Ross choose a 10% beer so returned with glassy eyes before we even left for the evening! With a Vietnamese food platter, wine, beers and cocktails, we welcomed in 2019 from a rooftop bar with incredible views of the fireworks. Our walk back to our apartment was a crazy one as the streets had become packed with people celebrating the biggest night of the year, showering us with glittery confetti. Every premise from bars to launderettes had lined the pavement with tiny plastic stalls, each place full with people enjoying food and drinks.

On New Years Day we went for brunch at a Dim Sum restaurant. The dumplings and jasmine tea were perfect, the black bean chicken feet were not - still we think we might make it a New Years Day tradition (minus chicken feet!). Then after a spot of shopping to let lunch go down, we went for full body massages. The masseuse took a liking to Matthew, repeatedly calling him a ‘handsome man’ which had us all giggling mid massage. Imy reminded the lady that he was her ‘handsome man’! We ended our time in Ho Chi Minh city with a meal at a modern Vietnamese restaurant.