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This is the largest city in Vietnam.
It is the industrial, commercial and cultural center
of the country. The central city area is still called
Saigon.
War Crime Museum
This
museum exhibit crimes committed by the Americans during
the war. Photographs of the famous My Lai massacre,
human embryos, genetically deformed babies and innocent
civilians being tortured can be seen on display. An
array of US armored vehicles, artillery pieces, bombs
and infantry weapons are displayed in the courtyard.
You can also see a guillotine used by the French to
de itate troublemakers in the riots of the 1920s and
a model of the famous tiger cages used by the South
Vietnamese to house VC prisoners on Con Son island.
The War Crime Museum basically reveals a different side
of the stories about wars - the innocent victims of
modern warfare.
Historical Museum
Built
in 1929 by the Societe des Etudes Indochinioses, it
was formerly named Blanchard dels Brosse. A big statute
of President HoChiMinh stands in the main lounge of
the museum. The museum has an excellent collection of
artifacts illustrating the primitive age, bronze age,
the Tran dynasty and the Le Dynasty. Take a look at
the array of musical instrument especially the special
monocord of the one string musical instruments. There
are many valuable relics taken from Cambodia's Angkor
Wat.
Reunification Palace
In 1868, the Norodom Palace (original name) was built
for the French Governor-General of Indochina. A striking
modern architecture was built when the original buildings
were damaged by bombs. Rebuilt in 1962, it comprises
of a ground floor, 3 main floors, two mezzanines and
a terrace for helicopter landing. The palace includes
many tastefully decorated rooms such as the reception
room, the cabinet reference room, the study rooms, the
credentials presentation room and the banquet room.
It also has a basement with a network of tunnels connecting
to the telecom centre and war room and one of the longest
tunnels which stretch all the way to the Revolutionary
Museum. The grounds outside contain one of the first
tanks to burst through the gates of the palace to signify
the end of the Vietnam War as well as the fighter plane
which dropped further bombs towards the end of the war.
Independence Palace was renamed the Unification Palace
to denote the spirit and strong will for national independence
and reunification
Ben Thanh Market
The Ben Thanh Market, formerly the main railway terminal,
is the largest of the markets scattered throughout the
city. A wide variety of goods are available, from imported
electronics to imported perfumes.
Notre Dame Cathedral
This Catholic church was constructed in 1883 and is
located near the Tu Do (Dong Khoi) Street, the former
red-light district.
Presidential Palace
This building is now called the Reunification Hall.
The center was built as a modern administration center
and is where the war and the American involvement in
Vietnam ended in April 1975, with tanks invading the
compound. Guided tours will take visitors through the
various rooms within the complex.
Cholon
Ho Chi Minh City's Chinatown. Sights include the Binh
Tay Market, the An Quang Pagoda (District 5) and the
scenic Thien Hau Temple.
Vinh Nghiem Pagoda
A modern Japanese-style Buddhist temple, easily one
of the largest and most impressive in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tay Ninh
Cu Chi Tunnels
An extensive network of nearly 200 miles (322mi) of
Viet Cong tunnels used in the French Indochina war and
American war. The tunnels have complete facilities,
from kitchens to printing presses and even street signs,
all of which were used to aid the NLF (National Liberation
Front) military. Tours involve a description of the
tunnels, after which tourists are allowed to crawl about
the maze. Located in Tay Ninh (suburb of Ho Chi Minh
City), 24 miles (39km) northwest of central Ho Chi Minh
City.
Cao Dai Temple
Cao
Daism seeks to create the ultimate religion by fusing
Buddhist, Taoist, Confucianist and Catholic beliefs
into a synthesis of its own. Witness the solemn ceremony
of the unique religion - Caodaism at Caodai Holly See
at its noon tide prayer service with followers dressed
in red, blue, yellow and white robes. There is the divine
eye above the altar, the religion's official symbol.
The temple has nine levels which signify the nine steps
to heaven, each level marked by a pair of multicoloured
dragons.
Mekong Delta
One
of the world's largest delta, the Delta Region is formed
by the various tributaries of the mighty Mekong River
which begins its journey to the sea in Tibet and winds
its way for 4500 km through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia and Southern Vietnam. The vietnamese name for
the Mekong is Cuu Long which means "nine dragons"
and this is represented by the nine exit points of the
Mekong River as it flows into the sea. The land of the
Mekong Delta is renowned for its richness. Known as
Vietnam's breadbasket, it produces enough rice to feed
the entire country with a sizeable surplus leftover.
Take a sampan ride that meanders through small villages
and experience the simple lives of the Mekong people
Vung Tau Beach
Located at the mouth of the Saigon River is the popular
Vung Tau beach resort. Pineapple Beach is probably the
most pleasant, with its villas and generally tranquil
atmosphere. The temples are a definite must-see. The
Niet Ban Tinh Xa is the largest temple in Vietnam. Tourist
accommodations are available at the Hoa Binh Hotel,
as well as the Thang Loi, Thang Thai and Tho Nguyet.
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