Day 47 - day 3 in Ho Chi Minh: an early trip to the airport and an afternoon at the Reunification Palace - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

December 11, 2024

Day 47 - day 3 in Ho Chi Minh: an early trip to the airport and an afternoon at the Reunification Palace

It was a dreadfully early start. Winston had an 0800 flight home and, with a bicycle, needed to be out at Tan Son Nhat - a name that resonates with us old folk, early. I got up at 0430; Winston earlier.

The security fellow ordered a taxi that came in a flash. Winston was checked in soon after 6, we bade our farewells and, as the day grew, I jumped a bus back.

It was good seeing the city by bus. In the early morning so many people were exercising - aerobics, jogging, tai chi, badminton. Passing the Reunification Palace prompted me to visit this afternoon. But the first requirement was street coffee and banh my.

The busiest and smoothest operating banh my stall.

It was just a short way to the hotel, where I hung out until late morning.

Brilliant plants with a bougainvillea painted on the wall.

Large trees line many of Saigon's main streets.

It was time to head the couple of km to the Reunification Palace. It's a lovely walk because one can head through a big park.

I've walked past this building many times and it captures my eye.

The Independence Palace, also publicly known as the Reunification Convention Hall, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was designed by architect Ngô Viết Thụ and was the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam.

The main dining room. The large painting "National Landscape" is by Ngô Viết Thụ, the building's architect.

If I were to choose the most interesting part of the building, it would be the basement with its command centre, including radio rooms, reinforced bunkers and long, eerie corridors.

The Mercedes 200 W110, used by President Thieu and one of the prizes captured by 1 Corps of the Liberation Army on 30 April 1975.

Troop numbers on 29 June 1968. The Americans had 541,993, comprising army, marines, etc while there were over 7,000 Australians.

Cora and I could add a green one to the collection.

There's a few other things in the basement, including the kitchen.

This is the same model of Jeep used to convey President Duong Van Minh to make his speech of surrender on 30 April 1975.

I went a couple of floors up from the basement to where things were less Spartan.

The place wasn't all about work. There are plenty of places to relax, if that was ever possible.

It would mot have been a good view on April 30, 1975.

Many believe that final evaluations occurred here but they were actually elsewhere.

I walked from the Palace to the special exhibition, held in another building on the grounds.

The original Norodom Palace built by the French in the late 1860's.

The exhibition includes a very good display on how President Ngo Dinh Diem and his family governed South Vietnam. The Americans originally supported them for their Catholicism and strong anti-communism but eventually the CIA conspired to have him assassinated.

After spending a few hours in the Palace and at the special exhibition, I walked the grounds that occupy many hectares.

Many belive these are the tanks filmed by the Australian war correspondent, Neil Davis, and French photographer, Francois Demulder, but the originals are in Hanoi. Also, although 843 hit the gates first, it was 390 that first ventured into the Palace grounds - Demulder's photograph. Incidentally, Tim Bowden's biography of Neil Davis, "One Crowded Hour" is a great read. Davis reported the war from all sides.

I had a variety of street food for dinner (wisely served on ceramic plates) and washed it down with a much-deserved beer, unfortunately served in a disposable cup.

I walked back in the lightest drizzle as joggers paced the footpaths and motorcyclists donned capes. I went through the park with its scattering of people, some using exercise machines. And that was my day.

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