Ho Chi Minh City – Ian Louis Harris

Vietnam, 9 to 27 February 2012, placeholder and links

We took a wonderful trip back to Vietnam in early 2012. Our first visit in 1996 had been somewhat limited by time and some difficulty back then travelling comfortably off the beaten track. So we did “the Grand Tour” back then but had always wanted to go back and see some other places.

This 2012 trip took in Saigon, Can Tho, the Mekong Delta (including a home stay in Ut Trinh), Dalat and then rest and relaxation in Ninh Van Bay.

Bad place to drop something - a major junction in Saigon — Bad place to drop something – a major junction in Saigon

We took some good photos, just under 200 of them worth seeing assembled here for all to see on Flickr.

Here is a link to all 379 photos; those worth seeing and the rest:

Here’s the Ultimate Travel itinerary: Vietnam Tour February 2012 Ultimate.

Here are some Six Senses Ninh Van Bay Menus.

Here is a map of the Ninh Van Bay Resort, where we enjoyed some good rest and relaxation at the end of our trip:

I have written up the travel log, which, if you want to read it going forwards from the start, begins here:

Vietnam Holiday Days Zero & One: London To Saigon Via Bangkok, 9 & 10 February 2012

An Independent Trip To Northern Thailand & Vietnam, Part Fourteen: Ho Chi Minh City & On To Phuket In Thailand, 26 March 1996

In the lobby just before leaving the Saigon Floating Hotel

Early start on our own account [unguided]. Taxi to Jade Emperor Pagoda…

Devotee within Jade Emperor Pagoda (above) and the view out (below)

– then money exchange hunt & short shopping spree and return to hotel for pick up…

This Taiwanese couple were having their wedding photo shoot outside the hotel

…and then schlep to Phuket – three hours at Bangkok [airport] especially wearing. Overnight at pretty decent Dusit Laguna Phuket.

It wasn’t possible at that time (still might not be) sensibly to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phra Nang in one day, so we arranged an unwanted afternoon & night in Phuket. Actually we rather took to the Laguna and returned there (although to a different property) for a short break in 2017.

But back in 1996, our short stop at the Dusit Laguna Phuket looked like this:

All the photos from the part of the journey that featured Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam & then Thai resorts can be found through the Flickr link here or below.

=34 Another boat trip - to Chicken Island and Poda Island 150

An Independent Trip To Northern Thailand & Vietnam, Part Thirteen: A Day In Ho Chi Minh City, 25 March 1996

Early start to presidential (reunification) Palace.

Reunification Palace – headline picture, above and the rooftop helicopter pad below

Ged fancies himself as bunker command (above), Daisy seeks solace in a wok below

Then on to history museum…

…and then to Chinatown (Cocholon) to Than Thienh Pagoda…

…followed by lunch at Vy (duck!).

You’re going to eat that and then crawl through tunnels?

Then out to Cuchi– Got to see the place at agonisingly close quarters!

You think that’s back breaking? Try these tunnels.

Ah, once we’d crawled a bit I was back in command in Cuchi.

Then back to The Floating Hotel…

…and out to Blue Ginger (Saigon Times Club) for dinner – another promenade and Home

Fashionable folk promenade and bike around

All the photos from the part of the journey that featured Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam & then Thai resorts can be found through the Flickr link here or below.