Ho Chi Minh City(Saigon), Vietnam

The cruise ship dock at Phu My was totally different from the port of Chan May. This dock was large, brand new, with new equipment  and paved roads. This is the main port for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

We traveled from Phu My to Saigon by tour bus and saw many extremes along the way. We saw some nice two story homes but lots more at the lower level of housing.

 

There were some small businesses with popular brand names.

Many businesses were just roadside vendors.

Some beef cows, but not many.

 

A funeral parade.

 

Entering the city of Saigon.

 

Street vendors selling souvenirs at every tour stop.

 

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral.

 

Next stop, the Saigon Post Office.

Modern building in Center City Saigon.

  

Time for the high end souvenirs at the Tay Son Lacquer Factory (and gift shop). The first part of the lacquer factory tour shows examples of lacquerware being made. In the following photo, little pieces of broken egg shells form a mosaic picture on the base material before the lacquer coating is applied.

After the lacquer coating has dried it is wet sanded by hand.

  

The showroom/gift shop. A mosaic picture made from pieces of broken egg shells.

Other lacquerware items for sale. A screen.

A coffee table that can divide into 4 smaller tables.

 

Back on the main street to fight the motor scooters as we head to our next stop (more shopping).

  

The next stop was the Ben Thanh Central Market. Mary working on a deal for more lacquerware.

Colorful items of every verity. Nuts, candy and dried fruit. 

 

Fruit.

Dried fish.

A meal of dried fish.

 

Coffee and tea.

 

Flowers.

 

A merchant in training.

You  never know what you will find in this market.

After a morning of shopping it was time for lunch at the top floor of the Rex Hotel.

A view of a park from the Rex Hotel.

Another view of the park from street level.

After lunch, more shopping.

 

A sidewalk vendor selling fresh made waffles cooked on the street. Free samples available.

 

Time to return to the ship. Waterfront real estate is available.

 

Coca-Cola bottling plant outside of Saigon.

 

More temples.

Fred and Betty after a hard day of shopping.

 

Chan May, Vietnam

The port at Chan May is located approximately 30 miles from Da Nang and 45 miles from Hue City. It is a very small port with only enough room for one small cruise ship and no buildings near the dock. There is a dirt road from the dock to the  town of Chan May but the early morning rain changed the road to mud, with potholes big enough to swallow a small car.

Once we cleared the road from the dock we took a paved road and headed for Da Nang.

We passed many small towns and fishing villages on our way to Da Nang.

Our first stop was the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang.

 

 

I’m not sure why I took this photo but there was something interesting about it.

 

We passed by the old air plane hangers at Da Nang.

Our next stop was at Marble Mountain.

A local shop takes marble from Marble Mountain and creates beautiful sculpture and vases. Unbelievable detail and workmanship. We opted for a slightly smaller purchase in the gift shop.

We passed many rice paddies as we continued our journey to the World Heritage site at Hoi An.

In Hoi An we found many street vendors selling local products.

Local children eating lunch on the steps to a building.

 

Flowering trees and colorful shops lined the streets.

Locally made Chinese lanterns of many colors.

Chinese lanterns being made as you watched.

Bamboo lacquer ware.

We stopped at one of the local homes along the street and Fred found a new friend.

Preparing dumplings by hand.

Many of the homes kept birds in cages.

Not all birds and cages were the same.

Phuoc Kien Temple.

Dragon fountain.

Goldfish in the dragon fountain.

After a morning of shopping it was time for lunch. We had an excellent authentic Vietnamese lunch at Nam Long restaurant in Hoi An.

Betty, Mary and Fred after lunch.

Scene from the river behind the restaurant.

A roadside offering.

A local boy as we left the restaurant.

Woodworking shops.

Wood carvers. Beautiful, high quality, detailed wood carving.

Fruit vendors.

China Beach.

Cows in the road as we head back to the ship.

Fred after a hard day of shopping.