17th December 2014 "Goddam Danang" RIP Robin Willimans VIETNAM

17th December 2014  "Goddam Danang" RIP Robin Willimans VIETNAM


Today was our last day in Ho Chi Minh City so we went round the main sites.

First stop the Reunification Palace a slight misnomer as the reunification. consisted of the Vietcong dropping bombs on it, driving a tank through the main gate taking over the government & moving it to Hanoi. Still, very interesting part of the history of the end of the Vietnam war.

The slight bias of the guide was constantly revealed as he referred to the US as the "enemy" and the picture of Ho Chi Minh was apparently his father still.

Sisters and the father !!!

Reunification Palace formally the US embassy with a new facade.  The uncomfortable truth for Americans awaits inside.

The meeting room where various deals and treaties were signed. (now and then)

South Vietnamese Generals Helicopter on landing pad on top of building

Then on to War Remnants museum which was a pretty horrific record of the war in Vietnam but also fascinating. The display of photographs here are from all the war correspondent photographers and show the absolute horror of war for both sides and for the civilians caught up in it. It would have been very uncomfortable being American going round here especially the photos showing the results of the phosphorous bombs and agent orange.

Significant hero - the Vietnamese pilot who dropped the bomb on the place when the US were occupying the building as regional control centre

Celebrated Cong hero who managed to drop a bomb through the embassy roof

Operations Room now and as it was in the war.

All the comms equipment still inside

US vehicles left

The first Viet Cong tank that drove through the gates of the embassy grounds

 Photograph of US soldier from a collection of pictures from war photographers (138 were killed)...he writes about the futility of war and why were the US killing so many innocent people.

These is even a hall devoted to Agent Orange and its deformities caused by intense land defoliation chemical.  Apparently the Americans rarely visit and its easy to understand why!

Coffee required after that then a quick trot round the Central Post Office (looks like grand central station in New York) which is painted taxi yellow ! Sunglasses required !, the Opera House and then on to the central market where we were more interested in what the stallholders were eating for lunch than what was being sold…interesting stuff !

 The Catholic Cathedral in the middle of communist and Buddhist Ho Chi Minh city

The central post office - big picture of the father on the wall

Everybody remembers the news pictures of the desperate evacuation of the US embassy staff  - this is the former CIA HQ where the last chopper took people off the roof and left local many local staff who were then executed by the North. Many war films has this scene on it and many think its the embassy but now it's merely just a private house.

Former CIA Head Quarters ....Now

Former CIA Head Quarters ....Then

 You cant beat a bit of good old propaganda

(Below) Instructions for crossing the road - walk in front of cars, dont stop and dont slow down and dont change course - everybody will swerve to avoid you ...it will never catch on in UK ....ooooohhhh shiiiittttt !!

Good for Christmas presents...well worth the money

From there to the airport for out short 45 minute flight to Danang to transfer to Hoi An. Having sweated our way through Hanoi at 33 degrees and humid, we arrived in the RAIN and it was about 22 degrees cooler !!   Hoi An looks very cute and our hotel is a sweet little old mansion house just a short walk from the old town.  A remnant from the french occupation days.