Ho Chi Minh - what I've been doing

It's been a hectic couple of days so far.

The food is great. A decent pho (noodle soup which comes with chicken/beef, rice noodles plus plenty of fresh herbs and Vietnamese mint) with a beer will cost you about NZ$4. The local beer is around 80c each and is pretty decent.

Everywhere you go, people are trying to sell you something. For a bunch of supposed commies they sure do love their capitalism. Having said that, most of the vendors approach you with a smile on their face and don't mind when you refuse their offer. This is the opposite of China where the merchants were incredibly aggressive and grabby. It's all on sale here, from the motorbike taxis ("you want moto?" or just the vroom vroom throttle gesture) to the bunches of bananas, or a shoeshine for the man wearing jandals. And of course their bodies are on offer, one motorcycle taxi guy asked me where I'd like to go, starting with the museums and finishing with the offer of "one hour hanky panky". I assume that wasn't with him. There are an alarming number of fat old Westerners with young girlfriends.

Most of the offers are harmless enough, but the old lady selling single cigarettes and the tiny little girl clutching postcards are a bit upsetting.

Visited the War Remnants Museum, the name of which has evolved from the original fabulously named "House for displaying war crimes of American imperialism and the puppet government" through to the current title, the name change reflecting the detante in relations between Vietnam and USA. The main exhibition is called 'Historical Truths' and it houses some graphic documentation of American atrocities, including massacres, torture and Agent Orange birth defects.

Also visited Independence Palace (alternatively Reunification Palace) depending on which perspective of the War you are looking at. This is the former presidential palace of the puppet South Vietnam government, and is frozen in time with its 70s decor and military command post bunker below ground. However it can now be hired for weddings and banquets, which neatly sums up the transition of the country into modern times.