Pho-tastic From Central Highlands

Right in the middle of Ho Chi Minh city you can enjoy a bowl of Pho carrying the flavor of a wild and special Central Highlands. It is different from the usual Pho you have tasted at your Saigon hotel or in any Pho restaurant in Hanoi. It is neither the North nor the South flavor, it is the Highlands’ flavor – Pho kho from Gia Lai.

“I spent a long time trying to bring this dish to Saigon and still make sure it would retain the flavor of my hometown,” said Quang Huy, owner of pho kho Gia Lai in Binh Thanh District.

Pho kho Gia Lai is a variety of the staple Vietnamese dish from the central region

The term Gia Lai refers to a Central Highlands province of Vietnam and, while the endless battle rages between acolytes of northern pho (clear broth, no added extras) and southern pho (greens galore, clouded broth), pho kho Gia Lai offers an intriguing alternative.

It shares a number of common characteristics with its southern and northern neighbors.

Pho kho Gia Lai also primarily consists of meat, rice noodles and savory broth. Gia Lai noodles are somewhat chewier than the polar varieties.

It is a dish with both pork meat and beef.

Unlike northern pho, both pork and beef bones are simmered over a small flame for five to seven hours to create the broth. The dish itself is typically accompanied by tender beef, thinly sliced and briefly cooked in the broth.

The pork meat is minced or chopped, and placed on top of a bowl of steaming noodles, and sprinkled with fried shallots.

Like southern pho, pho kho Gia Lai comes with fresh greens and bean sprouts.

But the dish is served a bit differently.

Central diners receive a bowl of chopped meat over noodles and a separate dish of meat swimming in broth.

Here in Ho Chi Minh City, a squeeze-bottle of hoisin sauce (a savory, dark, ketchupy condiment derived from soy beans, sweet potatoes and wheat) is usually within hands reach and is typically used to dip the beef in.

In the Central Highlands, the hoisin sauce is indispensable.

It’s usually tossed directly in with the noodles along with a spritz of chili oil and lemon juice. If you’re feeling like a true

Highlander, add some thin chili slices to give the meal a real kick.

A bowl of pho kho Gia Lai is VND25,000 to 30,000.

Pho kho Gia Lai is available at the following places in Ho Chi Minh City:

* 288 No Trang Long Street, Binh Thanh District

* 194 Dang Van Ngu Street, Phu Nhuan District

 

Source: thanhniennews

French magazine raises Hanoi’s charm

France’s newsmagazine Le Nouvel Observateur has published an article saying Hanoi could be seen as the most beautiful and captivating city in Southeast Asia.

The Huc Bridge over Hoan Kiem Lake

The article said Hanoi’s beauty bears the styles of both Vietnam and France. The author wrote that since 1882, an ‘ideal’ city was built next to the Old Quarter. This city is full of green trees and has ancient pagodas and pretty villas whose architecture style can be found in France’s Cote d’Azur, the author wrote.

The article entitle ‘1000-year-old Hanoi’ read the best way for sightseeing in Hanoi is wandering o­n its streets and roads which combine Asian and European beauty.

It was suggested tourists visit the Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi, next to which are the streets characterized by their crafts’ names such as Hang Chieu, Hang Duong, Hang Quat and Hang Vai. Making reservation at a Hanoi hotel around the Old Quarter area is probably a good idea as it is best to explore these attractions on foot.

It also mentioned Hanoi’s beauty at dawn, when old people practise tai chi chuan, children go to school and local people rush to work – all viewed from Sofitel Metropole Hotel. After this, tourists can taste the famous Pho noodle soup at local shops.

The French feature praised Hanoi’s cuisine and spoke about many hospitable restaurants decorated in a sophisticated way. o­ne of them is a restaurant in Ba Dinh district, which serves many dishes from the country’s three regions.

Source: hanoitimes

Hill station blend of old, new

Nestled high up in north-ern province of the Vinh Phuc, Tam Dao is perhaps the perfect respite from the heat and humidity of Ha Noi. On any Vietnam travel guide book, you can find Tam Dao mentioned as a perfect get-away from the bustling city of Hanoi and a perfect destination for trekking as well.

Tam Dao is just 86km northeast of the capital. The town, occupying 253ha, is 900m above sea level in the heart of Tam Dao National Park – the largest in the north.

The 80km mountain range has three prominent peaks, which is why it is named Tam Dao. The middle peak is called Ban Thach (Stone Table) and stands a proud 1,388m. The left peak is named Thien Nhi (Sky Market) and is 1,375m tall, while that on the right, named Phu Nghia, is 1,400m above sea level.

A hill station for all seasons: An aerial view of Tam Dao District. Visitors can experience spring, summer, autumn and winter every day in the popular former French hill station.

The French hill station is famed for the wraith-like mist that shrouds the town most mornings. By midday the fog lifts to reveal a mind-boggling panorama of hills and forests. The afternoons are typically cooler, while at night a chilly wind makes heavy clothing a must. In fact, each day in Tam Dao is like the four seasons of the year – summer, autumn, spring and winter.

Leading up to the town is a thin ribbon of road 20km long rising from the plain, while a silvery stream circles the town like a silk scarf around the slender neck of an enchantress.

The town is an ideal hideout for authors, which is why an annual writing competition is held in Tam Dao.

Rustic ruins: A vestige of French architecture still remains in Tam Dao.

Adding to the splendour of Tam Dao are the vestiges of old French colonial houses dating from the early 20th century harking back to the days of European rule. In all, there are about 200 colonial buildings still standing, but few can remember the days of the French. Local culture official Do Dinh Chuc introduced me to Nguyen Huu Duyen and Luu Ngai. Duyen, now in his seventies, who is a descendent of one of the first families to settle in Tam Dao, some 104 years ago. Ngai used to work as a maid in one of the French’s villas.

That said, both remember only too vividly 1946 when locals applied the scorched-earth policy and destroyed the last vestiges of colonial rule during the Vietnamese war of resistance against the French.

Further information can be gleaned from the sixth volume of Indochina magazine published in June 1914. The magazine reads: “In 1904, a delegation sent by the Office of the General Governor of French Indochina sought a suitable place in the Tam Dao mountain range to build a summer resort.

“The delegation reported that they had found a suitable locality at a height of 930m. After two years of careful examination, the office began work in 1906 on the hill station.”

The French occupied the town for the next three decades before it was totally destroyed in the war of resistance. In its heyday, the town had 143 stone-built villas, some owned by wealthy Vietnamese such as Ho Dac Diem, Hong Khe and Phu My.

The architecture in Tam Dao is reminiscent of Sa Pa, Da Lat and Ha Noi, a blend of the old and the new, and gave the nostalgic colonialists a taste of home.

The stone walls were typically 60-120cm thick. The slate for the roofs was imported from Toulouse and Marseille.

Little now remains.

Duyen and Ngai said life for them and the other 6,000 Vietnamese in the region was hard. Most served the wishes of their colonial masters. They were not allowed to settle in the town. Instead they were forced to live 2km away.

Today Tam Dao has 60 hotels and guest houses that are owned by 17 families. The district received about 1 million tourists in the first six months of this year, which is a 50 per cent increase against the same period last year.

The remaining 200 inhabitants earn a living from farming and growing su su (the local name for chayote).

“Chayote here are more delicious than those in other places such as Sa Pa,” said Do Quoc Hai, a tourist from Ha Noi, while eating a bowl of chayote that had been stir-fried in oil and garlic.

Green chayote trellises laden with fruit can be seen everywhere. About five tonnes are picked each day. In fact, the unique taste of the fruit has become synonymous with Tam Dao. And when visitors reluctantly have to return to the noise and pollution of the city, a basket of the fruit is a happy reminder of the halycon days in the hills.

 

Source: VNS

Vietnam Travel – A path to somewhere…

It takes some getting to, but a bamboo-lined dirt road makes it worthwhile.

A long bridge across the Ma River is just one of the picturesque features on the trip to the Suoi Muong bamboo path

If it’s all about the journey and not the destination, there is a “journey to a journey” involving quite a few ups and downs, not to mention twists and turns, that awaits the nature lover in Vietnam’s northern region.

The destination is a path, 40 kilometers long, that winds its way through a dense bamboo grove in Thanh Hoa Province.

In order to reach the Suoi Muong bamboo path, there’s a long way to go, past high mountains and deep valleys. A motorbike is an indispensable accessory.

Let’s get going from Hanoi and head to Hoa Binh, where Muong Lat Street along the Lao border leads to the mountainous western part of Thanh Hoa.

The first village on the road is named Thanh Son, where backpackers can tuck in for the night in local homes after a simple supper.

As we go further, more villages appear, as do the first bamboos.

Here, the road is named Suoi Muong after a local stream.

Along the red-soil road, which gets narrower toward the end, are tall, dense bamboo grasses that cast their green shadows on the Ma River flowing alongside.

Then the bamboos disappear, and the Mau Village market comes into view, several minutes from the pier across the Ma River.

Stationed at the pier is a woman in her sixties. Her teeth are dyed in black, a beauty aid for Vietnamese women in the old times and a tradition to protect their teeth.

“I row until four in the afternoon, then go home to rest,” said the ferrywoman who has been doing this job nearly 20 years and knows everyone in the area.

A 40-km path that entertains with a never-ending play of light and shade and a concert of bird cries and rustling leaves is an unusual destination, but those who reach there aren’t complaining

 

GETTING THERE: From Hanoi take the Ho Chi Minh Road to Thanh Hoa, around 155 kilometers away. Trains and buses are also available.

There are close to 30 streams, big and small, in the area and they put in an appearance after every turn along Suoi Muong road that is 100 kilometers long. But not every stream has a boat to take you across. Sometimes, people have to wade into the water first and lead others waiting to take their bikes across.

And the adventure is only the beginning. Some parts of the road are piles of rock, some are slippery soil, some are in between the cliff where the bikes have half a meter width to drive on.

The bike driver needs to be firm and the pillion rider should be ready to jump off at all times to help push the motorbike.

It can be discouraging, but if you’re in a mood to take things on, the tough road is the perfect challenge.

The Ma River continues to flow alongside, playfully switching from the left to the right and vice versa. On some parts of the road, the river is so close you can lean over and wash your hands in the flowing waters.

It’s best to make this journey early May, when it’s not raining and the bamboos are in their post-spring prime.

November or December is also good as the monsoon has passed and the bamboos throw in a dash of yellow.

The journey is an absolute no-no during the first days of rainy season as the road gets very muddy, the rocks get very slippery and the streams get very fierce.

Every 10 or 15 kilometers on the road is a village where such necessities as instant noodles, eggs, soaps, cookies and sweets can be procured.

Most villages are home to ethnic minority groups who invariably bade visitors passing by their stilt houses to come in and rest, freshen up and even use their ovens to cook.

Not far from Chieng Nua, one of the villages, is a cemetery on a cliff that dates back to the 11th century. The place is also home to vestiges of the Dong Son Culture, a prehistoric Bronze Age in Vietnam, and temples worshiping heroes of the Lam Son revolution during the early 15th century against Chinese invaders.

The journey can take longer, but patience is rewarded when, almost unnoticed, the magnificent bamboo path is there in front, casting a mysterious aura and allure.

Long and slender, the leaves sparkle in the sun and make joyful rustling and creaking sounds as the breeze blows through them. The play of light and shade is soothing and exciting at the same time. Where does the path lead?

But that’s it. There is nowhere to go but where the path takes you. In fact, the path is “home”. You have arrived.

Source: Thanhnien

Hue – The Imperial City

Still remaining its form of City under Middle Age and the constructions of monarchic, a invaluable museum of Vietnam, this is Imperial City – the last remaining section of 19th-century Hue, and it is now a modern experiment in recreating traditional Vietnam. The Imperial City was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 1993. Let’s take a trip through the most  important historical and cultural monument of Vietnam.

 

Hue - The Imperial City

 

Dominating the skyline is the 37m (120ft) high Cot Co or Flag Tower, first erected in 1809. Cot Co achieved international renown on the morning of 31 January 1968, when communist forces seized the Citadel and ran their yellow-starred banner up its tall mast.

The lower part of the gate is stone, while on top is the “Belvedere of the Five Phoenixes” where the emperor appeared on important occasions, and where the last emperor abdicated to Ho Chi Minh’s Revolutionary Government in 1945.

Just inside the gate is a lotus pond with a bridge once reserved for the emperor’s private use. Across the bridge is the Thai Hoa Palace used for official receptions and other important court ceremonies. The columns supporting the roof are lacquered and inlaid with gold.

Thai Hoa Palace

Behind the Thai Hoa Palace are a pair of smaller halls used by mandarins to prepare for court ceremonies. The halls form a courtyard, the fourth side of which was once a wall dividing the more public area of the citadel from the emperor’s private residence, the “Forbidden Purple City.” The name conjures up images of grand palaces like Beijing. Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of imagination to picture the buildings that once occupied what is now a grassy expanse. What wasn’t destroyed by a fire in 1947 was bombed in the 1968 Tet Offensive. The picture at above left was taken from the upper-most level looking back at the Thai Hoa palace and the Flag tower.

Off to one side of the central axis of the forbidden city, about midway, is the Thai Binh Lau or Royal Library. This small building stands in a garden and is fronted by small pond mostly taken up by a mountain-island well-grown with moss and bonsai. You will find similar ponds, fountains or even large bowls of water in many structures all over Vietnam.

Although you must enter the citadel through the main gate, you can exit it at several other points. Between the Thai Hoa palace and the halls of the mandarins, a path leads to the Hien Nhon gate (left). Leaving by this gate is the shortest route to get from the forbidden city to the museum at Long An palace. Along the path are a couple of buildings worth a look.

A visit to Hue might be considered incomplete without a boat trip on the outstandingly lovely Perfume River. Boats are readily available for hire, either for an exploratory trip in the vicinity of Hue, or for a longer journey upstream to the tombs of Minh Mang and Gia Long.

Perfume River

It’s hard to explain the uncanny beauty of the river, though doubtless the irridescent, aquamarine waters, together with the profusion of colourful craft and boat women sporting non la–the ubiquitous cream-coloured conical hat of Vietnam–all contribute to the effect. On a clear, sunny day the Perfume River can indeed be magical.

From your Hue hotel, you can look around and visit the remained architecture from Nguyen Dynasty or hop on a boat on Perfume river to enjoy the traditional food of Hue as well as the beautiful scene of the city along the river banks.

Autumn’s flavour

• By Lan Hieu | dtinews.vn |

Another autumn is about to descend on Hanoi. The streets are filled with cool air, signaling the start of the Com (young rice flake) season.

Vendors slung baskets are packed with the green young rice flakes which send forth the ubiquitous sweet flavours that lure in even the most casual onlooker.

By October, the winter rice begins to bow, the seeds become plump and the rice milk thickens. Locals know it’s the time to gather sticky rice for Com.

Enjoying this tasty snack takes a lot of hard work during the preparation phases. The fresh rice must be roasted shortly after being picked over a moderate heat and then gently stirred. Then it is cooled and poured into a stone mill. Once in the mill, it is pounded lightly with a wooden pestle and sifted.

This process is repeated six or seven times.

The final step requires the green rice to be tightly wrapped in lotus leaves to keep it from drying out. This also allows the rice to absorb the flavour of lotus leaves.

Today, some of these steps have been mechanized. However, in the traditional strongholds of production such as Xuan Thuy Street or Me Tri Ha Village, some 7 kilometres from downtown Hanoi, they prefer to do it by hand.

When the green rice grains go into the baskets of the vendors, they are divided into small lots. A packet of Com is always considered a nice present for a child or from a groom to his bride’s family at their engagement party.

Although this soft and sweet Hanoi specialty can be enjoyed separately, it is best served with red persimmons or ripe bananas.

It is also used in different local specialties including the green rice cakes sold on Hang Than Street. Restaurants also offer dishes involving Com, such as chicken stewed with herbs and green rice, or green rice served with fried shrimp.

When eating Com, locals advise diners to chew very deliberately in order to appreciate all the scents and tastes of the young, sweet and nutty rice.

The first step is gathering the fresh sticky rice.

Sifting the flakes from the chaff is the final step in making com.

Then the green rice grains go into the baskets of the vendors.

It is best served with red persimmons or ripe bananas.

Air, Road, Sea, Rail – Getting To Vietnam

Whether you’re in Australia, America or China, if you’re heading to Vietnam for a holiday, it’s now as easy as ever to arrive by road, rail or air. Here are your options:

ROAD

From Cambodia: There is a road crossing at Moc Bai (Tay Ninh province 80km from Saigon) connecting Phnom Penh in Cambodia with Saigon. Several companies now operate a direct bus service between the two cities, departing each city early morning. There is also a crossing into Vietnam via Chau Doc (245 km from Saigon) that is passable boat. Boats leave Phnom Penh (daily) in the early afternoon arriving in Chau Doc (Vietnam) around 6pm. The return journey departs early the next morning. Buses connect Chau Doc to Ho Chi Minh City (7hrs)

From Laos: There is a road crossing at Lao Bao in Quang Tri Province, about 160km northwest of Hue, connecting Savannakhet with Central Vietnam. Another road into Vietnam is via Cau Treo, Ha Tinh Province. Numerous travel companies run bus services for travellers, times vary.

From China: There are 03 roads crossing at Ha Khau (Lao Cai Province), Dong Dang (Lang Son Province) and Mong Cai (Quang Ninh Province). These borders may close at time, with out warning. BOAT There are no normal sea crossings into Vietnam although an increasing number of cruise liners sail into Vietnamese waters. The only other international connection by boat is the Mekong River crossing from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc (see above).

TRAIN

There are international rail connections between China and Vietnam. One from Peking via Nanning, crossing at Lang Son and one from Kunming that travels via Lao Cai, both services terminate in Hanoi.

AIR

Vietnam currently has three international airports:

· Noi Bai serving Hanoi and the north

· Danang International Airport serving the central provinces

· Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City serving the south.

The national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has services connecting the USA, UK, Australia, Europe and many Asia countries to Vietnam. An increasing number of international carriers also fly to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Low cost airline such as, Tiger Air and Air Asia, have flights from as low as $25USD/exl taxes from Bangkok/Singapore to Hanoi/HCMC.

When departing Vietnam, all visitors must pay $14USD for departure tax. This is payable at the airport, after check in.

NOTE: The above information can change at anytime, without warning. It is recommended that you seek up to date information regarding borders, travel, costs etc before you travel.

(source: http://www.hotelsbycity.net/blog)

Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon

The city center is situated on the banks of the Saigon River, 60 kilometers (37 mi) from the South China Sea and 1,760 kilometers (1,094 mi) south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

The metropolitan area, which consists of the Hồ Chí Minh City metropolitan area, Thủ Dầu Một, Dĩ An, Biên Hòa and surrounding towns, is populated by more than 9 million people, making it the most populous metropolitan area in Vietnam and the countries of the former French Indochina.

So me and Natalie arrived late morning in Saigon – we hadn’t booked a hotel so we wandered down to the main backpacker area where we got accosted by a random french/vietnamese lady desperate to get us to stay at her friends hotel. We went and had a look and turned it down – cue here following us and shouting at us for the next 10 minutes. We wandered down a little alley off the main road and found a nice little guest house… and went for an explore. Saigon is crazy busy. 8 million people and 3 MILLION motorbikes. It just doesn’t stop.

We were staying in the main backpacker area – near loads of bars, Boom boom bars (with prozzies sat outside), shops, places selling knock off dvds for 30p, everything was open so late – I felt really safe here.

Things I will remember about Saigon:

* Loi – a lovely lady selling knock off books who took a shine to us – we saw her most nights and she’d come and sit for a chat..
* The kids up at 3am selling cigarettes out of boxes outside the bars
* cockroaches and BIG rats
*Buying popcorn from an elderly lady on a street corner…she beckoned for me to lean forward as if she wanted to tell me something and instead put her hand down my top and gave my boob a big squeeze then started giggling and gave me the thumbs up!! I couldn’t be angry at her – she was 80, had no teeth and reminded me of my gran when sh is in a cheeky mood…
* The bikes – eveeeeeeeeeeeeeerywhere

* The lady who did my laundry breaking 2 of my bras – GRRRR. HOw to you manage to bend the underwire love?!?! And they don’t do my size out here (Well ‘only in maternity’ I was told the other day)
* The war remnants museum. Truely horrific and graphic images. AMazing how cruel and evil human beings can be.
* Drinking buckets with Natalie in the street, watching the world go by…
* Squid man!! Nothing I feel like more in an evening than some dried squid. Mmm.
* Huge thunder storm causing a nice old power to the restaurant I was in – was fuuuun!!

Natalie left me (booo) to go to Bangkok so I had a day to myself – had a good old wander around town. Really liked Saigon, but my nerves felt shot to pieces near the end – so many bikes – too little pavement!!

(Source: http://www.travelblog.org)

Peace in the city

Two foreign tourists enjoy a drink amid the greenery at Binh An.

Tranquility in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh District? Hard to believe, but its true…

Want to unwind after strenuous workday or spend a Sunday at an ideal hideaway? Just catch a ride to Thanh Da Island in Binh Thanh District where you’ll find Binh An (Peaceful) Village.

The name couldn’t be more appropriate. Half-restaurant, half-luxurious retreat, Binh An Village Restaurant Saigon is one of the only places you can get a little peace and quiet in the metropolis.

Seemingly light-years away from the bustling city, Binh An boasts picturesque landscaping, professional service and a quiet atmosphere.

Surrounded by breathtaking tropical gardens and coconut trees, Binh An Village’s old-fashioned bungalows, traditional Vietnamese furniture, bright green lawns and charming pond full of water-lilies provide the perfect setting for some much-needed relaxation.

The place is a mix of the Vietnamese villages of yesteryear and modern, opulent European styles. The quaint mix of countryside and hoity-toity is never boring.

Open-air dining is one of the best experiences Binh An has to offer. It boasts a large and tasty variety of traditional country cuisine such as house-recipe fried spring rolls, fresh lotus shrimp salad, spectacular grilled seafood and sticky rice, vegetables and even kim chi (traditional Korean fermented dish made of vegetables with varied seasonings). It’s not just a rendezvous point, but a quiet gastronomic party.

Every Sunday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., the Saigon Jazz Quintet sooths travelers to Binh An with the soft sounds of jazz. Boat cruises, DJs, traditional Vietnamese folk music, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) dances, circus performances, water puppet shows and many other events can be booked in advance.

It’s just a restaurant, but then again it’s another world.

Binh An Village Restaurant Saigon

1163 Binh Quoi St., Ward 28, Binh Thanh Dist., HCMC

Tel: (08) 3 556 6099 – Fax: (08) 3 898 7770

www.binhanvillage.com

Update from: http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/?catid=7&newsid=42693

Visiting Vietnam is an eye-opening experience

Written by Lewis Kalmbach

People always contrast north Louisiana and south Louisiana as opposites. The same can be said for Vietnam. In the north, I found Hanoi (perched on the banks of the Red River!) to be a bit cold and suspicious, but in Saigon, I was received differently.

The city of Saigon now is called Ho Chi Minh City, or HCMC, after the beloved leader of “the people.” While the name is used interchangeably, the historic downtown area, where most tourists and businessmen stay, is still called Saigon.

Cu Chi tunnel
Lewis Kalmbach descends into one of the tunnels at Cu Chi outside Saigon. Note the tunnel’s width
For Asia, Saigon is a relatively young city founded only in the mid-18th century as a Chinese port. Situated on the Saigon River, it became a secure and logical trading post for goods shipped from India and China on their way to Europe. Americans, however, know it best for playing a major role in the Vietnam War as the stronghold of the South.

After the war, Saigon fell into despair. In the early 1990s, western investors flocked to the city but pulled out a few years later due bureaucratic bullying. Today, the Asian powerhouse economies of China and Korea are making for a brighter future in Saigon.

The tree-lined Don Khoi is the Rodeo Drive of Saigon and will most likely be near your hotel. Here you’ll find some of the best shopping, dining and nightlife in Asia. Make time for an ice cream break here. I have never seen such clever creations made from cones, sprinkles and exotic flavors of ice cream and sorbets. Plan to spend a whopping 75 cents.

The museums were quite interesting with much memorabilia from the war. More remarkable, though, was the Reunification Palace. Designed as the home for former president Ngo Dinh Diem, the U.S.-backed leader of Vietnam until his untimely assassination — this building is symbolic for its role in the fall of Saigon. It was here the tanks of the North Vietnamese breached the gates and hung their victory flag from the balcony.

The best part about this building is the architecture. A fan of the mid-century style, this iconic ’60s monstrosity was virtually left untouched inside and out. What I mean to say is all of the furniture and equipment still is there just beyond the velvet ropes. It was like being at Graceland with the outlandish furniture and fabrics of the day. One easily can imagine heads of state (and Dean Martin) gathering for cocktails in the swanky parlors and billiard room. The map room was massive and had a Dr. Strangelove aura about it.

Forty miles outside of HCMC, I found one of the most indelible experiences on my adventure. The Cu Chi Tunnels lie at the end of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and served as the base for attacking Saigon. It was here the U.S. carpet-bombed the region, which forced the residents to literally go underground. A vast network of narrow tunnels stretched as far as Cambodia and featured meeting rooms, kitchens and triage units.

The guided tour starts with a campy war-era propaganda film that references us as “those red-hot American devils.” Next there are simulations of gory booby traps and guerrilla snares that are as gruesome as any Wes Craven horror flick. Grab a real AK-47 at the shooting range where for $1 a bullet you can play soldier. Finally, at one of the tunnels, tourists are encouraged to crawl through these very claustrophobic passages to gain appreciation for the ingenuity of these clever people. After emerging from these dark, dank and earthy tunnels, my guide kicked a few leaves around only to expose three very large scorpions.

I must confess I have newfound respect for our brave men and women who had to serve in the Vietnam War. Once on this foreign turf, I could see how we lost. We were simply not prepared for the cunning of the Vietnamese and their perilous terrain. Can the same be said for Iraq? I hope not.

TRAVEL TIP
When visiting Southeast Asia, only book your initial round-trip flight from the U.S. Once in your gateway city, there are many more flight options at cheaper prices than can be bought in advance from the States. Also, consider Manila, Philippines, as your gateway. There are three nonstops daily from the West Coast. The national carrier, Philippine Airlines, was less than half the price of flying directly to Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. While the service is not as stellar as the legendary Thai Airways or even Cathay Pacific, it still was better than most U.S. carriers, especially in business class. My round-trip business class was only $1,900! Check philippineairlines.com for special deals.

Well, that wraps up Southeast Asia. While I did most of my site-seeing in the big cities, I would revisit all of these countries to explore the coastlines and backwoods. Thank you for following these top-of-mind ramblings. I hope I provided some new insight into this rich region and that you will start planing your own adventure today.

Safe travels.

Source: www.shreveporttimes.com