Out and about in Saigon

Breakfast in the graceful Saigon hotel, our might strong bellman, Phum, and one of the charming chamber maids chow down too. Phum is mighty because he hoisted our bags up a narrow staircase to the fourth floor. Viet Nam is not big on elevators in two star hotels, but we do have a phone and a Tv and a hot water shower ;-)


Off we go with Hai on a walking tour of the old French quarter and the high rent district.








Getting wedding photos in front of the French style post office and cathedral is a popular sport


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We got a glimpse of the tallest building in VN, a business center complete with helicopter pad


On to the Chinatown Binh Tay wholesale market, where Hai gave us another Tao lesson



The dragons at the shrine honoring Mr Dam, founder of the market, is a symbol of power, and it is the most yang,while the phoenix on the front of the shrine symbolized beauty and is the most yin.


Looking down we see some of the fabric, and a yang collection of metal kitchen ware



Also a Yin collection of plastic ware



And plenty of kinds of rice: sticky, Lao and brown Dragon's blood. There were also the garlic tree offerings to keep bad luck away



Having a guide and a car made a full day easy and fascinating without being exhausting. WE felt like Queens weaving in and out of traffic without a care.
-On the road with Kathryn