Day 3 - Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City

Wed March 7 started with a tour of Ben Thanh Market in downtown Saigon.	The two main corridors are the *only* ones this wide in the huge market.	Seafood and shellfish, one bin looks like giant snails...		Many varieties of eggs.
	The exotic "dragon fruit", which I grew quite fond of.		The dreaded durian fruit and jackfruit. We later tried durian and it didn't seem as bad as its reputation. Must be an acquired dislike :>	It does look pretty gross while being disemboweled...
A little of everything, handbags and buddhas...	Glass baubles...	Very sparkly...	A stall just for decorated slippers...	Hats...
A Buddha booth...	Just outside the market.	A statue to an ancient warrior.	Another historic hotel in Saigon, the Majestic.	We board a ferry to cross the Saigon River - just to get to the other side...
An interesting fellow gets off.	More motorcycle traffic on the ferry!	View from across the river, and one of the sailors...	Motorcycles disembarking, watch out!	A craftsman working on a model ship.
Vicki negotiating inside the "ship shop". Most of the shops are this narrow!	Another historical hotel, the Caravelle.	Saigon's Notre Dame Cathedral - Nha Tho Duc Ba - Cathedral of our Lady. Built 1877 - 1883.	The Central Post Office was built starting in 1886 by Gustave Eiffel (yes, the same as the Eiffel Tower).	All across the front wall are the names of scientists that the French admired, including Benjamin Franklin!
The Post Office is a huge, happenin' place.	We were told that this aged gentleman used to be an employee of the post office. After he retired, he would come to the p.o. and help people from the country to write letters to family elsewhere. He refused to write negative, complaining letters!	Meanwhile... Gerald is schmoozing with the locals outside, buying bananas, stamps, cokes...	This is the Reunification Palace, before the "fall" it was the Presidential Palace.	A view of Saigon from a restaurant on the top floor of the Prudential Building.
You can see the Saigon River. Not much development across the river yet, but it is beginning to happen.		A very large city...	Some very colorful artwork in the restaurant.	Fruits at a street vendor - maybe rambutan...?
City Hall and Uncle Ho by daylight.	The Opera House.	The Rex Hotel by daylight. You can see the rooftop terrace, where we're about to go for cool juices. The temperatures *and* humidities were in the high 80's most of the time we were there.	The rooftop terrace of the Rex.	Steve relaxing on the terrace, and changing to a new videotape (one of *many*).
More motorcycle traffic...	Some streets were narrow, and sidewalks were used as motorcycle parking lots...	The kids have just gotten out of school. The cotton candy vendor and the ice cream vendor are nearby.	The ice cream vendor, even though on a bicycle, does play incessant inane music, but with an Asian lilt...	The very colorful garbage "truck".
A family of four on a motorbike! We saw as many as five on other occasions. The little one looks like she may have the most comfy spot - not saying the safest...	One of the beautiful streets. The buildings are tall and narrow, we're told most are one room per floor.	Beautiful vertical gardening.