well thank you, Hanuman for the elucidation.

that explains why you and the OP have "history" but I don't understand why you choose to drag me into it.

Hanuman,

It's "Post Time" but it looks like you will be running this race alone. I hope the others have not been put out to pasture or worst yet made into glue. Indeed a sticky situation.

I miss them too :(

Here's a link you might find helpful and might want to add your expert insight to :)

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...m#last-comment

A Saigon Secret

It is not until our last night in Vietnam that I discover what maybe one of Ho Chi Minh City's best kept secrets. While walking to the Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater we stumble upon something sweet that is as simple as ABC.

A quick calculation and I determine that if tomorrow I walk to Cambodia instead of taking the bus, I can indulge in a few sinful pleasures and not even gain a pound!


Video:http://youtu.be/bVHS0lxbVJ4

A Wet Puppet

An easy walk from our hotel is The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater almost a must if you visit Saigon. This is a show that gives an entertaining presentation of Vietnamese life and culture in an interesting form of storytelling.

The art of water puppetry has a steep traditional in local Vietnamese culture and is connected with the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

For me, attending any theater production it is always amazing to see the talents of the performers no matter the art form. As a person that never mastered the recorder, I always appreciate this.

The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theater has several shows every evening that last about 50 minutes without an intermission. For about US$7.50 per person it is a worthwhile outing in Ho Chi Minh City.


Video:http://youtu.be/8Ao7hrwZcm8

annhig,

You're welcome. My apologies for the "sideshow" :(

Good-bye!

It is our last morning in Vietnam and in few minutes we'll take a walk to a bus that will be taking us to Cambodia.

As I recall our time here, one of the fun if not crazy things we did while here was simply crossing a main street. Making multiple crossings and not being a “Hit” in some strange way made us feel apart of Vietnam.

If you come to Vietnam it is definitely something you may have to contend with. One piece of advise, just keep walking and I hope you will enjoy Vietnam and its people as much as we did.

Thanks, Vietnam.


Video:http://youtu.be/w5jLYG2R6kw

I honestly don't think that Rome is any better - and Budapest was pretty hairy too - they seemed to think that a pedestrian crossing was an invitation to go faster.

thanks for sharing your experience of Vietnam with us.

I enjoyed your well done report and hope that I can find more from you.
We're thinking of going.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the videos. Nothing better than a visual.

annhig,

I think it must be fun for drivers in countries like that especially when they see a tourist trying to cross the street.

Glad to have you along to share my trip report. Next up, Cambodia in between all my other postings while on my current adventure :)

cybor,

Thanks for following along. Although learning about some aspects of the war there was heart wrenching, our visit to Vietnam was wonderful.

I will soon make postings on Cambodia which was also a part of our trip to Southeast Asia last summer.

More of my travel adventures and pictures are at:

http://dmbtraveler195.blogspot.com/

I hope you will also get to enjoy Vietnam :)

saigon always hot hot ....hihiihh

DMB, loving both your adventurous travel style and original, vignette-style writing. Even would say, among all the well-written TRs here on Fodor's, your is a 'writerly' voice.

TaraM,

Thanks :)

Great trip report, with narrative and videos, and the side benefit of point and counterpoint that enriches so much of our time on fodors. We are visiting my son in Saigon (he just started teaching English there) and we're also seeing Luang Prabang. We leave in two weeks. How did you arrange your day trip on the Mekong? It looked like a really good tour. I'll also look for your blog.

santamonica,

Thanks for nice comment. I hope you enjoy Saigon and Luang Prabang as much as we did.

We arranged our Mekong Delta tour from one of the local hotels located behind ours, "Tan Hai Long"... For us it was unbelievably inexpensive. It was not the "Big Greyhound.. Comfy" type tour bus but it worked for us and was definitely an intimate experience.

I got a little nervous to try the "Snake Wine".. but maybe you will and tell us all about... I think if I had not seen the jar first and/or spent too much time thinking about it.. I would have.. Now I wish I did :(

Great report. Loved your descriptions and personal impressions and insights. Thanks so much for posting. Looking forward to reading about Cambodia.