The museum houses different artifacts, photographs and pictures documenting American war crimes

Vietnam map

Such documents illustrate the killing of civilians, torturing of prisoners and setting some places in fire.

Planes tanks, bombs and helicopters are also on display.

U.S. Air Force plane

It's so hard to see what transpired in Vietnam during the war through the remnants museum, but I guess, this is   put here so people will remember and learn from history.

I only stayed in the museum for around 10 minutes since Lauren and our tour coordinators are waiting for me. We then rode a motorbike going to the Reunification palace.

with our tour coordinator

We waited outside the Reunification palace for the group that we will be joining.

busy street

outside the palace

When the group arrived, we paid 15,000 dong for the entrance and proceed inside the palace. The Reunification Palace (formerly known as Independence Palace) serves as the house of Vietnam's president when the government system is not  yet parliamentary.

Ho Chi Mihn

The palace architecture is nice. According to our tour guide, everything was maintained and preserved since it was built, even the furniture.

inside the function hall

function hall

the president's desk, distinguished by the red phone which is the color of the president's phone

living room

chandelier

reminds me of inception's paradox

receiving area

inside garden

the president's bed

dining table

helipad  + helicopter

our tour guide

IT room. lol.

Then we went to the Central Post Office and the Cathedral Notre-Dame. Nothing remarkable about these landmarks, in fact there are better cathedrals here in  the Philippines but it's nice that they consider Notre-Dame as one of their tourist spot since if I'm not mistaken, most of them are Buddhist.

Central Post Office

Cathedral Notre-Dame

After the tour, I asked our guide to drop me in Ben Thanh market. I went to one of the stalls and looked for goods and pasalubongs, I saw a lampshade made of stone. The vendor told me that it cost 60,000 dong but he'll give it to me for 40,000. Nice deal. But when I looked closely into the item, I saw a tag price and it's only 30,000. Hala! He tried to hide it and I realized that he's taking advantage of me so I immediately get out of the stall. I was supposed to buy key chains but decided to buy in a different stall.

So I just went to the stall with fixed price-no haggling, at least I'm sure I'm getting a fair deal. :) At this time, Roch told me that our tour coordinator called her and asked if she knew where I was because he's worried that I was lost since I haven't picked up the ticket for the water puppet show yet. Lol.

After shopping, I went back to Dong Phuong and fixed myself. Haha, I already felt haggard. Then, I rode a motorbike and went to see the water puppet show.

Water Puppet Show

inside the gallery

with the usherettes

the show will start in a few

The water puppet show showcases the different dances, beliefs, cultures, legends and ways of Vietnam like dragon dance, fairy dance and some war dance. It's a nice show, a must-see if you go to Saigon but I didn't understand it because of the language. I was laughing but didn't have an idea why. All in all, it's pretty entertaining. Until now, I'm still wondering how they do the show. I mean control the puppets. are they below the water or just at the back, I don't know. :(

the puppeters

happy or sad?

After the show, I met Roch and we went to Nha Hang Ngon for dinner. It's a class A restaurant in the city that's why we waited a bit for a table.

Nha Hang Ngon

Roch ordered spring and shrimp rolls. The food was a bit oily but it's very tasty. I loved it, especially their fish sauce. It's the best! :)





After dinner, we walked around the streets and went to see the city hall and ho Chi Minh's monument.

cit hall

Ho Chi Minh

communist symbol

Then, we went to the airport to go back to Manila, to go home. Vacation for me is over.