28th October - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
At last - somewhere that Karen feels she can get her hair cut. Karen explains how
difficult her hair is, reassurance comes that yes, we cut a lot of westerner’s hair
here. Karen feels that she hasn't really got her point across (difficult hair even
for a westerner) but things are getting critical and another couple of weeks would
be too long so she books an appointment.
The War Remnants Museum contains harrowing pictures of the war and its after effects.
It’s a bit one-sided but they clearly have a point. The name of the museum changed
over the years as relations with the US thawed, from the "Exhibition House for US
and Puppet Crimes" to the “Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression” and
finally to the current name.
The rooftop bar at the Rex hotel is one of the ‘must-see’ sights in Saigon. Unfortunately
there is a private party there so we can’t get in. Instead we head to the rooftop
bar on the Sheraton and get there just before the two-for-one happy hour finishes.
This is just as well as the prices would be expensive in London. You get a great
view over the city and we make our drinks and nibbles last as long as we can. Afterwards
we head to the local curry house for a change from noodle soup and have two daals
that were much better than we were expecting.
Back at the hairdresser’s, Karen explained to Jenny, the senior stylist, that she
wants the same style but 4cm shorter. However, a very different haircut emerges as
the senior stylist explains that, as Karen has a small face, this style will suit
her much better. Karen finds the new style a bit too close to Phil’s bargain Chinese
cut for comfort. Heidi would never have done this!
Our last day in HCMC is spent visiting the Megastar Cineplex at Huang Van Plaza to
watch the film ‘Upside Down’, the best of a very poor list. The cinema experience
was broadly positive, the film itself less so.
We also ate our last bowl of Pho at Pho 2000, a canteen style eatery that has fed
Bill Clinton(!).
Tomorrow we set off by bus for Cambodia with our $1 ‘coffee money’ visa process smoother
to hand. We’ll meet Hollie there in a couple of days time.
