http://hongkongvietnam.blogspot.com.au
20 September 2018
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| Park opposite our Hotel |
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| Motorbike, motorbikes and more motorbikes |
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| Vendor selling her fruits |
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| Bus trip to Coa Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels |
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| Woman sitting in gutter with her child |
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| Roadside eating |
Handicapped Handcrafts since 1976
Products from this shop were totally created by people who have a handicap as a result of the Vietnam War, often Agent Orange. The first sight was a row of tables on which handicapped employees were artfully crafting various lacquer wares. Focused on their craft, it was as if they did not notice tourists taking photos of them up close. At the end of the row of tables was the entrance to their store where thousands of their masterpieces were showcased. Vases, plates, home-decors high lighted with egg shell painting, sand and sea shells portraying the everyday life of Vietnam.
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| "Handicapped Handcrafts", established 1976 |
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| Workshop to help people handicapped from Agent Orange to do useful work |
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| Unique egg shell art |
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| Artwork at Handicapped workshop |
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| Examples of work |
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| Last Supper made from shells |
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| Rice fields |
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| Rice fields |
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| Buffalo roam at leisure |
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| Our lunch location |
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| Tree house with lots of dogs |
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| Motor bike in Toilets |
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| Lunch |
Cao Dai Temple in Long Hoa Village, Tay Ninh Provence
Cao Dai Temple is 100km north east of Ho Chi Minh City. - a religious site that was constructed in 1930. Cao Daists believe that all religions are ultimately the same, combining Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Christianity and Islam into a monotheistic religion open to the public. There are daily worshipping ceremonies held every 6 hours, starting at midnight and with chanting at 6am and 6pm. Two ceremonies take place daily with musicians and a choir singing in English to traditional Vietnam music. The public can photograph the devotees in action with their long flowing robes of white for lay followers and yellow, blue or red for priests, while bishops have the Divine Eye embroidered on their headpieces. During worship man are seated on the right and women on the left with all devotees seated in orderly rows on the floor. Visitors knees must be covered and shoes removed. Silence is strictly adhered to when the service is taking place.
There are nine hierarchies of worship including a pope, cardinals and archbishops with festivals, rituals and prayer all practised regularly.
The temple is similar in design to a Christian Cathedral featuring side aisles and an altar, as well as a long central nave, all positioned as they would be in a Christian Church. There is even a high dome decorated with clouds and saints. The main focal point is a Divine Eye symbolising God which has the Ying and Yang icon in its pupil.
Worshippers at Cao Dai Temple strive for world peace and harmony with beliefs steeped in a number of world religions. Followers must obey five virtures of Confucianism - humanity, obligation, civility, knowledge and reliability. Also have belief in Buddist principles of rebirth and karma.
The building is a combination of Neo-Gothic, Baroque and Oriental design and is very ornately decorated including dragon wrapped pillars, seven headed cobras and ceilings of sky blue. There are 100 Cao Dai Temples in Vietnam.
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| Entrance to Cao Dai Temple grounds |
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| Cao Dai Temple office buildings |
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| Cao Dai Temple gardens |
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Cao Dai Temple
Note shoes lined up in the gutter |
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Signatories of 3rd Alliance between God and Mankind
Sun Yat-sen leader of the Chinese Revolution in 1911
Victor Hugo - France's poet full of compassion
Nguyen-Binh-Khiem - Vietnamese 1st poet laureate famous for his prophecies |
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Sun Yat-Sen, Victor Hugo and Nguyen-Binh-Khiem
give spiritual guidance and
assist Caodaists in spreading the new holy doctrine
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| We needed to leave our shoes outside the boundary to the Cao Dai Temple |
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Worshippers at Mass in the Temple
Men sitting on the right
Women sitting on the left |
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| Music in the Cao DaiTemple |
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| Mass in the Cao Dai Temple |
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| Cao Dai Temple |
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| Frangipani in flower |
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| Cao Dai Temple |
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| Cao Dai Temple |
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| Monkeys at Cao Dai Temple |
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| Monkeys at Cao Dai Temple |
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Robyn chats to the monkey
One of the monkeys tried to snatch Robyn's phone |
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| Monkey at Cao Dai Temple |
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| Agriculture |
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| Local stall from bus |
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| Time for a sleep in the bus |
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| Agriculture |
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| Agriculture |
Cu Chi Tunnels
The tunnels were built by the Viet Cong in 1940 as protection from the French air raids during the Indochina conflict. Location just over 50km from Ho Chi Minh City.
The Cu Chi Tunnels is a network of over 200kms of tunnels which became legendary when they played a vital role in the Vietnam War. The tunnels were functioning underground cities including numerous trap doors, specially constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centres and kitchens. It was difficult with air, food and water scarce. The tunnels were infested with ants, venomous centipedes, scorpions, spiders and vermin. Most of the time soldiers would spent the day in the tunnels working or resting, and came out only at night to scavenge for supplies, tend to their crops or engage the enemy in battle. Sometimes during periods of heavy bombing or American troop movement, they would be forced to remain underground for many days at a time. Sickness was rampant among the people living in the tunnels, especially malaria which was the second largest cause of death next to battle wounds. There is plenty of evidence of the fierce battle that took place here during the 1960s/1970s when Cu Chi was a "Free Target Zone".
We explored the amazing site where the Viet Cong hid during the Vietnamese War. It is now a popular spot for both Vietnamese and foreign tourists. Visitors can watch a short introductory video showing how the tunnels were constructed. Entry was through a well camouflaged trap door and only for a person with a slight build. There was also access via steps for those less adventurous. There was not standing room, just crouching or crawling through the tunnels.
After an hour of exploring the tunnels we enjoyed tapioca.
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M48 Patton Tank
Used by Republic of Vietnam Army and US Army
participating in the battle in Southern Vietnam on 9 March 1965 at Da Nang port |
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Aircraft C-130 No.005
Capacity 92 passengers or 64 Paratroopers or 74 bed patients & 2 medical staff
Initially used by US Army in Operation 9 |
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| UH-1A Aircraft participated in the battle of South Vietnam in September 1962 |
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| Welcome to the Cu Chi Tunnels |
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Not recommended for visitors of over 70 years
I was 75 but got permission, even with my walking stick |
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| Air vent to look like a termite mound |
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| Women and men fought in the Vietnam War |
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| Ammunition from Vietnam War |
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| Rockets used in Vietnam War |
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| We went into the Cu Chi Tunnels |
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| Coming out of a Cu Chi Tunnel |
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Tony. our tour leader exposed a lid to a tunnel
Well camouflaged |
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| Built for the small frame of the Viet Cong |
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| Right size for Robyn |
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| Inside the Cu Chi Tunnels |
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| Robyn inside the Cu Chi Tunnels |
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| Robyn peeping up through the trap door |
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Trap that opened up as one walked over it
Note the spikes |
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| Mark, Joy and Ferdie from Philippines |
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| There was a hospital within the tunnels |
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| Utensils used in the Hospital |
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| Hospital bunker |
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| Bamboo |
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| We helped carry a wounded soldier in hammock |
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| Our Tour leader Tony with my walking stick |
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| Dining table in the Bunker |
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| Map showing the mass of tunnels |
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| Access only by squatting or crouching |
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| No standing room |
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| Underground hammock |
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| This tunnel was for officers only |
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| Finally we made our way out |
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Group enjoyed tapioca after our tunnel experience
Lezyl, Erickaa, Kennth, Mary, Clif, Charlene, Ferdie, Mark & Ana |
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| Tapioca |
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| Looking at how tapioca is grown |
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| Tapioca roots |
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| Vietnam soldiers |
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| Handicrafts being sewn for sale to the public |
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| Sandals being made from tyre rubber |
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| Sandals made from tyres for sale to public |
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Returning to Ho Chi Minh City in the rain
Most riders put their raincoats on while riding |
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| It rained about 4.30 each afternoon we were in Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Lane way to our Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City |
If you wish to contact the author Joy Olney with any comments, please email me on:
joyolney@gmail.com
