http://hongkongvietnam.blogspot.com.au
19 September 2018 - arriving into Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City has been known by several names during its history reflecting settlement by different ethnic, cultural and political groups. In 1690s Nguyen Huu Canh, a Vietnamese noble was sent by the Nguyen rulers of Hue to establish Vietnam administrative structure in Mekong Delta and its surroundings. Control of the city and the area passed to the Vietnamese, who gave the city its official name of Gia Dinh. This name remained until the occupying force adopted the name Saigon for the city, a westernized form of the traditional name, although the city was still indicated as on Vietnamese maps written in Chu Han until at least 1891.
The Viet Minh proclaimed independence of Vietnam in 1945 after a combined occupation by Vichy France and Japan and before the communist revolution in China. They were led by Ho Chi Minh. The Viet Minh held sections of Vietnam were more concentrated in rural areas following the death of Franklin Roosevelt and the abandonment of anti-colonist policies, the U.S. supported France in regaining its control over the country with effective control spanning mostly in the Southern half and parts of the Red River Delta region.
South Vietnam was a capitalist and anti communist state which fought against the Communist North Vietnamese and their allies during the Vietnam War with assistance of U.S.Army and other countries. Viet Cong (formerly Viet Minh) were support by Soviet Union.
At the conclusion of the Vietnam War on 30 April 1975, the city came under the control of the Vietnam People's Army. Among Vietnamese diaspora communities and particularly the U.S. which had fought the Communists, the event is commonly called the "Fall of Saigon", while the Socialist Republic of Vietnam refers to it as the "Liberation of Saigon". In 1976 upon establishment of the unified Communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the city of Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City in honour of the late Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.
Immediately after the communist take over of South Vietnam in 1975, a provisional government renamed the city after Ho Chi Minh, the late North Vietnamese leader. Even today, the informal name of Saigon remains in daily speech both domestically and internationally.
Saigon had a population of 13,542,900 in July 2017.
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| Robyn talking to Le Quec Tuan on flight Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Ho Chi Minh City from the air |
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| Stewards on our flight Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Vietnam Airlines Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Wheelchair access through Ho Chi Minh City Airport |
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| Our transport from airport to Elois Hotel |
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| Service Station |
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| More orderly traffic in Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Traffic stopped at traffic lights |
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| Parents picked up children from school on their motorbikes |
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| Parents picked up their children from school on their motorbikes |
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| Rain and quickly rain coats were put on while driving |
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| Trying to keep dry |
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| Elois Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Sunset from our Hotel |
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| Sunset from our Hotel |
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| Sunset from our Hotel |
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| Ho Chi Minh City from our Hotel by night |
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| Massage business nearby |
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| Nearby Guest house |
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| Nearby lane with businesses |
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| Nearby guesthouse |
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| Nearby lane with businesses |
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| We ate at nearby "Asian Kitchen" |
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| We enjoyed savoury pancake and soup |
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| Robyn with Owner of "Asian Kitchen" |
20 September 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City.
After breakfast we took a tour to Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels so take a look at my Post.
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Breakfast at Hotel Elois
Omelettes were tasty |
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| Roof top breakfast at Hotel Elois |
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| Ho Chi Minh City from Hotel Elois |
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| Ho Chi Minh City from Hotel Elois |
21 September 2018
After breakfast we took a tour to Mekong Delta so take a look at my Post.
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| Sunrise from Hotel Elois |
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| Sunrise from Hotel Elois |
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| Breakfast at Elois Hotel Vietnam style |
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| Rooftop breakfast at Hotel Elois |
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| Ho Chi Minh City from our Hotel Elois |
22 September 2018 - the day we said goodbye to Vietnam
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| Breakfast at Hotel Elois |
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| Group activity in local park |
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| Local shopping centre |
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| Local shopping centre |
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| Local shopping centre |
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| Local market |
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| Park opposite Hotel Elois |
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| Local park |
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| Local park |
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| 12 Bananas for 25,000 Vietnam Dong |
Time to go to Ho Chi Minh City Airport
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| Church |
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| Railway Station |
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| Very tiring riding a loaded bike |
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| Motor bikes used for anything |
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| Ho Chi Minh City airport |
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Wheelchair access was really necessary
Robyn organised it through 7 airports |
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| Leaving Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Leaving Ho Chi Minh City Airport |
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Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur
with Air Asia |
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| Flying over Vietnam with Air Asia |
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| Dinner on board flight |
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| Flight Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur |
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| Flying into Kuala Lumpur |
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| Arriving Kuala Lumpur at dusk |
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| Kuala Lumpur Airport at dusk |
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Wheelchair access in Kuala Lumpur
Pilot (left) happy to relate with us |
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We had a 3 hour wait for our flight to Melbourne
Interesting to see designated sleeping cubicles at the airport |
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| Shopping at Kuala Lumpur airport |
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| Came home with 2 Ringgits but coffee was great |
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| Air Asia wheelchair access through airport |
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| Last flight and nearly home |
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How much sleep will we get with baby in front?
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| It wasn't too bad |
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| I tried to walk around regularly |
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| Sunrise on 23 September 2018 |
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| Sunrise |
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| Arriving Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne |
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| Wet on arrival in Melbourne |
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| We caught Skybus to Southern Cross, then train to Box Hill |
If you wish to contact the author Joy Olney with any comments, please email me on:
joyolney@gmail.com
