Good Morning Vietnam and several thousand bikes

In a lot of my previous posts I've mentioned the general hustle and bustle of Asian Cities, whether its the mass of people or the hectic traffic. I would like to state these prior descriptions are inaccurate compared to the overwhelming number of bikes on the road in Vietnam. My first introduction into the Vietnamese traffic was an interesting one for sure. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh city (formally Saigon) the sheer number of bikes surrounding you is incalculable. The myriad of bikes carry an astonishing amount ranging from plastic bottles to entire families. If you stand long enough on any street corner in HCM, you are in for a treat as inevitably you will be left incredulous as to the array and quantities the Vietnamese can load onto a bike. The second thing you will want to do is cross the road, just to see how the chaos reacts to your presence. Even crossing the road in Vietnam is exciting.

Traveling to Vietnam has been a relatively recent ambition of mine. My first glimpse into the country was from the top gear special, where the presenters used bikes to travel the length of the country. Having watched the program my immediate reaction was simply I want to go there. Vietnam looked as if it had everything you could want, whether it being acquiring a tailored suit to eating exotic food. Another compelling factor for me was to see one of the last communist countries still operating today. Vietnam alongside Laos, China and Cuba are the only remaining communist governments in power today. Reading about revolutionary leaders and highly socialist regimes has long been fascinating for me, a chance to see it first hand is a great opportunity.

After accustoming to the inconsistent traffic of Vietnam we headed to our first destination of the day, the war remnants museum. Visits to this museum are imperative, for many people Vietnam is not seen as a country but as a war. The museum gives powerful insight into the horrors of warfare. The most harrowing exhibit was the effects of agent orange, a toxic herbicide that left large deformities to those unfortunate enough to be exposed to it. The effects of the herbicide are still being felt today whether new generations showing side effects from the toxin. The exhibit features foetuses that have been corrupted and deformed by the herbicide, it is a particularly gruesome display. The museum also features many pictures and statements of various torture techniques used by the U.S. Military such as water boarding. There were many tearful people from a variety of nations, who could see the atrocities committed in this country. I would not state it was just the American military who performed such acts, The museum does have a bias towards it though. A visit to the museum may not be a comfortable one, but it is most definitely a necessary one.

Moving along to a less macabre topic, one of the greatest attractions Vietnam has is its multitude of parks. In the U.K. our parks tend to be a dull and wearisome visit, Conversely Vietnam's parks are full of life and people genuinely enjoying themselves in green spaces. There are numerous exercise machines, exercise classes take place here and Badminton players are sharpening their skills on the nets. It is great to see people having fun in their parks and enjoying their public spaces. A second great thing about the park is the local students trying to hone their English skills. These students will approach you in the park and ask to speak with you. Speaking to the locals about where each of you come from and what living there is like, is one of the experiences I will certainly remember. 

To finish the day in Vietnam, we went to a water puppet show. Usually this a tradition which is usually performed in the north of the country, fortunately for us the popularity of such shows mean it is being shown in the south as well. The show consists of puppeteers controlling their puppets whilst underwater, a feat not to be scorned at. It is very impressive how they can manipulate the puppets expertly, whilst focusing on not emerging to the water surface. The show is definitely worth seeing even if you cannot comprehend the language (it's all in vietnamese), the show has something for everybody and is quite the spectacle.