Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)

I was scared of this big city for absolutely no reason...it was fantastic. I was only planning on spending 1 night here, but I ended up spending 3. People were amazingly friendly, the city was lively no matter what the time was, motorbikes actually obeyed traffic lights at major intersections so you were able to cross, and you could actually walk on sidewalks without feeling like you needed a gold medal afterwards for completing the most random ridiculous obstacle course in the world. Aside from this, Saigon had a certain charm to it that I can't quite explain, but it was definitely a city with personality and warmth.

While I was here I did a few side trips outside the city. I checked out the Cu Chi Tunnels which were really incredible, the sheer willpower of the Vietnamese and their ingenious traps they created out of things like bamboo were incredible. I turned down the chance to fire a AK-47 for a mere dollar a bullet - but I don't think anyone that knows me is too surprised about that!

The War Remnants Museum was very disturbing but educational, it had photographs taken of the Vietnam/USA war that the West has probably never been exposed to (if you go, make sure to bring some kleenex). I have no idea how after such a short time has passed, how the Vietnamese are so friendly to American tourists. You speak to them and each of them knows someone in their lives that had died during that time. You still see many people even now that have disabilities caused by agent orange (from birth defects). I think they can teach us all a lesson on forgiveness and moving forward.