My+Trip+To+Vietnam+(2010)

My Trip To Vietnam (2010)
by Jim Wilson 1969 - 1970



I made a cruise in late Jan-early-Feb that among other things stopped in DaNang. To get to Saigon--still noted as that on the entry stamps input in Saigon--we sailed 50 miles up the river from Vung Tau and docked in central Saigon. Went on tour that stopped at old Presidential Palace... In DaNang the ship docked at an old Navy pier area at the foot of Monkey Mountain. I found the old 33 Quang Trung address of our (Officer’s) villa. But, as is the case in Saigon, DaNang and Hanoi (to a slightly lesser extent), the urban areas have been completely rebuilt and are "crowded". Urban renewal understates the changes. Think of Bangkok or Hong Kong 20-30 years ago, I have seen the future....think of "Blade Runner". Countryside living is still hard & poor. Many new cable-stayed bridges, large urban populations, and motorbike/car/truck gridlock in all the major cities. There is even a newish Japanese-built tunnel through the Hai Van Pass area. Means only the tour buses, for excitement, make the run on the way up to Hue over the old pass road....and the bus driver scared the crap out of the passengers taking a day tour to Hue. Me, I just stayed around ship and enjoyed the "old home week" visitation. Visited the Hanoi Hilton (a small section was retained as the museum). Rest of site was torn down and replaced be modern hi-rise tower. Prison itself was rebuilt out of the city. And the two rooms devoted to the American Criminal Pilots contains textual information that bares no semblance to my remembrance of history and is such that only Uncle Ho and Ms. Jane would be happy with the conclusions. Still, was worth the visit. Saw Uncle Ho's tomb..outside only/ SO, been there, seen that...no reason to go again.





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