In a Cu Chi Tunnel

There were 9 of us on a big AC bus to the Cu Chi tunnels, about 30 miles North of the city on the banks of the Saigon River. They are a massive series of tunnels used by guerrilla fighters of the Viet Cong in their resistance to the Americans and the Southern Vietnamese government. If you can find your own ride there, I would recommend going yourself instead of on a tour. Motorbike rental is probably the best way to tour. It is an interesting site but you can see the whole thing yourself in 1/2 hour. The guided tour takes 5 hours and takes you through more souvenir shops than exhibits.

Our tour guide was trying his hardest to sound like a cool slang talking American but he ended up coming off as a total ass. Even after asking him to move onto the next topic and explaining that he was rude and offensive he continued on his homophobic comedy routine. He eventually started in on how much he appreciated President Clinton for lifting the economic embargo on Vietnam in 1995 and that Obama is good too, for a "Chocolate Baby." I had to inform him that President Obama was not, in fact, made of chocolate and was actually a full grown man. Our tour guide at the tunnels was talking about one of the workers there and how much sex she will provide the men on the tour and for what price. Luckily for her she didn't understand what he was saying. They were obviously trying to be personable and casual but I was completely embarrassed that people like them think this is the kind of humor that typical rough and tumble Americans enjoy.

A must see is the War Remnants Museum. It shows in graphic detail the atrocities of the American war and its aftermath. 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war, 2 million of which were civilians. A lot of the museum is dedicated to showing the horrific birth defects caused by Agent Orange.

What I find very interesting is that the Vietnamese and Cambodians really like Americans despite our very recent past. It seems they are very focused on the present and enjoy our entertainment culture. Hollywood is the best ambassador we ever had.

I met three girls on the bus who were in the middle of vacations ranging from 6 months to a year. I love how Europeans travel. No, actually I love that Europeans travel, how they travel is another story. I can't do the whole dirty backpacker heavy drinking from one cheap tourist bar to the next. We and a couple other guys who were staying at their hotel all went out to dinner and for a couple drinks on a 7th floor rooftop bar. Vietnamese building are tall and thin. They have almost no footprint and are crammed in next to each other so there are no windows except in the front.