Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City was the last major city we visited in Vietnam. The contrast from traditional Hanoi was very apparent. From the weather to the cultural vibe, the city just feels more modern and western than the rest of the country. Upon arrival, Laura was still suffering from illness (wet Hoi An day didn’t help) so we stopped by a recommended clinic to get her some meds. After getting her settled, I headed out for a culinary adventure. I hoofed it to nearby District 4 to visit one of the popular outdoor seafood restaurants. Shellfish are the specialty of these places so I ordered a compliment of scallops, snails, and hairy clams. Hardly a westerner was to be found at this place.

The next couple days we spent wandering the touristy area of District 1. The “War Remembrance Museum” was definitely a standout attraction. It documents the events of the American War from the Vietnamese perspective. While I don’t believe everything postulated by this museum, its undeniable some of the atrocities that were carried out by this country in the name of “freedom”. I certainly wish more people back home could get this kind of perspective.

By far my favorite experience in Saigon was something I booked early in the trip planning; the XO food tour. This tour provided personal motor bike transportation across several city districts and exposed me to foods and locations I would have normally never gone to. My motor bike driver was Chau and she was fantastic. The tour kind of climaxed with me eating the balut, a boiled duck embryo egg. Definitely sounds gross but like most things, not as bad when you try it. Honestly, it was like a meatier hard boiled egg.

Check out the highlights below and click any photo to see the full Google album.