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Editor's note: This excerpt first appeared in photographer and author Harold Davis' recent Focal Press book, Photographing Flowers: Exploring Macro Photography with Harold Davis.
The closer you...
Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is a large crowded city that bustles with activity.
There are several museums that depict the communists' point of view of their
history, which are rather interesting. The Dong Khoi region of town is designed
for tourists and features many fine restaurants and hotels. For those who are not
super-rugged, this is a good place to set up base camp.
Where We Stayed
Oscar Hotel - This is a popular $35/day hotel in the center
of town (Dong Khoi region, referenced above) with AC, hot water, excellent
service and rooms similar to that of a USA-based Holiday Inn. Note that floors 7
through 11 are noisy due to a 12th floor dance hall and a large stair well that
channels sound from 12 to 7 through 11. A large additional stairwell door between
11 and 12 would fix this problem, yet management may take another 10 years to
figure this out. Another easy to solve problem is the very cold lobby
temperatures (65F/18C) that are probably set by a crazy manager that needs very
low temperatures to keep from sweating. The advantage of the Oscar Hotel is the
included breakfast buffet that features many common breakfast foods, including
breads, cereal, fruits, omelets and chicken/noodle soup, made to order. For
details, search "Oscar" at www.asia-hotels.com.
What We Did
The War Remnants Museum (formerly known as the "Museum of American and Chinese
War Crimes") features the Communist's version of the Vietnam War (which they call
"The American War")
Personal Reflections
Amanda: HCMC is a huge lively city, with lots of shopping and
museums and some very aggressive salespeople, are trying to sell sell sell sell
sell you something. Everywhere I heard choruses of "Madame.Madame. Madame. You
buy Madame. Look. You. Madame. Where you go? Madame." If there is one thing I
will never forgive the French for, it is bringing the word 'madame' into Vietnam.
First of all, that's Mademoiselle to you, and second of all, Leave me ALONE!!
However, that is their job. I now have more postcards of HCMC than I can count.
One lady really wore me down selling her postcards. No no no, I don't want to buy
postcards. Then another lady approached - Buy postcards!! I was so tired of being
chased by the first one that I said OKAY already, I'll buy some postcards!!
Instantly the first lady was right back on me: Why did you buy postcards from her
and not ME??!! Okay okay - I ended up with a lot of postcards that day.
Glenn was terribly ill with pneumonia in HCMC, so I came to know the city in a
unique way. I learned where to get REAL Gatorade (imperative drink for sick
persons),and where all the pharmacies in our neighborhood were. Luckily we were
staying in a prime location, near a grocery store and near the SOS International
Health Clinic. The SOS Clinic was located near the very huge Notre Dame
Cathedral, in front of which stood a statue of Mary, and whenever I passed her I
would ask her to take care of Glenn (which she did!) Sometimes when Glenn was
sleeping in the afternoon I would go out and visit various museums. I also
located the best 3 vegetarian restaurants in town and several terrific cafes, not
to mention tracking down the only source of whole wheat baguette in the whole
city. Important stuff!!
There was one interesting character I met in HCMC who deserves mention - Tommy
the travel agent. He was the most helpful travel agent I've ever met. Because of
Glenn's illness, we had to change our travel plans several times, and every time
he responded with a very sincere "Okay, no problem" and at the conclusion of
every conversation he said "And please, I hope you enjoy your stay in Vietnam."
One time I asked Tommy how he had learned English so well. In school, he said,
and also from his father. His father had lived in the US for 10 years during the
war. He was a spy for the VC, Tommy told me. "The US thought he was spying for
them - they even sent him to the US for schooling - but the whole time he was
really spying for the VC." His uncle too fought on the side of the VC, losing an
arm for his efforts. I asked Tommy if the Vietnamese veterans of the war ever
suffered psychological trauma or PTSD like the veterans in the US do. No, he
said, not really. Why not? I asked him. "Well, for one thing," he said, "we
won....But no problem...." He waved his hand in a circle in the air and explained
with a smile, "All friends now." And still smiling, he added earnestly "Please,
enjoy your stay in Vietnam."
