Brett and I went our separate ways today with me heading off on a short tour of an artists' village where we learned about the process of lacquer painting and then wandered among the scenic village on the banks of the Saigon river.
On the way back we passed several very strange looking houses which we learned had been recently built by wealthy citizens. Since taxes are paid by the frontage of the house they are all very narrow but several stories high and protected by high walls. Not very inviting.
Brett meanwhile walked down to Cholon (Chinatown) to visit some of the Chinese temples. The chaos of the evening before was replicated in Cholon and he said it was even difficult to walk because of the sheer numbers of pedestrians and scooters. It wasn't clear where they were headed.
I headed back into The center of Saigon and saw the beautiful Notre Dame and tour a brief tour of Reunification Hall, which served as the presidential palace until 1975 when the capital was relocated to Hanoi. It was much quieter today as most of the residents were headed out of town to spend New Year's with their families.
Notre Dame
Reunification Hall.
Now it's another day of sailing the South China Sea on the way to Sihanoukville in Cambodia.
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