Factory employing those disabled by the legacy of the American war against Vietnam. Here they were making wine holders decorated with broken egg shells. This factory was on the way to the Cu Chi Tunnels

They did produce a rather high quality of work

Some of the lacquerware art work

Model of Cu Chi Tunnels showing placement of entrances, air vents and tunnels up to 3 levels deep

Briefing on location of Cu Chi Tunnels and American bases and how the tunnels were not detected by the Americans despite them being right under their base. Credit to American intelligence.

Typical entrance to the tunnel

Example of a dog trap to catch dogs brought in by the Americans. But the American soldiers kept falling in as well

Exit / air-vent from the tunnel - apparently one is placed every 300 metres or so

Our tour guide, Mr Binh, explaning the layout of the tunnels

An american tank used in the war. This tank sits where it was attacked

Fighting trench used by the Viet Cong

Mock up of one of the types of traps used by the VC

An example of a chair trap set up in the rice fields under water. Catches the legs when stepped into

Someone really needs to make a decision on what the real message should be

A B52 bomb crater - think they missed a target

Weapons firing hole

The same hole from within the tunnel

Going down a level in the tunnel

Crawling through the tunnel

Still crawling

Tunnel exit - metal stairs placed here for the benefit of tourist

Exiting the tunnel

Illustration of traps

Huyen Si Church not far from where we were staying in Saigon

The same Church seen from the hotel where we stayed

Typical street scene filled with motorbikes

Bit of a sad sight - tortoises, squirrels, baby mynahs, a moustached parrot and 2 very rare pygmy lorises for sale by the road.

Reunification Palace (formerly the Independence Palace of South Viet Nam)

T54 Tank - same model as the one that liberated the palace

F5 Freedom Fighter - same model as the one that liberated the Palace

Banquet room in the Reunification Palace

The Vice-President's Reception Room

Credentials Presenting Room

Le Duan Boulevard and Fountain in front of the Reunification Palace

Spare radio station

In the War Remnants Museum - sculpture made from bomb schrapnel

Selection of American tanks used in the war

Some structure somewhere we came across near the Notre Dame Cathedral

'Mini' Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon

Saigon Opera House

Statue of Ho Chi Minh in front of the People's Committee Hall

Close up of clock tower on the People's Committee Hall building

Just a tiny part of one of our dinners

Soft shelled crab (on tray) - when cooked, were absolutely delicious :-)

Array of beans and rices

Night restaurants beside the Ben Than Market

View of Saigon from the restaurant of the Elios hotel (where we stayed)

Sun rise view

Another view from the hotel

View to the street on which the hotel was located