Trip to Saigon

Co Oanh took me to Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City with her on a business trip.  We toured Independence Hall and drank alot of coffee.  We just missed the big Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration, we barely caught the tail end of it.  

 Coffee culture is very popular in Vietnam, similar to that in Paris.  I'm posing next to the most expensive beans, which is only like .75 cents US a gram.

 I'm at a crowded Hue style restaurant.

 These are little rice cakes with minced shrimp and a pork rind on top.  Interesting.

 Another day, another coffee on the streets of Saigon.

 We went to Independence Palace for a day tour.  That place is huge.  It's where the former Presidents lived.

 I'm getting an educational tour on the Palace. Behind me is a bust of Ho Chi Minh, the former leader of Viet Nam.

 Vietnam's economy is growing so fast.  It's becoming a part of the global finance world.  Behind me you can see Bixteco Bldg, which is a new modern skyrise in downtown Saigon's financial district.

 This is a big meeting hall where the former President used to greet dignitaries.  I want to go in there.  But they won't let me sit in the chair because I'm not a President of any country.

 The cherry blossoms and yellow flowers celebrate the Lunar New Year, which just past.  There are red envelops in the flowers for good luck.  This carpet, with the dragons on it, is very old.

Finally, I was so good on the trip, that Co Oanh gave me some lucky money to celebrate Lunar New Year.  About time Co Oanh!