Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC aka Saigon): The day began at 3:30 am to catch a 6:00 am flight from Danang to Saigon. Armed now with my knowledge of the evil taxi driver ways, I was ready to face Saigon head on. I was somewhat delayed at the Saigon airport since someone had taken my luggage by mistake. I waited around the only bag left on the carousel and sure enough, someone came back to pick up their bag and was kind enough to return my bag. I got out to the taxi stand and was looking for the gentleman in a green shirt. I asked him to tell the taxi driver where I was headed and he confirmed that I shouldn’t pay more than $10 (210,000 VND). We got to the hotel and even though the meter said 120,000 VND, he insisted I pay 210,000 VND! Well…it took me two instances of being ripped off but damn if I was going to let it happen a 3rd time. I got my bags out of the car and on the sidewalk and let the negotiations begin. After 5 minutes of going back and forth, we settled on 140,000 VND ($1 more than the meter). I am still unclear on who pays the tolls. The guide books say the drivers have to pay them while the bellhop said I should pay it. I figured a $1 wasn’t going to kill me. I finally won one! Taxi drivers: 2 vs Chris 1.
Since I got to the hotel at 8am, the room wasn’t ready so they sent me over to the tour desk that tried to overcharge me for a ½ day sightseeing package. (Defenses going up). I passed on all of them and left my bags, grabbed a map and began exploring on my own. Right out the door, I was flooded by touts (those guys always chasing after you to sell you something or someone). Defenses rising a bit higher now. Walking down to Notre Dame Church, consisted being accosted by no less than 20 cab drivers. I ducked into some high end stores but sure enough, they were there when I got back to the street. (Getting super defensive now). I visited the church and then over to the Presidential Palace renamed the Reunification Palace. This is the iconic building from the 60s & 70s that was always in the media. It was bombed once in the early 70s by a rouge South Vietnamese pilot as well (see photos). The basement is pretty much left intact with all of the old communication gear and desks. After that, a quick walk over to the War Remnants museum. Even though it was a bit on the propaganda side, it did give an insight into lots of things that I was unaware of.
By this time it was noon and I was hungry. I walked into a restaurant and it seems that everything is about 1/3 more expensive here than throughout the rest of Vietnam. I am staying on their version of the Magnificent Mile so it might just be the neighborhood. Paying twice the amount for a beer took me over the top. I decided that after 19 days of “going native” I was going to take a break and go “Western”. I headed to the mall, had a ham pizza, pepsi and then went to the movies – White House Down. Who would have thought that was all I needed to recharge my batteries? So much for my gripes, going back to native again tomorrow.
