From Saigon we decided to try and make an effort to do things our way, away from the tours if possible. All started well when we got a bus out to the main bus station, with a sniggering bus conductor who told us to get off way too early….we didn’t quite get the joke, but did get another bus! Then on to a bus heading in to the Delta, to Ben Tre. We seemed to have managed to get away, with very few tourists around, few restaurants with English menus (possible shot in the foot!), and no hassling from touts etc. Found a hotel solely inhabited by hammock swinging staff so couldn’t be bad! Ben Tre itself wasn’t that pretty, but had a good friendly vibe and the ubiquitous bustling market complete with live fish and vast quantities of wierd and wonderful fruit….also had a supermarket which got Rach quite excited as first we’d seen (and subsequently toured!) since China.

On the first day we wandered over a bridge to the far side of the river and found a lovely network of narrow concrete paths and little bridges, winding through the canals and paths, past loads of houses – most verybasic but some quite impressive concrete ones – there seems to be some money in Ben Tre, probably helped along by a spanking huge suspension bridge which everyone is banking on bringing in more investement, and a lot more tourists, in to this traditionaly very poor area. Everywhere we wandered, the cutest little kids voices rang out with ‘hello, hello’- to be a common theme from now on. After this great wander, the next day we got bikes and headed off in to the conryside over the river again, passing loads of small villages, and smiles…and many more hello’s! Stopped for a drink at one little shop where we soon attracted a group of the local women who seemed very taken with Rach’s skin and healthy glow, and my legs! They continued to talk to us for a good 30 mins, the language barrier no problem to them. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday I spent in Saigon. First I took a taxi to the War Remnanats Museum – what an upsetting experience. If you think Mai Lai was an isolated incident think again! Quite how the Americans justified killing and disembowelling 3 boys aged 10, 8 and 6 I will never know. Several war reporters witnessed civilians being shot by US marines. It seems to have been an every day occurrence. The Vietnamese claim that of the 3 million vietnamese that died only 1 million were soldiers. Anyone who beleives that modern warfare is any different is living in a fools paradise. Not every Iraqi was a Saddam supporter or a member of Al Quaeda – most of the ‘collateral’ ocivilian damage in any war wanted what we all want peace, security and happiness.

The photographs don’t pull any punches and you can’t help but be affected by it. All credit to the Vietnamese they show the war from both sides as well as neutral Japanese photographers who covered the war too.
Agent Orange is still claiming victims as the high levels of Duioxins used to make it affect unborn children causing hideous deformities and mental issues.

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