This morning was the last day in Saigon so it seemed like a bright idea to pilfer a bunch of items form the free breakfast for the train ride. I'd see just how fantastic that idea would turn out to be later on.
Random beautiful park .
I can't quite figure out what this rats nest of cables is for, but it would appear to be telephone/internet. They were everywhere, and quite terrifying to walk under. Most people in Vietnam (like Asia in general) are on the shorter side - they just don't really plan for 6'1" people, so sometimes...you can catch cables things on the top of your head. If you're tall, that is. Like me.
In search of the ever-elusive postcards, it was time to go to Cua Bac Market. Most Asians don't really see the point in sending postcards, it seems, so they're few and far between.
This market was an amazing place regardless of the post card situation.
One could buy shoes.
Glass wear.
Produce/food.
In all that, there were exactly zero postcards. Oh well, back to the streets.
Lunch consisted of another do-it yourself traditional Vietnamese wrap fest.
Finally, at the Central Saigon post office, of all places, they had postcards!
By this time it was late afternoon, and the train to Da Nang didn't leave for several more hours. Energy was running low, so a place with Wi-Fi and treats seemed just about right.
Argh! I need a haircut!
Right next to this Highlands Coffee shop was the Diamond Department store, decorated to the max with Tet decorations. Ironically, this pantheon to capitalism was DIRECTLY across the street from the Communist Central Committee for District 1 building I showed in a previous post. I find this to be one of the most ironic and absurd things I've ever come across.
This wad of money is only worth about $120 US.
A stroll along the Saigon riverfront promenade highlighted these amazing river-boats, mostly used for dinner. I'm not sure if they actually cruised the river or not.
Saigon Opera House where some special event was going on, but not sure what. Looked like the Oscars.
Hotel Continental, where many a Vietnam War era journalist spent their days and nights.
Back at the hotel, or at least next door was a rooftop bar. Once again, trying to order white wine was a bit of a mystery, so it was one last 333 beer.
Well don't I look like a dirty American tourist hippy.
A taxi ride to Ga Sai Gon, and I was about ready to leave. Or so I thought.
Neat old Soviet/Chinese era steam locomotive perched out front of the train station.
Inside the relatively small Saigon train station waiting room. None of it really made much sense.
Finally the doors opened and they let us out to the platform in a mad rush. Of course that train across from everyone is NOT the SE4, 11:00PM train to Hanoi, it's the SE12, 11:30PM to Hanoi.
10:45 - this is not our train.
11:45, THIS is our train.
Another mad rush to get on the train. Seriously, we're going to be on this smelly thing for 14 hours. Why is everyone so anxious to get on? Oh, that's right - we stood around on the platform for over an hour waiting.
Soviet/Chinese era finery. Dirty cabin walls, dim lightbulbs, and what sounded like Vietnamese Communist Party music from a tinny speaker! Of course we figured out how to turn that off in short order.
These were "soft sleepers", with mattresses about 3 or 4 inches thick, 4 bunks to a cabin. Fairly comfortable, all this considered.
Goodbye, Saigon!
