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CURRENTS
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Reunification Hall, the former Palace of the South Vietnamese president, is an impressive historical site. This was the target of Viet Cong troops when they entered the city in April 1975. Many Americans remember the televised scenes of a North Vietnamese tank crashing through the palace gates, and a soldier unfurling the Viet Cong flag from an upper balcony. South Vietnamese officials were evacuated by helicopter, and the helicopter is on display on the 3rd floor heliport. You can also view the conference and receiving rooms, the presidential family's living quarters, entertainment facilities, underground bunkers and command rooms. A video presentation that focuses on the French and American wars is available for viewing. Guided tours and a traditional music performance are available at certain times.
The Museum of History houses an excellent collection displayed chronologically, that covers the various cultures in Vietnam from the Bronze Age Dong Son civilization through the Chams, the Khmers, and the Vietnamese. Of particular note is the extensive pottery collection. A Water Puppet Show is shown several times daily; don't miss it! Ben Thanh Market and the surrounding streets are one of the city's liveliest, most bustling marketplaces. The range of goods for sale is quite amazing and includes vegetables, fruits, meat, spices, clothing, household items, hardware, lacquerware, and books. The market is located a half mile southwest of the Rex Hotel at the intersection of Le Loi Boulevard, Ham Nghi Boulevard, Tran Hung Dao Boulevard, and Le Lai Street. Of the many pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City, Giac Lam Pagoda is believed to be the oldest, dating from 1744. Ten monks live at this Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda which also incorporates aspects of Taoism and Confucianism. Outside the main building there is a bodhi tree that was a gift from Sri Lanka and a white statue of the goddess of mercy. Inside there are funeral tablets, portraits of deceased monks, countless gilded figures, and a large bell with lists of names attached. Prayer times (11:00am -12:00pm and 4:00pm - 5:00pm) are particularly interesting because of the use of drums, bells, and gongs in the traditional ceremony. The Cu Chi Tunnels were built over a period of 25 years by the Viet Minh in their fight against the French. They were repaired and extended by the Viet Cong as they fought the South Vietnamese and American forces in the 1960s. All of the tunnels in this 124-mile network were dug by hand. No timber or concrete was used to give them stability. The tunnel network is several stories deep and includes innumerable trap doors, living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers, and kitchens. Initially the tunnels were used as a means of communication between villages and as hiding places when the French army made sweeps through the area. Later they were used for mounting surprise attacks against the American and South Vietnamese troops and for infiltrating agents into Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding areas. Tay Ninh serves as the headquarters of one of Vietnam's most interesting indigenous religions, Caodaism. The Cao Dai Great Temple at the sect's Holy See is one of the most striking structures in all of Asia. The cathedral is built in Chinese-Vietnamese style blended with a variety of other architectural influences. The nave has columns decorated with dragons and many statues, with multicolored decorations throughout. Above the altar hangs a giant sphere containing the divine eye of Cao Dai with an eternal flame. Cao Dai's religious philosophy is a blend of Asian religions (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism) mixed with Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, as well as animism and Theosophy. Services are conducted at 6:00am, 12:00pm, 6:00pm and 12:00am. Other points of interest in Ho Chi Minh City are Notre Dame Cathedral, the
former U.S. Embassy, Emperor of Jade Pagoda, the Cholon (Chinatown) district,
and the Museum of the Revolution.
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