Reunification Palace
Saigon has sprouted high rise buildings, trendy cafes and shopping malls since my last visit in 1999 Two of the sites we visted were the Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Both places provide a historical perspective of the “American” was from the Vietnamese persepective. The Reunification Palace was the headquarters for South Vietnam. Now it is open when it is not used for offical receptions. The War remnants museum is also known as the Chinese and American “War Crimes” museum shows the brutally of war, more specifically the war in Vietnam.
Most travellers stay in the Pham Nhu Lao area which makes for a 800 meter by 800 meter backpacker ghetto. Venture beyond the 800 meters on an side and you will find regular Saigon city life. Also, hotels and restaurants are expanding beyond the area and the experience is more mixed in that local people are living next to the hotel and restaurants.
We booked our train tickets from Hue to Hanoi from the train ticket office on Pham Ngu Lao street and also our bus tickets to Dalat from the Phuong Trang bus office next to the coffee shop at the corner of Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham.
