"Resilience in a Time of War" Ho Chi Minh City by wilocrek

While Ho Chi Minh City may not be the most picturesque of cities, it certainly has to stand as one of the most resilient cities in recent history. Despite enduring a horrific war that ravaged the city to its roots, the people of former Saigon have rebuilt their city through sheer determination. The true beauty of Ho Chi Minh City is two fold, a sombering reminder of the atrocities of war and an example of the power of the human spirit. The people of Ho Chi Minh have rebuilt not only the city but their pride in their culture and heritage.

The city is bursting with vitality and commerce, everywhere you look there is activity and life. In the backpacker section of the city hawkers offer tours and hosipitality, in the marketplaces the merchants stalls are filled to the brim. Near the center of the city there are remnants of the war that stand proudly as symbols of resiliency rather than as scars. The War Remnants Museum will leave most visitors in tears whereas the Reunification Palace serves to remind visitors of the strength of the Vietnamese people. There is much to see and experience, from crawling through the impossibly narrow Chu Chi Tunnels to eating delicious Vietnamese delicacies at the many different restaurants that are scattered throughout the city. Although this wonderful city serves as a brief stopever on the way to Angkor Wat be sure to not miss out on the many hidden jewels this proud city has to offer.