My first trip in 2008 was to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Travelling during the holidays is always a pain from Hong Kong since everyone does it and the prices go through the roof. Vietnam is an emerging popular destination for Hong Kongers who have otherwise been to the likes of Thailand, Taiwan, and Shanghai too many times. So lately a lot of us have ventured to Vietnam.

1. Vietnam has a French colonial history, and the architecture still shows today. Here's the Notre Dame Cathedral.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4649.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4645.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4646.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4615.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4613.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4621.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4629.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4630.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4624.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4633.jpg

11. Across the street stands another colonial-style building - Central Post Office.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4634.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080103/IMG_4641.jpg

13. The interior seems something from a long lost era though, complete with the portrait of Ho Chi Minh.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080102/IMG_4396.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080102/IMG_4389.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080102/IMG_4405.jpg

16. North of the city is the popular tourist attraction - Cu Chi Tunnels, a network of over 200 km of tunnels which extend up to the Cambodian border. This underground city was used to fight the Americans during the Vietnam War, but was definitely not a luxurious place to live for a couple of years. You pretty much need to crawl your way around the maze of tunnels.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5014.jpg

17. This is a trap. Don't step on it.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5022.jpg

18. Told you not to step on it. You're now dead. Those long nails are very pointy.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5025.jpg

19. How many of you can squeeze into that entrance?

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5032.jpg

20. Now you don't see me.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5030.jpg

21. Life in the jungle isn't always a pleasant experience.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5039.jpg

22. Captured ... Americans

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5053.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5060.jpg

24. Air hole disguised by a rock.

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5085.jpg

25. Ammo for souvenirs, anyone?

http://www.globalphotos.org/vietnam/20080104/IMG_5087.jpg

More photos in my new Ho Chi Minh City galleries :
http://www.globalphotos.org/hochiminh.htm