Miss Saigon

Saigon is actually the name of Ho Chi Minh City in the olden days.
The 1st thing that struck me with deep impression as we made our way from the HCMC International Airport to Sheraton Hotel:
There are so MANY MANY Motorbikes/Scooters on the road!!! It's unbelievable and kinda SCARY too!!!
There are few traffic lights on the road and the lights are either not working or no one bothers to stop @ the red light.
You see Gardens/Parks everywhere, but it's not those nice 'manicured' sprawling English gardens type.
Walking through the streets near the hotel area, it's an interesting mix of architecture. One moment you have the boring communist-design state buildings, etc and then the rows of shophouse buildings in the smaller roads remind you of the country's french colonial past.
The ladies dressed in "Áo Dài" still manage to look elegant riding their scooters. The vietnamese national dress flatters a lady's figure. Nice! : )

Cu Chi Tunnels
The Viet Cong's ingenous guerrilla combat tactics vs the 'sophisticated' U.S. Army during the vietnam war in the 1970s.
As the guide leads you thru' the grounds, you can't help thinking to yourself "Now, who are the intelligent fighters and real survivors." That's what the amercian tourists were heard chuckling to themselves. :P
The width of the opening into the tunnel is so tiny. When you are almost near the end of the tour, there's a "bigger version" of the tunnel for the tourists to try. Less than 1 minute crawling into the tunnel, i chickened out coz it's too claustrophobic, and i had difficulty breathing inside the tunnel. :( Can't imagine what it's like in the real thing and living in that tunnel system for long periods.

Got CONNED Again! :(
Venue: Ben Thanh Market
We were @ this Bags stall, and she quoted me US$15. Too expensive. I decided to walk away without bargaining. She called after me, asking me to quote my price. "US$10?"
She went in to ask her boss, 5 sec later she came out "Ok, US$10. You very nice, ma'am"
SHE <-- grinning happily as she packed the bag, and @ the same time striking conversation with me.
ME <-- satisfied that i got the bag @ lower price.

Continued browsing the other sections, and we came to another Bags stall. Beng wanted to buy several bags as x'mas prezzies for her family. As i waited for Beng to choose the designs, i spotted the same bag.
"This bag, how much?"
"US$7, ma'am" (No wonder, BagGirl #1 was smiling happily as she was wrapping my purchase!!)
Beng heard the conversation. Smiled sympathetically, pointing @ the carrier in my hand and quipped (tongue in cheek), "That's your US$10 lesson in vietnam"

... my lack of experience in bargaining with these stall owners targeting tourist monies *sighz*