Day 12- Ho Chi Minh City

In Ho Chi Minh, we discovered the infamous Cu Chi tunnels, legendary for the vital part they played during the Vietnam War. We took a half day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels with a local guide. With some free time in the afternoon, we took time to sightsee or shop. Some tried their hand at bargaining at the Ben Thanh Market, while others hired a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) for sightseeing or to take a boat ride on the Saigon river. 

Cu Chi
Today at Cu Chi, we took a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Those who were not too clausrophobic tried crawling through some of the tunnels. These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.

War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum, a gut-wrenching but worthwhile experience that includes three storeys of exhibits and military hardware was our next stop. We learned about the devastation that occurred in Saigon during the Vietnam War, a period that greatly contrasts the joy and liveliness of the Vietnamese people today. 

Reunification Palace Entry 
We wandered the historic halls of the Reunification Palace (Independence Palace), a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City. This former home of the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War became the location of the end of the war when a North Vietnamese tank pushed through the palace gates on April 30, 1975.​

Dam Sen Water Park Visit 
Get away from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City at this nearby water park. A lush setting and refreshing water make Dam Sen the perfect place for the whole family to cool off and have some fun--splash around or take a ride down one of the slides. ​