cooperman88

This is the ‘War Remnants Museum in downtown Saigon. It wasn’t always called that. It opened in 1975 and was called ‘The Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes’. In 1990 it became ‘The Exhibition House for Crimes of War and aggression‘.In 1995 the US normalised trade relations and it became ‘The War Remnants Museum. It is obviously very politically biased. Very cheap to get in (about £1.00), allow a whole day – closes for lunch about 1130-1330. Not for the squeamish = especially the floor dedicated to the use of the Dioxin poisonous herbicide – ‘Agent Orange’.

This is the ‘Reunification Palace’ so renamed in 1974 when one of these came knocking at the front gates.

No one answered so it simply knocked the gates over and came in anyway. The North Vietnamese soldiers were country lads who’d never seen a flush toilet, didn’t know what they were and so dug latrines in the grounds. The president – had he been there could have escaped in this.

Which was conveniently garaged on the roof of the palace. Or this-

Or even this-

Unfortunately President Diem, wasn’t in because he was dead. Shot along with his brother Mr Nu, in the back of a military vehicle by rebellious Generals in Early November 1963 after the CIA approved a coup, because Diem wasn’t doing what he was told to do by the USA.

Vietnam is the second biggest producer of coffee in the world, a close second to Brazil. It was introduced into the country by the French (who else?) in 1857. About 97% of the coffee is ‘Robusta’.

This is a ‘hyper-cool modern coffee shop with some large graffiti art done on corrugated roofing panels – It’s so cool I can’t remember the name of it and I only went there this morning! It’s my age.(again)

Ca -phe sua da is basically an iced coffee in a long glass sweetened with condensed milk – sort of like a liquid Mars bar or maybe ‘rocket fuel’.

Ca-phe sua nam is a warm to hot shot of very strong coffee also with condensed milk. It is usually served in a metal filter called a Phin. Served in a small glass shot glass or a normal small cup.

I’ve no idea!

It has a very interesting Toilet

Not sure about the thing in the middle!

No idea what’s in the ‘Ladies’ didn’t want to get arrested!

There are some really interesting ‘Retro’ coffee shops springing up.

‘Cua Hang’ means ‘Shop’ – Ca Phe (Two words) – means coffee! imaginative or what!

This is where I spend my time, usually in the mornings when I’m awake, writing my epic books. The big round green thing is a coconut, you drink the water then scrape out the soft white fleshy stuff – delicious. The tall glass on the left is Ca-Phe Sua Da. The glasses with what looks like something from the above toilets in them are actually – iced tea- called ‘Tra – da’ this is given as a free side order with any drink you buy. One of the more pleasing Vietnamese traditions.

And finally

Fancy a blast in the Jag love? It ain alf a goer!

You may have seen in the press that Vietnam has some CV positives after 99 days. Everyone back into masks , the government are pretty efficient here and have drafted in huge resources into Da Nang and trace and test. so everyone Saigon is hoping that we wont have to go into full lockdown again.

Stay safe – love and peace – John