14 February. Lunar new year celebrations lots of red and yellow flowers everywhere...good luck and prosperity. Crazy traffic on way to our evening out, thousands of motor bikes and scooters everywhere, including the sidewalk if the road is blocked !!!!!! Lovely folk dancing and music in Majestic Hotel (Built while the French controlled the country) then a short bus ride to true Thai restaurant for some unusual but tasty dishes. 15 Feb Morning tour to a lacquer workshop......watched a demo, tracing a picture, crushing eggshells and mother of pearl painting and lacquering.....fascinating. Visit to the independence palace which is now a museum. The previous palace was French design. it has been replaced to reflect the Vietnamese culture. Tunnels in the basement house the war offices . Photo stop at the Post office and Notre Dame church(unfortunately under repair so we could not enter. Also visited Saigon Museum, history and culture explained. Last stop at a huge covered market. I may or may not have bought some Garam masala, language was a problem !

I just realized that this blog is under Nga Trang..............it should be Ho Chi Min City. Bother!

Friday 16.........the blog for Nga Trang Tour to Lang Nghe Truong Son Handicraft centre. sand painting, musical instruments, weaving, furniture (Bamboo and wood) ...and lots more all set in a beautiful garden. Long Son pagoda, very old, set on a hill therefore many steps ! Ponarger tower and temple. Once again too many steps, only 4 from our group of 24 made it to the top. Dam market, outdoor area sold clothing, indoor one mostly fresh and packaged food. Dried fish have a certain odour !!