Continuing our two-week trip with Matt’s brother, we headed to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from Siem Reap.
Cu Chi Tunnels
After landing in Ho Chi Minh City, we were picked up by a driver and guide then whisked away outside the city to go to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels are located about 70 km outside of the city. Once we arrived our guide took us to a large hut, that was almost underground, to watch a film on the tunnels and the history of the Vietnam War. About ten minutes in, Lily had enough and wanted to run around since she had just been on a plane and then in a van, she wanted to exhaust her energy.
We met our guide again and he took us around to the different exhibits and explained the different uses of the tunnels and how the tunnel system worked. At one point the guide demonstrated how the tunnels were used, by ducking down into one. It seemed like an optical illusion. How was this guy going to fit in there? He somehow managed to do it and then he asked Matt if he wanted to try. I kept thinking, there is no way Matt will fit, he’s bigger than our guide. Somehow, with instruction by the guide, Matt was able to go all the way under and come out successfully, but he said it was quite tight and he didn’t think anyone taller than him could fit in there and get out without help! As we continued to tour the grounds we some of old relics of the war, such as the remains of an American tank, spike traps, and how the tunnels were used for everyday life.
This was definitely a kid-friendly tour, as there is a ton of space for kids to run around while the adults get to learn about history. There was plenty of hands-on activities to engage them as you progress through the tour. It is quite a bit of walking, so be cautious of that for little ones. Just remember that South Vietnam is hot year-round so make sure the kids have enough water and if you bring an infant to prepare for extreme heat, in some cases.
War Remnants Museum
The next day we went to the War Remnants Museum, which is very interesting and pretty daunting. It exhibits the time of the Vietnam War and the First Indochina war (with the French). There were many different exhibits surrounding the war to include agent orange, captured Americans, daily life during the war, and the after-effects of the war.
On the top level of the museum, there is a play area for kids, which is where Lily spent her time. Some of the images were too gruesome for a toddler and she was much happier in that area anyway, plus it was air conditioned.
I found the stories of the prisoners to be interesting and to read how some have returned to Vietnam. These to include John McCain and Douglas Brian “Pete” Peterson. John McCain who of course served as a U.S. Senator and Pete Peterson became the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.
For history buffs, this is definitely a must-see attraction in Ho Chi Minh City. For people with little kids, it’s probably not on the top of the list to see, but should be considered for the adult’s sake as it is interesting.
Snow Town
After spending so much time in the hot temperatures of Cambodia and Vietnam, we chose the last day’s activity to be a chilly one. We took a car quite far away from the center of city to a complex that had a place called Snowtown. You can rent boots and jackets from them, since it’s always hot in Ho Chi Minh City and who would bring snow gear to the tropics? The music was loud and it was fun to play in the snow and sled down the hill, even though Lily was scared after she went down. Every thirty minutes or so, fake snow bubbles fall down from the ceiling! After less than thirty minutes of arriving, it started to get super crowded as a local school group came in so we headed over to the playground area where Lily spent some time in the ball pit. It probably took us longer to get to and from Snowtown, then the time we actually spent in there, but it was a fun excursion for some of us! I would recommend this for families as a day to escape the heat, historical tours and the overall chaos of Ho Chi Minh, to just relax and take a race down the snow hill.
Overview
Even though we didn’t spend that much time in Ho Chi Minh City, we did as little and as much as we wanted to in order to enjoy ourselves. We also ventured to some good restaurants, visited the night market to pick up some good souvenirs and knock-off goods, and enjoyed another afternoon by the pool of our hotel (Somerset).
Next up on this trip: Phuket and Krabi, Thailand.
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