War and more war

Friday 20 December

I had booked to go on a Cu Chi tunnel tour and was, as ever, somewhat apprehensive having read some of the Trip Advisor reviews. In the event, the tour had its strengths and weaknesses. We spent ages getting going, picking up people from this hotel and that and the journey – certainly getting out of Saigon – was not exactly scenic. However, once in the country, after the obligatory visit to a retail opportunity, it perked up.

On the way the guide introduced himself and gave an interesting account of the Vietnam conflicts from 1940 onwards. He had been a combatant on the southern side and was keen to emphasize that there were no winners. 

Once at the site itself, it all felt a bit rushed. However, in fairness, we were there about an hour and a half and maybe took in as much as one is going to remember. It was a good opportunity to soak up the utter determination of the VietCong, which is an almost incalculable advantage over an opposing army populated by a draft system.

Once back in Saigon I, along with several others from the tour went to the War Remnants museum. It contains a large collection of work by international war photographers as well as  two sections on the effects of Agent Orange. This chemical is attributed as the cause of a large number of horrific birth defects. Although American combatants have successfully gained compensation, it would appear that pleas by the Vietnamese for some international recompense have fallen on deaf ears.

The museum also contains descriptions and photographs of various forms of torture and, all in all, I came away feeling in less than the party mood.

In the evening, a young guy asked me to read through a letter he wanted to send with his visa application to join his Vietnamese girlfriend in Australia. I’m not sure my feedback skills are getting any better. It was entitled ‘a love story’ and went into great detail on how he hadn’t liked her at first and thought she was a bit thick; then she got better grades than him and he thought more of her. I tried to imagine the Australian immigration officer wading through it. Maybe it’s just what the doctor ordered but I have my doubts.