We traveled from the South China Sea to the Thi Vai River in Vietnam and docked at the Cai Mep industrial port. Drummers and dragon dancers entertained the passengers while immigration officials cleared the ship. Our day 1 excursion was to Vung Tao, a seaside city of 450,000 that is about 2 hours south of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We visited the Niet Ban Tinh Xa Buddhist pagoda; the Villa Blanche, a colonial era mansion used by the French Governor as a retreat in the early 1900s; a fresh fish market, the large statue of Christ the King of Vung Tao atop Mount Nho; and then had a refreshment stop at the beach. Temperature was about 92 F, but the humidity wasn't bad, so it didn't feel that oppresive.
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dragon dancer 25 feet in air on a pole
outside our docked ship |
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| altar at the Buddhist pagoda in Vung Tao |
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| squid and octopus for sale at the fresh fish market |
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Christ the King statue at top of Mount Nho,
one of the largest in the world (120 feet tall) |
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| A busy day at the beach in Vung Tao (water was delightfully warm) |
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| Musicians and dragon dancers entertaining the ship as we docked in Cai Mep |
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| Buddha statue in Nirvana pose |
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| Friendly Vietnamese family outside the White Palace |
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