DMZ tour

Yesterday it was HOT! 37 degrees C!

We went on the DMZ tour yesterday, driving around to see the old American military bases and learning more about the war. It was A LOT of driving, but it was really interesting. Our guide even told our fortunes by reading our palms...it was amusing!

Our guide descrbed the DMZ as a place where there was no fighting and no living. A place that was completely bombed out by the Americans. We could still see all of the bomb craters that farmers have turned into fishing holes! It made me sad to hear about the war, and about 'Agent Orange'...but it was interesting to say the least! Our guide told us that the older Vietnamese forgive the Americans but it is hard for them to forget. I don't blame them. From his stories it kind of put our visit to the War Museum in Hanoi into perspective. It made sense that all of the old people we saw there were primarily women, as a lot of husbands were killed. I found it interesting too though, because Vietnamese women volunteered to fight in the war as well or joined the war effort.

We also stopped at another ethnic minority village and walked through. All of the grubby kids came out and followed us, they really got a kick out of me taking pictures of them and showing them to them!

Our last stop on the tour was the Vinh Moc Tunnels, and WOW are they CRAZY! there are 3 levels of them, and I think the deepest one went 25m underground. Some 300 people hid there for over 6 years during the war. 17 children were even born under there. The tunnels are so long that the guide told us it would take 4 days to see all of them. They had everything, including family rooms where 2-4 people could sit, wells for fresh water, washing rooms, and maternity rooms. It was crazy! I couldnt imagine living under the ground in such confinement for 6 years!!!

Anwyays, today we are off to Hoi An, the silk capital of Vietnam! It is only a 2 hour bus ride or so....so fingers crossed we have more luck with transport this time!!!!