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Ton Son Nhut is still the major airport in Viet Nam, but now almost entirely civilian. At one time, those 40 year old hardened shelters that are still there housed F-100's, F-105's and F-4's. If you squint real hard, you can almost see them. Top pic also shows two Rooski helicopters. Most of the shelters now are empty, but a few house heli's, emergency equipment, and other stuff.

Thanks for sharing with us your travel exploits Ascout !!

I see that they got Pepsi now there as well !!


fled

- Uhu_Fledermaus

I see that they got Pepsi now there as well !!


fled

Yep...it's a "communist state" in name only. The icons like the red flags and Uncle Ho are just baubles to keep Ha Noi in power...it's a pure market economy on the capitalist model, regardless of what the rhetoric says....

~S~.......they all mature to our way dont they...lol..try to beat the crap out of the west, then " join " us...attacks come in many forms...psi warfare..if you cant beat them.....join them...then take over...lol...just wish poeple were not so stupid and gullible.......hey worship that, what ever the hell it is..there is money in it......................
Hammer

I tend to think of Communism as the vehicle on which they rode to re-unification, which ultimately was a good thing. And it's not like the Saigon regimes had anything to recommend them. Now, it's a communist state in name only....lest anyone doubt it...check out HCMC at night. Vegas or Disney?....you decide. Oh...and there's a KFC at the opposite end of the street. Really.
FYI, that's the historic Rex Hotel on the left, as photographed from the historic Caravelle hotel. Across the street to the right (out of view) is the historic Continental Palace hotel...where Graham Greene wrote "The Quiet American"...the recent remake of the film of which was shot here...the explosion scene in the square was there in the plaza where the round fountain is in front of the Rex. The Rex itself was bombed by the VC in '65...it housed American officers at the time. Reporters congregated at all three hotels. The HCMC "People's Commitee" is housed in the old palace in the distance. Just out of view is the Notre Dame Cathedral...I have those views elsewhere...and the National theatre is the one just in front of the Continental. The entire history of Saigon is pretty much right there outside my hotel....

Absolutely remarkeable pictures!!! So far different than what I would have imagined (the last two) while the first ones seem so timeless!

S! Ascout,

My neighbor and my Dads best friend lived next to us while he was stationed at Wright-Patt, when I was growing up. I remember my dad sending the old reel tapes to him while he was at Ton Son Nhut in the early 70's. He worked on the Recon F4's that took pictures, man what stories he had when he came back.

Thanks

Very cool pics (including the blade runner pics )

I second Stoops thoughts. I always thought the place was a pig Sty....Eh Hemm, I mean...well you know what I mean.

Judging by those night pics a guy like me could have a whole lotta fun in a place like that.

- fr8ycat

Very cool pics (including the blade runner pics )

I second Stoops thoughts. I always thought the place was a pig Sty....Eh Hemm, I mean...well you know what I mean.

Judging by those night pics a guy like me could have a whole lotta fun in a place like that.

Well, trust me, it only looks like that in the immediate area pictured. They know which side the bread is buttered on and this is where the better hotels are located...catering to tourism and business (and they are KEENLY interested in foreign investment and business!). Outside of this area looks like it always did....but with more commerce and traffic (LOTS more traffic). Reminds me of the streets of Manila.

Hue, on the other hand (the ancient provicial and imperial capitol) is MUCH more traditional. Most women in the graceful ao dai tunics and lots of straw hats. Much less "western" that HCMC, which is why I enjoy it more and because I served around there.

You are seeing the VERY BEST two block of HCMC in the pics I posted above. The "showcase", as it were. It is NOT typical....

- JG300-Ascout

You are seeing the VERY BEST two block of HCMC in the pics I posted above. The "showcase", as it were. It is NOT typical....

After a week deep in the darkest depths of Brooklyn I think I get your point.......!