Day 14 - Saigon

A day in Saigon

Yahoo ca phe sua da curbside

Duy, you sure this is your office?

Duy, you sure it's OK to take pictures?

Pat, how much is that diamond worth?

This is pretty good.  

I think it is worth more.

Duy, how many different steps are there?

Keep your hand steady. 

I think I got it!

I just finished making this tool.

Just window shopping dear!

Today we went to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and did some sightseeing.  Our photographer was our driver today so not to many pictures.


We met Duy, who is a diamond cutter and toured his office and workshop.  Duy was one of the first people I met when I came to Vietnam in 1999.  His office is on the street where he meets his customers and has some coffee.  Ca phe sua da is very strong coffee mixed with some sweet and condensed milk over ice.  It is great and I try to have it every morning and sometimes afternoon and evening.


After we had coffee we went up to Duy's workshop where he explained the whole procedure in cutting diamonds.  He claims it is very simple, but I didn't understand half of it.  He specializes in different kinds of cutting.  In one procedure he is the only person in all of Asia that can do it and the other procedure there is one other person in Vietnam that can do it.  A lot  of the equipment is very expensive so he makes it himself.  We were all quite impressed with Duy and his business which he just started 4 years ago.


Next door to Duy's work shop is An Dong Market where you can buy just about anything.  I went and had more coffee while the guys did some window shopping.


We were getting hungry and went to the Lion Restaurant in a 5 star hotel and enjoyed a huge buffet.  After lunch we drove around to see Saigon and Saigon South.  Saigon South is a completely new modern city.  Every where you look the are building skyscrapers, bridges, tunnel under Saigon River and many other things.  No recession here.


One more day in Saigon and then the guys will return to home.  Dale has to get home to retire from his job.  Phuc, our photographer, is making DVD's of all the pictures he took on this trip and I will bring them down to the guys in the morning.  Not to sure what they will do tomorrow.  They are in an area where all of the backpackers congregate and lots of foreigners.  Most of the people in this area speak English so they will do just fine.


See you tomorrow.