Friday, February 9, 2018

Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

Today we slept in late, well deserved after an exhilarating yet exhausting week packed with activities, meetings, and classes. Upon waking up, we were craving American-style brunch, comfort food if you will. We traveled to District 1 to a brunch restaurant which served delicious Moroccan-style poached eggs, toast, and omelets. We couldn’t resist indulging in some classic Vietnamese drip coffee served black and sweetened with condensed milk. The food was outstanding and satisfied all our cravings for familiar American breakfast dishes.

Much needed American brunch

Our next destination was the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. We decided to take the long way, walking from the restaurant to the museum, and passing the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica along the way. The church was currently undergoing restoration so unfortunately we were not permitted inside, but the church was still magnificent on the outside. The church is located in a quiet corner of District 1 and stands as a relic from another time where French still occupied the city, motor bikes did not line the streets and the sidewalks, and the city was still officially referred to as Saigon.



Candid portrait at the Fine Arts Museum
Notre-Dame Basilica
We continued our journey on to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. The museum housed a truly captivating and beautiful collection of Vietnamese art. Beautiful sculptures and paintings lined the walls and filled the halls of an equally beautiful, sun-soaked, restored mansion from colonial occupation. Much of the art was inspired by Vietnam’s rich history, its colonial occupation, and its revolution. The collection showed a side of Vietnamese history and fine art that many of us had never been exposed to in the US. The art was thought-provoking and exquisite in both medium and subject matter.
After the museum, we met up with some of our Vietnamese friends. They took us to some of their favorite places to shop for clothes in District 1. After hitting an array of stores, we went to a large old building that was filled with more shops, coffee shops, and restaurants. To end the night we enjoyed a light dinner and iced tea on a balcony of a small restaurant overlooking Saigon. — Devon

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