Commemorations and Con Dao

Another big week has been had, and it was a particularly good one, as I was on holidays.
It has been our final break before Term 4, which is a short six weeks, but also a busy one as the external exams begin tomorrow and their organisation are my domain.

The week began with Anzac Day, and I attended a very nice service here in Saigon at a campus of RMIT university (the site of the original AIS). The service was well attended and focussed not only on the past but also the current unrest worldwide. There were refreshments too - mini sausage rolls and lamingtons, yum.

The city has also been ablaze with posters and celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Victory Day - the fall of Saigon, which ended The Vietnam War. I was away on the actual day, but did see some of the floats from the parade rehearsal and I was fascinated by the posters. They remain in the old style of the propaganda posters with their bold colours and strong images.  

Victory Day Posters

The highlight for me however, was a trip to Con Dao Island, a relatively untouched oasis at just a 45 minute flight from Saigon. The island has an interesting past, as it was the penal colony from French colonial times and continued its operation until 1975.

A visit to the prison was quite confronting as it was a place of horrendous torture, reminiscent of S21 in Phnom Penh. The cemetery now houses many of the thousands who died there and it was a good location to wander and reflect on the hurts that people have endured. This was particularly poignant in a week that was focussed on commemorating wars, as well as the event of the Nepalese earthquake.

In contrast, the natural beauty of the island was nothing short of spectacular and the lack of overbearing tourist infrastructure was also refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed wandering the wide tree-lined streets of Con Son town with its many French colonial buildings, albeit a little dilapidated, and eating at local restaurants.


A day of snorkelling off one of the smaller islands was a real treat. The number and variety of vibrantly coloured fish was fantastic and the coral was also impressive. Perhaps not as good as in Fiji 35 years ago, but age could be tainting that view. The only downside was the sunburn to the back of my legs and arms! Ouch!!

Hiring a motor scooter to drive on empty roads with jungle covered mountains on one side and beautiful clear water on the other was a rare but welcomed way to travel. Lizards and monkeys were spotted and there was plenty of bird life too. But the pinnacle experience was clean deserted beaches with white sand and refreshing water. It was so nice to just be able to park your bike and go for a swim without any worries of your bike being nicked and to enjoy the lack of other human presence.

But did I mention that it was hot? VERY HOT!

Con Dao - a few more photos