Good morning — I woke up at 11. For some reason my social battery felt a bit low today, and since I had no plans to meet anyone, I decided to sightsee Saigon at my own pace.
First stop was the War Remnants Museum, which I had wanted to visit for a long time. I took a motorbike taxi for just 3 kilometers and was surprised at how cheap it was — only 100 yen.
Inside there were many Westerners, especially Americans, and there was even a Russian interpreter; I spotted a few Russians here and there. Outside, former tanks, planes, and howitzers were lined up.
When I put my hand on the tank's armor it felt as hard as stone, and imagining a shell hitting it made the horror of war hit me anew.
The exhibits inside continued, telling of the cruelty of the Vietnam War: Agent Orange, white phosphorus rounds, and nail-filled bombs.
Just looking at the photos made my chest tighten; my heart quietly ached at the tragic reality. Still, I felt respect for the soldiers. Seeing them with heavy guns, sinking into the mud, reminded me how fortunate my generation is.
Even after such history, Vietnam has remarkably rebuilt itself and achieved astonishing economic growth. The city's young people smile, and the street vendors cook happily. Seeing that, I felt this country has a strong sense of connection — a culture of mutual support rather than individualism, which might be tied to their sense of happiness.
Honestly, cruel images make me feel a bit down mentally, but it's also true that my desire to see and to know wins out. I learned a lot today, and my respect for Vietnam deepened. Everyone was so friendly and kind, full of smiles — it's hard to believe it's a communist country. So I truly felt that I like Vietnam.
After that I went to a nearby cinema and bought a ticket for Mission Impossible. I picked a center seat near the back, skipped the popcorn, and the price was only 390 yen. For a three-hour epic, that price was a bit surprising.
Then I went to Starbucks to write in my diary and do some work, and as the screening time approached I returned to the theater. When I tried to enter the auditorium someone said something in Vietnamese and there was a bit of a scolding vibe.
I replied in English, "Isn't it from 9pm?" but he couldn't speak English, and the woman at the counter came over and explained: "That's from 10pm." It made me realize I'd been acting with a Japanese mindset. I was a little embarrassed, but it was a good lesson. After she explained, the man gave her a thumbs-up and said "Good," which was somehow endearing and very Vietnamese.
The movie was awesome. For about two hours after watching it I felt like I was Ethan Hunt.
In the rain, wearing my Montbell jumper, I walked briskly down Saigon's night streets listening to the movie's theme music. It felt as if I myself were in the middle of a mission to save the world — you know?
