Photo TR: Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden (Feb. 3, 2013)

[The Angry Darren Mullins]

Today I continued my exploration of parks in Vietnam. I went to the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden after learning that they had a few rides there. I got there and found about eight rides. Six of them are for adults. There is a drop tower here, a few spinning rides and a coaster called Roller Coaster. RC is a family ride that could actually thrill most enthusiasts.. I rode the coaster(3 circuits for $1 USD) and the Swing Around ride. I walked through the zoo and looked at animals and then left. It is an old zoo and some of the exhibits are showing their age, but it is still a nice place to go. Admission is only 60 cents in American money. The coaster here is not on RCDB or ACE's coaster census so that makes it the 149th coaster I have found before ACE and RCDB. Enjoy the photos.

 

*As a side note, the sex trade is as alive in Vietnam as it is in other parts of Asia and close to the zoo is the foreigner district with massage parlors and all sorts of bad characters. Today I was propositioned in a way I had never been propositioned before. First, it was women. Then it was ladyboys. Today, it was Vietnamese men. I have now reached a milestone. I have now been propositioned in 5 countries (six if you count Hong Kong and China as two separate countries). They are: USA, South Korea, Japan, China (mainland and Hong Kong) and Vietnam. 5, count em 5 countries.

I have arrived at the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden. This lotus greets visitors who arrive through one gate.

Here is the zoo's merry go round.

This is a very basic kiddie ride in one area of the zoo.

Swing Around was a bit slow and boring.

A Vietnamese made drop tower is located at the zoo.

A roller coaster called Roller Coaster is at the zoo.

It even says roller coaster on the lift. Maybe it is for people who do not know what a roller coaster is.

The train picks up a lot of speed through the helix.

Here is an action shot of Roller Coaster to close out the trip report.

[phongmartin]

I'm a Vietnamese and I love Saigon Zoo, i grew up with this zoo.

[The Angry Darren Mullins]

It is a very nice zoo. Vietnam is a lovely country.