On Thursday 13th December 3N visited the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens. We didn't go to see the animals but instead went to look at the many beautiful plants and trees that grow there. We visited the orchid house to see the smaller plants and looked at the roof and how this allows for sun, shade and fresh air to get to the plants. We then went to see a completely different type of plant environment - the cactus garden. The children noticed how this garden had lots of sun and little shade and also how the ground was sandy. Some of the cactus plants were very unusual looking. Then it was on to the monkey island to see the gibbons, but in particular to look at the 4 rainforest layers: 

forest floor, understory, canopy & emergent layers.

While we walked around we stopped to browse at the trees. We looked at the names of the trees in English and Vietnamese and also what they are used for: eg: medicine, furniture or fruit. Here are some pictures of us on our trip.