Just walk across

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) excited but not really knowing what to expect. Many other backpackers didn't like Vietnam much, finding it too much of a hassle: too many people, too many touts, and we'd heard a few times that the people here aren't so friendly. I don't know what they were smoking.. We're loving it! The food is incredible, the Vietnamese coffee is the best is Asia, the people are friendly, and the beer is good. The only disappointing thing is that the language is so freakin hard to pronounce (for me).

Vietnamese drip coffee

When we first arrived, 35 years after the brutal and pointless American war (as they call it), I wondered how much resentment the people might have for Americans. While looking for accommodation, a tout asked where I'm from. "American? Ohhhhhhhh.....", he said, making me a little uncomfortable as he drew it out, "My brother lives in California!"

We found a guesthouse in a maze of alleys near the touristy area. Despite the guesthouses, the alleys were full of culture. Old men sit around with no shirts, women sell phở (Vietnamese noodle soup) from small carts, a pile of Durian for sale, little kids running around, motorcycles squeezing through, and constant barrage of sounds, mostly a mix of motorcycles and Vietnamese.

The city is bustling. It's a great city, full of colors and people, and teaming with life. Janet and I both agreed that it reminds us of a less developed Hong Kong, just take away HKs high-rises and turn each car in HK into 40 or 50 motorcycles. A few days here and we started rethinking our plans to leave Vietnam in three weeks.

Crossing the street is an adventure. We'd heard from multiple people in our travels that there are so many motorcycles that there is never a chance to cross the street. Just walk across and they'll miss you, we were told. We were a little skeptical, but insane as it sounds, that really is how to cross the street in Saigon. Just do it reallly slowly, or stick to a local, and the traffic flows around you like a stream flowing around a rock. It's quite an experience.

I just crossed this street

Parking area

Taking a moto (motorbike taxi) - that's Janet on the right.

"I'm size 8."