snapshots: saigon

15th - 19th February 2012

Saigon, Vietnam

Approaching this fine city there is one building which dominates Saigon's skyline; towering above its inferior rivals like a vast juggernaut. The Bitexco Financial Tower is the second largest in Vietnam after the Keangnam Landmark Tower in Hanoi and when getting lost here - which happened to me a great deal - it's a useful landmark to get your bearings as it can be seen for miles around. And yes, that is a helicopter pad at the top.

The location of Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City is a metropolis on the rise, figuratively and literally. The skyline is expanding by the minute due to new investment and as a result it's become an exciting city full of high aspirations.

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup. It is primarily served for breakfast although it can be eaten any time of day, the noodles are made from rice and served with basil, lime, mint and bean sprouts. This was my regular while staying in Saigon.

Two ladies taking a break from selling books on the streets. They are absolutely relentless in central Saigon and patrol the streets in vast numbers. On my first night, along with the Da Lat girls and some Canadian lads I first met in Hanoi, we all went for dinner together and while sat at the table we were constantly hassled by ladies such as these trying to sell us fake photocopied books! I did actually end up buying The Rum Diary so I guess there is method in their madness.

Like Hanoi, there are thousands of scooters that swarm the city.

The Vietnamese Banksy?

Got chatting to these German chaps one night at a bia hoi stand (post to follow) and they told me about a Vietnamese horror play that was being shown the following night which sounded like something I absolutely had to see. The opening of the play started in complete darkness. Suddenly a beam of white light flooded the stage revealing a creepy girl slouched down with long black hair covering her ghostly face inviting a mass yelp from the audience. Looked like the girl from The Ring minus the television. Two and a half hours of comedy/horror followed all in Vietnamese which I obviously didn't understand at all. Luckily some English speaking Vietnamese dude sat next to me was kind enough to offer a rough translation as it went on which certainly helped! The guy in the yellow was a ghost buster attempting to vanish ghostly apparitions which haunt the family sat down. Was top notch!

A Cyclo driver having a quick snooze, and i'm not surprised because pedaling fat Western tourists around in this heat would be enough to tire anyone out!

Looking for business.

Whether it be motorized or not, the Vietnamese always pile as much stuff as possible onto two wheels, or three wheels here.

One day hopped on the No.1 bus over to Cho Lon in Chinatown. A vast market spreads from a central water fountain and it's small alleyways twist and turn past small stalls selling a variety of different goods across two floors.

A vast array of dried fish, spices, seeds and nuts could be haggled over.

Here I liked the contrast between the cool shade inside of the market and the scorching bright sun which patrolled outside.

Enjoyed getting lost in this labyrinthine market.

Street stalls line the streets meaning you never go hungry with most dishes selling for under a dollar!

Negotiations.

Putting your feet up to read the paper is the same the world over. Or as they say here, 'Same Same but Different'.

Live chickens were being traded over in Chinatown. Interest customers would pull up on their scooters and browse through groups of chickens tied together on the tarmac or in cages piled high.

Playing cards on the streets.

5pm. Picking up some food on the way home from the office. Like popping into Tesco Express on the way back from College Green when I was peckish. Same Same.

Gym class in the central park. Obviously.

The Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica. Can you spot Quasimodo?