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One such local had placed me on the back of this motorcycle I now clung to. He was an older man and certainly wiser for the years. He had spent some time in the States and his English was quite good. We had innocently enough stopped by a local bia hoi place on a busy Saigon street corner. It had become our favorite spot to watch life in the big city go by. The evenings were hot and muggy and even I gave in to the local practice of putting blocks of ice in my beer glass, making an already watery brew even more so. But with heat like this, it may be for the better to dilute alcohol if not the flavor of such things. Our new friend was a great conversationalist and we enjoyed hearing about his travels in the US as well as what Saigon had gone through since the end of the war.
I had been trying to find a dish from a Vietnamese restaurant I had been going to for over twenty years back in the States, but had had no luck in finding it. I produced a menu from this place I had carried the entire trip and asked him if he knew where we could find it. With a bit of thought, he said he would find out and took off. He returned five minutes later on the back of a motorcycle and explained that I was to go with the driver, as he knew where it was. I was a bit skeptical but desperate for this meal so I took the chance. I hopped on and was soon whizzing through the crowded streets, the wind, cooling my sweat-dampened T-shirt, blowing away my worries too. It felt great but all too short as we quickly arrived at our destination. (concluded below in Fondest Memory) Leave a Comment
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One thing you have to do when in Saigon is to try some of the marvelous local foods. It may be a modern city, but there are lots of very local and authentic eating places scattered all over the city. Wander around and if something looks good, have a bite to eat.
Though precariously clutching the seat of my driver’s motorcycle, I felt finally free: of Saigon’s grime and sweat that masked my own skin but more importantly of the disappointment of ill-conceived expectations that Vietnam had not lived up to. This two-month tour of Southeast Asia had originally stemmed from the desire to experience first hand what all the fuss was about Vietnam. Laos and Cambodia were initially afterthoughts.
What was never anticipated was just how much the easygoing nature of travel in Laos would influence how I initially perceived Vietnam. Perhaps if our first port of call had been Saigon, things would have been different but after two carefree weeks in Laos, we were dropped on the doorstep of what seemed at the time, a very unfriendly Hanoi. It wasn’t until two weeks into the Vietnamese segment of our trip that we finally began to enjoy it. Things were not perfect in Hoi An and Na Trang but the nine-day TET induced stint in Hanoi finally became just an interesting memory rather than something we could not wait to escape from.
But it was in Saigon that it all came together. Oddly enough, it is perhaps the least interesting city in Vietnam with regard to sights. But what it lacks in this department, it more than makes up for with a fantastic array of foods and more importantly, a friendly population that has grown up with a burgeoning tourist trade and hence knows how to treat it without appearing self-conscious. It does not take long to see that the south of the country has been in the tourist business longer and this trickles down to the locals as well. The people are more used to foreigners and are more welcoming. (continued below in Fondest Memory) Leave a Comment
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It was one of these temporary street food stalls that exist only from late afternoon until the food runs out. And they did in fact have bun thit nuong, the tasty barbecued pork dish I had sought for weeks now. My driver did the ordering and I was happy to get a very local price for the prized take away. He then whisked me back to the beer joint just as quickly. I tired to pay for the ride but he explained it was already taken care of. Our new friend had hired him to take me on this little food adventure.
I had my booty, but it was all in plastic bags with no utensils to eat it with. Our buddy took care of that too, asking the proprietors of the bia hoi hangout to bring out plates and chop sticks. We dug in with full gusto. It was just what we had been looking for and our obvious enthusiasm had him glowing over his accomplishment. We bought the next round of beers and thanked him heartily, but it was time for him to head home. And stuffed, it was time for us as well. We saw him one other time at our rendezvous point but he was with friends and we had made a few new ones too that evening, so we never spoke. But we exchanged smiles. And this is what I will most fondly remember about my time in Vietnam, someone going out of their way to make my stay that much better. His smile and, of course, the wind blowing the grime and sweat from my face. Free, finally free. Leave a Comment
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Here are 2 signs of recent Saigon's ID:
- The Continental Hotel, dating from the turn of the 19th century, scenery of a lot of scenes of the famous Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American, a real classic of the city, in spite of the awful renovation made in 1989 by "Saigon Tourist".
- Women in the classical vietnamese dress, U don't see these too often, just in few special occasions... Leave a Comment
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You will find many strange local fruits here: lychee, papaya, jackfruit?
But the weirdest of them all was the DURIAN, a very large fruti, the size of a football ball, all covered with sharp spikes. It is said to be the tastiest of all (I didn? try it) but it smells like hell!! Once U open it, the smell is so disgusting that is even forbidden in public places like hotels, planes, buses? it is said it would be imposible to remain in a, let?s say, bus all the traject after one of these durians has been opened inside? Leave a Comment
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To many of us, life in Vietnam can be considered quite tough. But local people are contented with simple life and needs.
This is one regular scene where some elderly people will enjoy good cup of brewed coffee and interact with pals at near by coffee joint.
I wasn’t too use to the low plastic chair and table at first. But I’m kind of getting used to after a few days. Leave a Comment
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...or at least a few phrases. Once you have, you will find the Vietnamese open up to you rather quickly. Returning home after 3 months in Ho Chi Minh City, I am proud to say I can hold a decent conversation with a local Vietnamese. That's arriving armed with knowing how to count from 1 to 10. Phrases such as Cam on (pronounced Gum erng) meaning Thank You will help considerably when you are invited to a family dinner. The language is Extremely difficult to learn but if I can do it, then anyone can.
During the last week of my stay, I was waiting for an American friend getting his motorbike when I was approached by a tout wanting us to go to his bar. We first spoke in English and after he got a little too persistant, I switched into Vietnamese mode. I told him my friend did not want to go to this bar of his and that I am a local Vietnamese. To my luck and surprise, he actually believed me because it just happened that I understood everything he said! Thinking I was Vietnamese, his attitude quickly changed from persistant to practically begging us to go. I declined and just before we left, I told him the truth about me being Chinese and only started learning Vietnamese one month prior. Leave a Comment
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Try the food!!!! Other than being inexpensive, everything is just out of this world! I advise you to just go all out and try everything! OMG, and the fruits....all those exotic fruits you just can't find anywhere else....MMmmmmMMMmmmmmm
There was one time some friends of mine were having this little bowl of a red jelly-like substance.....so out of curiosity, I asked what it was they were eating....they told me it was 'Ox Blood'.....Like YUK!!!! Sorry but I could not bring myself to eating or drinking for that matter something like that!! Leave a Comment
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Most people in Vietnam are doing their own business, be it a small restaurant, a fruit selling cart, even a souvenirs shop.
These people were not as willing to work during the working-for-government period in the '80.
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Although some Ho Chi Minh residents lead a strenuous and demanding life, they are incredibly outgoing and are very approachable. For the single male travelers out there, Vietnamese ladies are more than willing to make friends from different parts of the world but the trickiest obstacle still remains with the language barrier. During my visit, I must've met over 100 people and if I weren't such a shy person, i could've easily doubled that figure so when in need of company (in a friendly way, of course), never hesitate to say 'Hello'.
The lucky man in the photo is ME! Yup, a total of 7 sweet ladies saw me off at 7 in the morning. I know I don't deserve it but I would like to show my appreciation to those who thought I was worthy....^_^ Leave a Comment
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on February 11, 2005
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