A Walk Across Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After crossing the border from Cambodia into Vietnam, the heat started striking, and the foliage got even greener. Thousands of motorbikes welcome us; some even ride the sidewalks. The city feels advanced, or maybe it’s just the culture shock. From the river, we can see a Manhattan-like skyline surrounded by buildings named “Times Square” and “Union Square”. The squatted buildings with growing small businesses make me nostalgic
of Berlin. The city has a lot to offer, but it’s inevitable to see the inequality between the privileged and the not-so-privileged. A big ex-pat community can be found in the many breweries, restaurants and cafes in Districts 1 and 2. However, it mostly feels like a financial hub, leaving cultural activities secondary. Like every big city in Asia, a few days or even a week is not enough to discover all the hidden gems between the streets.