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.
We arrive the last day of a festival happening at the Nguyen Hue promenade which was crowded with people of all ages.
The next day and eager to learn more, I went to see the Vietnam History Museum
Most of the Vietnamese women I saw would wear their pijamas to walk around.
A crowded sidewalk.
I saw many men in the city lying down on their bikes. This man seems to be soaking up the sun.
A woman in the street selling goods.
A little street store and an elder woman making her way up.
The contrast in architecture, the bold asian colors clash with the pastels of the former taller buidlings.
Skyscrapers in the city.
City hall, Ho Chi Minh City