13th Dec 19 - 2nd Jan 20
Left: This was an accident. I intended to refuse all 'Merry Christmas' routines but was forcibly encouraged to join some staff at the excellent Caravelle Hotel in Saigon on Christmas day on my way up to the Rooftop Bar to be entertained by the splendid Cuban band which performs there. I have videos of this band but still, for the life of me, I don't know how to fix videos on this blog even though it should be possible (I'm told).
Right: The streets were packed with sightseers on their scooters (motos) over Christmas and New Year. The locals love to get out to see the lights and fireworks. Scooters are never a problem here. Traffic problems are caused by the increasing number of cars.
The New Year was seen in by the usual fireworks display and happy throngs. I was happily not celebrating in a nice restaurant and didn't see it this year. I have covered all these celebrations in previous (last year's) blog so not going to bother doing it again.
Right: The street cafés are popular with locals and tourists alike. Rough and ready but delicious food and very cheap.
Left: These small art galleries are popular. On one street (Tran Phu, Dist 5) I counted 42 of them in the distance of 300yds. Most have 'artists in residence' and must produce hundreds of paintings a day between them. Some of them are quite good, but I wonder who buys them all.
It is interesting to see a strange mix of shops on Saigon streets. Right: a motorbike repair shop sandwiched in between two rather chi-chi hairdressers. Hair done while your bike is serviced? A very useful facility on Vietnamese shops, however small, is that they all have their street number and address on the shop fronts. It must be a legal requirement. You always know where you are. This is something that is curiously lacking in UK where so few shops display even their street number. I think it should be made compulsory if only to help emergency services.
Left: Sitting at a bar on the 52nd floor of the Bitexo Tower in the south of the city. This sky-scraper has 68 floors including a helicopter-pad sticking out from the 49th.
Right (not my photo): The Bitexo Tower with helipad which, I am told, is very rarely used. It would be a good spot for an 'al fresco' knees-up.
Left: Looking up the Saigon River to the north-east. You can see the ferry terminal from which you can do trips to various places. I got up very early one day for a round trip to Can Gio. Got to the terminal at 8.00am but told the tide was out and the river was too low.
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| Saigon City Hall |
I do like Vietnam, which explains why I normally choose it as my bolt-hole from the grim weather and even grimmer enforced commercial 'jollity' of the so called 'festive season' in UK. At this time of year the weather here is warm (mid 30s) and sunny, as is the nature of so many of the Vietnamese. They have yet to be affected too badly by the rights, free services and hand-outs demanded by our spoilt, litigious and ever complaining Western inhabitants. They expect to work, however menially, to earn a living, take responsibility for their misfortunes even if not their fault and have a strong family bond to support them. There are some downsides, but on the whole they are a very hardy, uncomplaining and enterprising people free of our 'entitlement' culture. Plus the place is safe. There is relatively little violent crime and terrorism is unknown (but they do have some skilful scooter 'bag-snatchers' on the Saigon streets). All the sexist, racist, homophobic, #metoo, etc. bollocks so whinged about in the West is unknown. They are fairly conservative in their opinions and behaviour and certainly the likes of Pattaya (see previous) would never be tolerated. They also have some splendid bars, restaurants, shops and sights to see and all relatively inexpensive. So the place appeals to a boring old fart like me.
Left: This was an accident. I intended to refuse all 'Merry Christmas' routines but was forcibly encouraged to join some staff at the excellent Caravelle Hotel in Saigon on Christmas day on my way up to the Rooftop Bar to be entertained by the splendid Cuban band which performs there. I have videos of this band but still, for the life of me, I don't know how to fix videos on this blog even though it should be possible (I'm told).
Right: The streets were packed with sightseers on their scooters (motos) over Christmas and New Year. The locals love to get out to see the lights and fireworks. Scooters are never a problem here. Traffic problems are caused by the increasing number of cars.
The New Year was seen in by the usual fireworks display and happy throngs. I was happily not celebrating in a nice restaurant and didn't see it this year. I have covered all these celebrations in previous (last year's) blog so not going to bother doing it again.
Right: The street cafés are popular with locals and tourists alike. Rough and ready but delicious food and very cheap.
Left: These small art galleries are popular. On one street (Tran Phu, Dist 5) I counted 42 of them in the distance of 300yds. Most have 'artists in residence' and must produce hundreds of paintings a day between them. Some of them are quite good, but I wonder who buys them all. 
It is interesting to see a strange mix of shops on Saigon streets. Right: a motorbike repair shop sandwiched in between two rather chi-chi hairdressers. Hair done while your bike is serviced? A very useful facility on Vietnamese shops, however small, is that they all have their street number and address on the shop fronts. It must be a legal requirement. You always know where you are. This is something that is curiously lacking in UK where so few shops display even their street number. I think it should be made compulsory if only to help emergency services.
Left: Sitting at a bar on the 52nd floor of the Bitexo Tower in the south of the city. This sky-scraper has 68 floors including a helicopter-pad sticking out from the 49th.Right (not my photo): The Bitexo Tower with helipad which, I am told, is very rarely used. It would be a good spot for an 'al fresco' knees-up.
Just a brief report on Saigon as I've done it all before. Blogs delayed due to a technical hitch with loading photos. These computer companies keep changing things without warning you which is most irritating. Anyway, I think I've sorted it out, eventually. More to follow from the lovely town of Đà Lạt.
Just discovered how to put videos on this. However they only accept 'small' ones so a bit limiting. A couple below of the Cuban band at the Caravelle Rooftop Bar (3 girls and 2 blokes).
Just discovered how to put videos on this. However they only accept 'small' ones so a bit limiting. A couple below of the Cuban band at the Caravelle Rooftop Bar (3 girls and 2 blokes).
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