Our first month in Saigon was just like our first motor-taxi ride: fast, fun, scary, exhilarating, and over before we knew what was happening. This city is a blast. We've had an amazing time getting comfortable with its pace, and getting to know its history, culture, people and food.
Water puppetry is an art form which has been entertaining Vietnamese audiences since the 11th century. The shows were originally performed in the country's rice fields, but today are usually found in theaters. We went to Saigon's most well-known venue, the Golden Dragon Theater, to check out one of the shows.
In our neighborhood, there aren't many supermarkets. Even that's an overstatement; there actually isn't a single supermarket anywhere near us. So we've had to become familiar the local market, or "chợ". And the market's vendors have had to become familiar with us. Trust is a two-way street, people... and Saigon's markets are worlds unto themselves.
As we knew it would, eating has become a major highlight of our time in Saigon. We've been sticking almost entirely to street food, and have loved just about every dish we've had. Here's another selection of some of our favorites.
On a whim, we decided to check out District 3's seventh ward, and uncover its secrets. Because, it must have secrets... I doubt there's a neighborhood in this city which isn't hiding something of interest. And Phường 7, Quận 3 did not disappoint.
Every city worth its salt has a Chinatown, but the award for World's Largest Chinatown (at least in terms of area) goes to Cholon in Ho Chi Minh City. This district was actually its own city for a long time, until eventually being swallowed up by its bigger neighbor to the east. We spent a day navigating its busy streets and visiting its markets.
If you find yourself in District 7 around sunset, you might want to head over to the Starlight Bridge in front of the Crescent Mall. As the sky turns dark, this pedestrian bridge is illuminated with a colorful water show.
The most significant event in the history of Saigon's Presidential Palace was also the moment that it permanently lost its political relevance. On April 30th, 1975, a Viet Cong tank plowed through the gates, putting an end to the two-decade war which had torn Vietnam apart. The south had fallen, and the Presidential Palace was suddenly a relic.
Constructed in 1744, the Giác Lâm Pagoda is one of the oldest temples in Saigon. It's found on the western side of the city, and is most recognizable for its seven-story stupa.
Saigon is a city of crazy traffic, constant noise and unbroken swaths of concrete. But there exists a section of the city which is totally different. We spent the day walking around Phường 28: an island that has been almost completely overlooked by Saigon's insatiable appetite for urbanization.
