What were we doing precisely this time last year? Exploring Vietnam. Since I wasn’t able to keep up with blogging about all of our South East Asian escapades, now seems like a fitting time to re-visit the places we encountered one year ago.
As our first impression of Vietnam, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) was a pretty cool city to visit. Let us take you for a bit of a sensory tour through the streets of Saigon.
Taste
Pho, pronounced “fur” (with a British accent.) Essentially, pho consists of noodles in broth with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, and sometimes if we were lucky, vegetable. The option to add in fresh herbs and sprouts on the side added flavour as well as nutrient value.
In our search for the best pho in the city, we learned an important lesson: Lonely Planet doesn’t know everything. The option that was NOT in Lonely planet turned out to be our favourite. *International travel tip: Locals are a better resource than the travel guides that everyone else is using.
Fresh vegetables and herbs, wrapped in pretty bundles.
Basil. Lots of basil.
Banh Xeo, a Vietnamese sizzling pancake.
Spring rolls. Crispy awesomeness.
Smell
Fried sweet baked goods being sold by Vietnamese women on the roadside.
Char grilled meat.
Durian, or other over-ripe, aromatic fruits.
The pungent aroma of seafood left to dry in the sun.
Hear
Aggressive marketplace ladies. “Lady, what you like?”
Cyclo drivers, eager for business. “Where you go? I take you there?”
Constant honking of horns.
The sizzle of street food.
The roar of Bui Vien Street (pictured above) at night as the people come out to live it up.
Children playing. Sometimes not so cooperatively.
Feel
Sweat dripping off your brow, and down every other part of your body.
The breeze from scooters whipping by. Another near miss.
A moment of tranquility in one of Saigon’s serene parks, as well as some mild relief from the heat.
The sweet, layered refreshment of a Vietnamese iced coffee. The cold glass against your overheated skin is heavenly.
See
Helmets for scooterists.
Tall buildings.
Scooters zooming in and out of days and nights.
Lights.
Inspiring boutiques with upstairs cafes. A few of our favourite finds included L’usine and Magonn.
Wires, criss crossing the streets in all directions. And COLOR. So much color.
The Notre Dam Cathedral.
Boats that are fish.
As you can see, Saigon was a full-out experience for the senses. We hope this post allowed you to have a taste of this vibrant city, if you havn’t had the chance to visit yet for yourself.
hearts unmapped 