THE SOUL OF SAIGON
I was born in a village in the central highlands of Vietnam, in a place known as Dak Hlo that is surrounded by sugar cane fields. When I was 18 I moved to Ho Chi Minh City to study English Literature at the university, looking for a better future. That was the right decision and I never regretted moving to the most developed city in Vietnam, where I have stayed for 10 years and which I now consider my home.
In the old days, Saigon was known as the Pearl of the Far East. After reunification in 1975, it was officially renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Every time I travel to a new city, the feeling of missing Saigon always comes back to my mind like a woman who misses her lover. Well, I miss Saigon the same way.
Wandering with cyclos on the streets when leaves are falling and watching life happening slowly are sweet memories. I often go to the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens to see animals and lie on the grass by the lake, listening to classical music so that I can forget the noisy and hurried city outside. I love walking in Le Van Tam Park on an early morning and cycling along Nhieu Loc Canal. I enjoy slow living and to see people treasure their leisure time by doing exercise or fishing.
The people of Saigon really know how to enjoy life, and it is so easy to find a coffee shop or restaurant anywhere. Sometimes I actually enjoy exploring the backpacker area in District 1, which is full of tourists who come to enjoy the nightlife of this frenetic city. One of my favourite
places is Universal Sports Bar on Bui Vien Street to enjoy a mojito.
Otherwise, I head to Saigon Oi, a nice and cheap café overlooking the Notre-dame Cathedral, which was built in the 18th century in full French architecture. One of the reasons why I fell in love with Saigon was because of its majestic buildings, such as the Independence Palace, the Opera House and the Central Post Office. History is very important to the Vietnamese; therefore, the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels are the best places to learn about our past. Next to Notre-dame Cathedral are two areas called Ca Phe Bet and Nguyen Hue, which are often crowded with young people at night or on weekends. Ben Thanh, as many visitors already know, is a well-known market for people who want to buy cheap and cheerful souvenirs, lacquerwares and embroidered cloth.
At night, I sometimes enjoy awesome dinners on the boat crossing the Saigon River. Then I’ll head to Chill Sky Bar on the rooftop of the Financial Tower to see the spectacular cityscape. I love feeling the quietness across the river in District 2, which reminds me of the countryside in the midst of the big city. Saigon is not only a place to live but a special home for a wandering soul like mine. AGP
History is very important to the Vietnamese, and there’s no better place to learn about our past than at Ho Chi Minh City