Despite a vibrant and chaoticreputation, Ho Chi Minh City (orbetter known as ‘Saigon’ to locals)is a charming patchwork of modernbuildings, street food, Frencarchitecture, cafes, motorcycles,parks and temples. Chief Editor JanYong explores the downtown core.
Notre Dame Cathedral of SaigonHo Chi Minh City Hall illuminated at night.Preparing a popular snack at a night market.Ho Chi Minh’s photo and statue are everywhere including the Saigon Central Post Office.Double decker tourist buses can be seen plying the popular tourist areas.There are many Chinese-style temples in HCMC.Motorists passing by the historic Independence Palace.A thin building standing between two modern buildings. Thin buildings were built previously to avoid taxes which were based on the width of the façade.Two Grabfood riders taking a breakHaving a meal while watching the World Cup 2022 at a night market.A home-adapted three-wheeler for a disabled man.In the hands of the Vietnamese, the motorcycle can turn into any contraption!Entire housing supply can be carried on the motorbike!HBO’s House of the Dragon has caught Vietnamese’s imagination too.French-style landscaped gardens can be found in many parks in HCMC such as Tao Dan Park which is home to 1,000 trees of all types in a 10-ha area.A group of men playing sepak takraw in a park.A row of bicycles for rent opposite Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral which is currently undergoing a major restoration. Ironically, the Catholic building is an architectural symbol of HCMC, despite Vietnam being a communist country.View of the traffic below from a rooftop barFaçade of an upscale nightclub called ‘Capital, Mixology Cuisine’. No, it’s not a restaurant.
