Saigon Street Scenes

Walking around Saigon, I find lots of sights and adventures in which I take delight.  Here's a few that I manage to capture in photo.

 Stock exchange, complete with bull and bear

Walking by a school, festival in process

Row of birdcages in the garage

Ho Chi Minh

 Trash cans

Sculpture at the Ho Chi Minh museum

 Paths along the Saigon river

 Vietnamese Uber

Plant delivery

I've truly enjoyed my stay in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon.  The people, the food, the sights, everything combined for a fabulous experience.  I'll be back to this town and back to explore other parts of Vietnam.

Ships in the River

The Saigon River flows through the city and my hotel room looks out over it.  The river is busy 24x7 with traffic.  I watch the ships come and go over the time I am there and find it facinating.  After a while, I start to take pictures.

Container ships

I see ships carry gravel up the river and other ships and barges taking gravel down the river.  I wonder why people don't use the gravel they have rather than sending it away and bringing more in?  One of the mysteries of life.

 Dirt, sand, and gravel travel up and down the river

And, the occasional ferry passes by.

 Ferries

Generally, ships go single file, only sometimes passing a really slow boat, and everyone works hard at the bend in the river as the current carries them toward the opposite shore.  But, at times, the traffic picks up.

 Getting busy

 I could sit for hours and watch the traffic on the river.  Something new with every ship and continuous action and change.

Food and Dining in Saigon

The food in Saigon is plentiful, inexpensive, and really good.  I see fresh food stands everywhere I go, in the markets, on the street corners, and in shops.

 Fresh food in the market

 And, on the street

And, places to eat are everywhere, in the markets and on street corners also.

 Dine in or out

I stop at a stand in a market for a bowl of beef pho and sausage.  The pho tastes of lemongrass and I add fresh mint leaves, bean sprouts, and red pepper sauce.  The side of spicy pepper sausage (on a stick) with peanut sauce and a beer totally complement the meal!

Lunch:  Beef Pho with spicy sausage

I'm truly enjoying the culinary exploration aspects of Saigon!

A Few More Temples in Saigon

I walk from my hotel to Chinatown, about 1-1/2 hours away, and pass several temples along the way, with many similarities in architecture and layout.

Closest to the hotel and near the Hochiminh Stock Exchange is the Hoi Quan Quang Trieu Temple, dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, also known in Vietnam as the "Lady of the Sea" and credited with saving family members during a typhoon.  The temple was first built in 1760 and the entrance is now in the middle of a commercial block.  I walk by it, note that I have gone too far, and walk back to find it, requiring several passes before I see the temple inside the courtyard.

 Temple entrance in the middle of the block

Inside the temple is a courtyard with an alter to Mazu containing three statues of the goddess.

 Courtyard and alter to Mazu

And, other great interior statues and displays.

 Inside the temple

A half hour further, on the edge of Chinatown is the Thien Hau Temple, also dedicated to Mazu, the Lady of the Sea.  The entrance is near a corner and a little easier to find, but the temple layout and design are very similar.

 Temple entrance

Temple interior

On my walk back from Chinatown, I stumble across another temple dedicated to Mazu, the Chua Ba Hai Temple.

Chau Ba Hai Temple

The temples are similar, but each with its own personality and character.  The combination is great to see to view the individual identity of each, even through all dedicated to Mazu.