Saigon aka Ho Chi Minh City

This is a real city, (whatever that means) with European city planning showing in the big boulevards of its central section. We treated ourselves to a luxury hotel on the river and its swimming pool was a welcome relief after pushing ourselves to the limits on the hot streets. Japanese ice cream and the usual cold coconut also helped.

Of course, the street life is still very Vietnamese with cooking, eating, selling, card-playing, chess, hair-cutting and motorcycle parking filling the sidewalks. Thankfully, the sidewalks seem to be wider here so we don't have to walk in the street as much as other places.

And what a psychological relief it is to see our beloved brands well-represented here - Bulgari, Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Cartier. This afternoon we walked through a small park featuring a statue of Ho Chi Minh reading a book to a little girl. I managed to capture a small ironic reflection of the statue in the window of the Ralph Lauren store across the street.

Piano player in lobby. Lobby is filled with beautiful flower displays.

I could say this is a worker decorating the edge of the pool with flowers but actually he is cleaning the pool from petals which fall into it from flowered areas nearby.

Mangosteen expert examines street vendor's stock. 110 thousand dong for a kilo (approx. $5 for 2.2 pounds)

Sidewalk Xiangqi players (Chinese Chess)

Sidewalk grill man with fan.

Model poses in front of Bulgari

Back of Ho Chi Minh statue reflected between R and A of Ralph Lauren store.

Sidewalk barber

Sidewalk lunch

Sidewalk card players

Movie star gets a touch-up before entering our lobby in a scene being shot in our hotel.

Scene being shot at the front desk

Info about the movie in a notice to hotel guests. Don't miss it!