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| A quiet and colorful street along the Mekong River in Ho Chi Minh City, which is the largest city in Vietnam. Much of the city is noisy and bustling. (Shanghai Daily) |
More than four hours after leaving Shanghai, I finally landed at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Although the guide who met us assured us that this was a nice, cool day, I was still recovering from the blast of hot, humid air.
Once I'd recovered from the heat, the next thing to hit me was the noise. Ho Chi Minh City is filled with a medley of sounds: honking horns of motorcycles in a steady stream of traffic, roaring television shops, blaring cassette tape stands, the buzz of street side salespeople calling out to would-be customers.
It was at dawn when we arrived at the city center. People rushed past; students in white school uniform swarmed around food vendors selling local delicacies; flashing lights illuminated historic buildings, the night markets were still bustling, with food and souvenirs displayed neatly.
Once it was light Ho Chi Minh City began to take shape for me.
Despite the fact that modern high-rises have begun to dominate the skyline in recent years, there are still many fine examples of French colonial architecture in the city.
These include Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office, the Municipal Theater and the former Hotel de Ville. Meanwhile, crowded residential areas are full of French-style villas, French bakeries and cafes, pho restaurants and trendy boutiques and galleries.
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest city, in the past renowned as the Pearl of The East and the Paris of the East.
The economic, cultural, technological, trade and travel center of southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is named after the country's communist revolutionary leader, and have previously been known as Saigon and Prey Nokor.
Famous films "Miss Saigon" and "The Lover (L'amant)" give a glimpse of the glamor of the city. The charm and flavor of Ho Chi Minh City, a mix of its rich history and local folklore and tales, makes it a fascinating and vibrant place to spend some time.
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