Home Sweet Home


You may wonder why this city of 10 million people is called Saigon AND Ho Chi Minh City. Officially, it's Ho Chi Minh City or HCMC for short, since the Northern Vietnamese communist forces rolled in and seized control in April, 1975. Before that, it was Saigon. Older generations nostalgic for the past cling to the former name, but the name really belongs to District 1, in the city center.
Bus station

The sprawl of Ho Chi Minh City spreads in all directions from District 1, which is home to a lovely park. I like to wander in the park for relief from incessant noise and heat. I can usually find someone to talk to if I just sit on a bench for a few minutes. Young students who are learning English come up to me, introduce themselves and pretty soon we're exchanging all kinds of information like their plans to attend university in the US or Europe. Eventually, I say goodbye with a promise to meet them again next weekend for more speaking practice. My next stop is Ben Thanh Market, the Post Office to mail a post card, or to search for food and good WiFi for a couple of hours. It's a delight to go downtown and get away from my cranking AC.



Central Saigon
From the Bitexco Tower
People's Committee Building




Presidential Palace










Bitexco Tower









Ben Thanh Market

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