Saigon is a rather new city. In the 15th century there was not much more than swamps here; in the 17th century a small town was formed. At the end of that century a local government was formed. Due to its strategic location, the city grew rapidly, and by the end of the 18th century the town officially became a city.
In the 19th century the French invaded; they stayed here for a century. That is why many monuments and buildings have a European look. In 1954 the French were defeated; some years later, Vietnam was split in two. Many citizens of North and Central Vietnam migrated to Saigon.
Many of the North Vietnamese that came to Saigon during the 1950's and 1960's were entrepreneurs, others intellectuals, still others politicians. All this led to the expansion of the business and cultural life in Saigon. In the western world Saigon was known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient.’
In 1975 Communists invaded the city, and the country was reunified. The official name of the city was changed to ‘Ho Chi Minh City.’ Until a few decades ago Saigon was closed to foreigners. Nowadays Saigon is a city open to the world. The official name may be Ho Chi Minh City, but Vietnamese still call it Saigon.
MOTORBIKE JAM
Officially 6 or 7 million people live in Saigon. Half of them own a motorbike. During rush hours, streets and avenues in the center of Saigon are flooded with these small vehicles.
Possessing a motorbike is a symbol of status. Many young men recognize it would be impossible for them to find a girlfriend without a scooter. The more expensive the bike, the easier it is for them to find a beautiful girl.
A typical teenager will pick up his girlfriend on a weekend afternoon, take her for a ride, and sit on a park bench to talk. Public kissing is still considered impolite.
PHAM NGU LAO
Food is one of the main reasons to visit Vietnam. Thanks to the French presence in this country, local food is Asian but with a certain European touch. The variety of food is too extensive to be detailed in this guide, but I will give you some hints.
Restaurants in Pham Ngu Lao serve the local version of Western food: pizza, pasta and hamburgers. For the real local deal, go to a market or to a street stall. The most popular breakfast in Vietnam is Pho (pronounced Pha). It is a noodle soup usually with meat ('pho bo', beef soup; 'pho ga', chicken soup, and so on). Another local specialty are the Vietnamese spring rolls, Goi Cuon, with salad, vermicelli and pieces of pork, prawns, or beef wrapped around rice paper.
VIETNAMESE RESTAURANTS
When looking for a place to eat in Saigon, there are two options. One is the street stalls where locals eat. They may look somewhat dirty, but it is in these street restaurants where I found the best food in Vietnam. Most of the time you sit in a small plastic chair in the street. Each of these restaurants specializes in one type of food (noodles, soups, beef). As in the rest of Vietnam, things go really fast in these restaurants. You wait for a free seat, order your meal, eat, pay and leave. The whole process may take less than 15 minutes. You will also find these food stalls in all local markets.
LAU RESTAURANT
Lau was one of my favorite dishes – it is also known as ‘Hot Pot.’ Although the dish is delicious, you may need some help to eat it. Lau is a Saigon specialty where customers are served a boiling casserole with a fire to keep it hot. You have to put the vegetables in the broth; there are then meat, sea food, fish and even snake versions of this dish. If you want to taste them all, order the mixed Hot Pot. The waiter will explain to you when, and for how long, you have to put the meat in the broth. You may also order some noodles and put them in the pot.
I was told the people of Saigon like Hot Pot (or Lau) because they can eat this dish for hours while drinking beer – I was told people in the south of Vietnam are heavy drinkers.
FRUIT VENDORS
One of the things you will appreciate more when traveling around Vietnam are the local fruits. They are always so fresh! You will find them in markets, shops and in the streets.
The list of Vietnamese fruits is almost endless: Custard-apple, Durian, Green-dragon, Guava, Litchi, Longan, Mango, Papaya, Rambutan, Sapodilla, Star-fruit, Water-apple . . . should I go on? Some of them are available in our home countries, but nowhere do they taste as good as in Vietnam. Especially recommended is the Green dragon fruit.
Fruit juices should not be missed either. If you want to be safe, ask the clerk to remove the ice (most of the times it comes from tap water), but I have to tell you that I drank thousands of juices while in Vietnam, and I did not have a single digestive problem.
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