"Vietnam's capitalist capital " a Ho Chi Minh City Travel Page by dinhyen

Returning to the city of my birth evokes many emotions. Many of the familiar landmarks are still there, and travelling along a tree-shaded boulevard would suddenly bring forth a gush of memories. However, the majority of things have changed so much to be recognizable. Steel-and-glass highrises bearing foreign logos have come to punctuate the skyline. Stores, shops and restaurants dominate the facades along major thoroughfares. Motorbikes are everywhere, roads are heavily congested and pollution is a major concern. There are some positive signs. The heavily polluted Saigon River had been cleaned up, and the shanty towns on the riverside were gone. I rode on a recently completed highway bypass that hopefully would ease traffic to the city center. Like many other cities, modernization has been a boon to the city. Yet the accompanying hustles and bustles may have cost the city much of its quaint attraction and small-town charm.

Waterfountain in front of the Opera House. On a sweltering summer day this can be very tempting...

Close-up of curved roof of Xa Loi Temple.