"My Birth Place...Saigon" a Ho Chi Minh City Travel Page by Johnny_CA

Most locals still call the city, Saigon instead of Ho Chi Minh City. Returning to Saigon after a twenty plus year absence was eye-opening. Despite the beautiful wide French boulevards and the grand buildings (all remnants of former French colonialism), Saigon was still a developing city. Dirt roads and lawless street traffic...bicyclists and mopeds dominate the streets. The few cars on the road honk their horns every five seconds to avoid mangling those two-wheeled travelers. Our private tour-guide told us that the average family made about US$40/month so in order to supplement their income, they work additional jobs or take on extra skills. The streets are teeming with peddlers and pan-handlers vying for some tourist charity. Be real careful crossing the streets...I would suggest studying the traffic flow first and then just walking confidently across the street. If you do it right, the drivers will veer to avoid you, rather than you trying to leap frog across the street. The hustle-bustle of the city is amazing, every hour of the night, there's someone scooting by on their moped.