It’s been 20 years since I last visited Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City. In 2005 I was a backpacker and lingered for far too long trying to figure out this very messy place in the world. My recent visit was far easier and more civilized. Ho Chi Minh has changed and transformed. I thought I’d recognize more places and find a lot of old spots, but the city has changed so drastically that I could barely find any of the old spots.
It was a short visit so I mostly did my usual observation towers, and visited the obvious old town and center, with a few obvious attractions. I was lucky to find some local festivals, great veggie restaurants, and some nice live music fancy bars to hang out at in the evenings. It had a relaxed vibe though filled with potential and possibility. Felt like I should come and try to linger longer, to see more of the city and the nearby region, to complement my old backpacker memories.
So here are my 2024 visions photo summary of Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam…
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