First off, Saigon is enchanting. The abundance of neon lights, the thick steamy air, the geckos scurrying across the walls. Even the cockroaches running around our feet (and by across I mean on top of) somehow adds to the mystical allure.
I kid. But only about their mystical allure.
If I can make one negative judgment about Vietnam from the get-go, it would be that crossing the road is an absolute NIGHTMARE. It is an honestly terrifying, near-death experience that no law-abiding citizen should ever need to face. In order to surmount the almost overbearing hordes of motorbikes, cars, taxis, and buses, one must strike that perfect balance between passive carefulness and aggressive IDGAF-ness. There is a popular t-shirt sold in the markets which depicts a traffic light, with descriptions next to each color.
Green: I can go
Yellow: I can go
Red: I still can go
(Vietnam Traffic Rules)
And in addition to the dangerous intersections, the sidewalks themselves are fair game to motorbikers. Broken tiles and debris-littered paths, unexpected carts spilling onto sidewalks, and parked bikes crowding corners also pose potential hazards to the unaware pedestrian.
Okay I’m only slightly exaggerating about how awful it is. It's also important to realize that we just have to trust and accept that this is the way things are in Vietnam. I’m sure we’ll get used to it and by the end of our time here, we’ll be navigating the streets like a champion frogger.
Aside from that, highlights from the past 2 days include:
I kid. But only about their mystical allure.
If I can make one negative judgment about Vietnam from the get-go, it would be that crossing the road is an absolute NIGHTMARE. It is an honestly terrifying, near-death experience that no law-abiding citizen should ever need to face. In order to surmount the almost overbearing hordes of motorbikes, cars, taxis, and buses, one must strike that perfect balance between passive carefulness and aggressive IDGAF-ness. There is a popular t-shirt sold in the markets which depicts a traffic light, with descriptions next to each color.
Green: I can go
Yellow: I can go
Red: I still can go
(Vietnam Traffic Rules)
And in addition to the dangerous intersections, the sidewalks themselves are fair game to motorbikers. Broken tiles and debris-littered paths, unexpected carts spilling onto sidewalks, and parked bikes crowding corners also pose potential hazards to the unaware pedestrian.
Okay I’m only slightly exaggerating about how awful it is. It's also important to realize that we just have to trust and accept that this is the way things are in Vietnam. I’m sure we’ll get used to it and by the end of our time here, we’ll be navigating the streets like a champion frogger.
Aside from that, highlights from the past 2 days include:
- Chowing on spring rolls at a beer garden - prime attractions including the adorable stray cats and the designated barf sink
- Making critical decisions about the presence of pickled vegetables in our banh mi, and single or double shots of milk in our cà phê sữa đá
- Buying a bánh bao the shape of a face
- Practicing my Vietnamese speaking with all-too-forgiving and lovely students at the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Visiting the Notre-Dame Basilica and Central Post Office
- Failing at Hearts
- When our OG program coordinator teased us with a GoPro and let us down ("Big prize for the scavenger hunt tomorrow…remember the GoPro at DE Academy?...It's not a GoPro" - Vu Ho, 2016)
- Embarrassing the hell out of ourselves attempting the arithmetic on our bill at the Tib Chay (vegetarian) restaurant