Ho Chi Minh City

We had a short holiday in Ho Chi Minh and it was an interesting experience.First , the traffic is simply amazing>I have never seen so many motor bikes anywhere like this.They come in hordes from every corner and you have to close your eyes to cross the road.No such thing as waiting for the traffic to clear because it never does.Strangely enough few accidents ( we never saw one ).This must be due to the fact that the people are considerate ,alert and not as uncivilized as our " Mat Rempits".Not many privately owned cars are seen on the roads. The taxis are clean and new and one cannot help but feel quite safe travelling in them.They are all metered and you need not have to worry about being cheated or taken for a ride. The market which has a wet and dry section is a happening place and you can buy almost everything at rock bottom prices.So for Malaysians its some sort of shopping paradise.Branded apparel,watches ,shoes are all sold here.Most of them carry brand names but are made in Vietnam. Vietnamese food is healthy and we noticed that its not oily and usually eaten with a lot of raw vegetables.Perhaps this is why so many of them are slim and willowy.You get to taste the local fare and also the French food which is the legacy of the French.The French influence is seen in the buildings and food and the culture which they left behind.Strangely enough you dont see much of what the Americans left behind.It somehow struck me that if you know the history of a country the visit is much more meaningful. The little hotel where we stayed was clean and secure and centrally located which made all the shopping places very accessible .Price was reasonable about US 50.00 a night which is actually cheaper than many hotels in KL. The city is a vibrant and pulsating centre of Vietnamese culture and there is never a dull moment.One thing that strikes me is the work culture of the people there ,they work hard and seem quite satisfied with life.Food is plentiful and affordable and you hardly see any vagrants in the city.Surprisingly the city itself is quite clean and you will not see litter along the streets. Eating, shopping, noticing the Vietnamese people and their way of life makes HCM a place which one would consider visiting again.