Day 45 - day 1 in Ho Chi Minh City or is it Saigon? - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

December 9, 2024

Day 45 - day 1 in Ho Chi Minh City or is it Saigon?

I did an important chore first thing this morning, having decided that I won't do any more cycling on this trip: I tossed out the shorts I wear over my cycling shorts, and my cycling t- shirt. They had both served me well and neither looked much chop. How many litres of sweat had they endured?

So back to the question about the name of the city where we finished our ride?

I'm sure that back in 1975, when Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City, it was probably sensible to refer to it by the latter.

Even so, given that the area has been settled since prehistoric times, the name "Saigon" is recent also, with the French replacing the previous name "Gia Định" when they captured the city in 1859.

Today, over coffee, I asked some people a little older than me and they said they use the names interchangeably.

Well, that sorts that; no one really cares. I moved on to food.

First I had a bowl of noodles with tofu and things before moving on to a couple of banh my. A fellow across the road thought I was struggling somewhat with liquid and came running with napkins. That's Saigon or HCM for you.

I kept wandering, vaguely looking for somewhere to wash my bike and for a bike box. But, I didn't really care. I was as much getting my bearings and enjoying not being drenched. That's why coffee took an hour.

On a corner I stumbled upon a sculpture of Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk who self-immolated in 1963, to protest the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government. Malcolm Browne's photograph of the tragedy was the 1963 World Press Photo of the Year. The event placed huge pressure on the government of Ngo Dinh Diem. We passed the memorial again in the evening.

A photograph of part of Malcolm Browne's photograph in the Independence Palace

The message is clear: these barriers keep motorcycles away but if you don't have them.....

A shady spot for a rest with a seat for a podiatrist.

Got a flat tyre? Someone on the next corner can probably help you.

That orange sign across the road indicates the Marie Curie Fitness-Yoga-Kickboxing Gym. No wonder she won two Nobel prizes for her work on radiation.

A slither of space to the right is enough for a wall of bamboo.

I succeeded in finding a place that would wash a bike and another where I could get a bike box. More importantly, on my return trip I discovered a place that sells magical vegetarian steamed buns.

By now it was late afternoon and time to sit back for a while before venturing off again, this time for beer and food. We headed to BiaCraft on Le Ngo Cat and just happened to arrive in time for happy hour - happy hour with a difference. You buy a beer, a coin is flipped and if you make the correct call the drink is yours for free. Make the wrong call and you pay full price. We each got one of two beers free. Unfortunately, I forgot a photo.

The barman pointed us in the direction of Ho Thi Ky, 1.5 km away. I took a few photos on our walk.

It just indicates electrical cable below

We weren't disappointed by first views, not that I fancied lobster or crab. Chicken feet were very popular but the trouble with them is that you know where they've been.

I kicked off with a bowl of baby mango before moving onto a plate of barbecued squid, okra, tofu and mushrooms.

Lots of stuff to choose from that's then tossed on a barbecue.

I moved further down the lane and stumbled across something new. I cannot recall their name, but it's like a pastry shell with egg, prawn, oyster, chilli, etc, that they cook in some way. One wraps it in a leaf, dips it in sauce and scoffs it. I was impressed.

I finished with a container of gelato for the walk home.

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	6
Comment on this entry	Comment	1

John GrantIt looks like a great day of great food ! It's a fabulous city !
Reply to this comment
1 week ago