Say Hi to Saigon

After poking around on Facebook, I found this made-up conversation between the “districts” of Saigon. I thought it would be great to share this creative work with non-Vietnamese speakers so you can know more about the city and our sense of humor.   District 8: Don’t call my name! One fact you should know is that District 8 (D8) and Binh Chanh District are very close to each other. Also, Binh Chanh District is a suburb of Ho Chi Minh City, so the bright city lights are low and it can be quite boring. Here is a translated version of the conversation: D8: U proud to be independent, and yet you tell shippers that you are near me? Binh Chanh: How else would I get my stuff shipped, Dog? Shipper: Saying “I’m near D8” doesn’t make my trip shorter. Viettel Post: You’re stupid @Shipper, tell him to get it into storage. (There is a huge Viettel warehouse in Dong Nai, very far from Binh Chanh District) Binh Chanh: @Viettel Post you have life insurance yet? District 9: Noti...

After poking around on Facebook, I found this made-up conversation between the “districts” of Saigon. I thought it would be great to share this creative work with non-Vietnamese speakers so you can know more about the city and our sense of humor. District 1: The Envious One The conversation above depicts how District 1 (D1) -- the historic city center -- is envious of District 2 (D2) and District 7 (D7) because they are getting more modern and “rich.” This is what the picture says: D1: Y’all got no respect for me right D2 and D7? You wannabes are trying to be me? Nha Be: I gave birth to them and they treat me like nothing. (D2 and D7 were separated from Nha Be District) D7: Haters gonna hate @D2 D2: Don’t tag me man I’m counting money. District 5: The “Drowning” One This puts a smile on my face as it is so true. For your information, District 5 (D5) isn’t a great place to stay. Why? Because when the rainy season comes, the place floods! D5: “Rain gets bigge...

Since the emergence of mobile ride-hailing services like Grab and Uber, taxis in Vietnam have fallen out of fashion. And they just got more unpopular following a recent taxi driver protest. Rivals are born On December 27, 2014 people in Vietnam started to travel differently. Instead of flagging down a taxi, they could simply order a car, motorbike or taxi from their mobile phones using the Grab application. Grab was the first mobile ride-hailing service in Vietnam with Uber close on its heels (four months later). Why people prefer Grab and Uber People in Vietnam love Grab and Uber for the same reasons many people around the world have downloaded these applications: They’re faster and cheaper than traditional taxis. They also eliminate the need to carry cash. Vietnamese particularly like these services because taxi drivers in this part of the world tend to overcharge customers by manipulating meters and taking long detours. Traditional taxi services have lost a lot of...

Traveling to a country without knowing how to travel or where to eat is such a disaster! With the birth of the smartphone, taking a trip to an unfamiliar location has never been easier. But with so many travel apps to choose from, how do you know which ones to install? Here are the essential apps you should download for your time in Saigon. Google Maps You’ll likely have this on your smartphone already, but there are a few things you should know when using app to find an address in Saigon. ●        This city is divided into 24 districts . The districts can be either names or a combination of letters and numbers. For example, District 1 (D1 for short) is located in the center of the city while Binh Thanh is another district located northeast of D1. ●        The streets are named after either historical events or people. Sometimes two districts can have two different streets with the SAME NAME! ●   ...

Know that there are two ways to refer to the city: Ho Chi Minh and Saigon (a former name). Here’s a tough one: Hòn ngọc viễn đông (A gem of the far east). Call the waiters/waitresses using “anh ơi”/”chị ơi” to get their attention. Ask for the price of anything before you order. Ask your landlord to make a registration at the local authority to avoid being fined for illegal stay. If you want your visa to be extended later, it’s something you should get done. Bring some cash. Lots of places here don’t have access to credit/debit cards charging machines. Have a cheap, basic and delicious breakfast including 15,000 VNĐ banh mi & 15,000 VNĐ Ca Phe Sua Da (coffee with condensed milk). These are sold almost anywhere. Get a driver license unless you already have one (you could convert it into a Vietnamese one). The test is in Vietnamese, haha. Check with the hotel to see if foreigners can stay in the same room as a local person (there are laws for this). Make sure to check the t...

DON’TS 1.      Pat  people on the  head. Patting on the head is considered a parental act towards their children, and it is seen as extremely rude to be done by strangers or friends, in Vietnam and in Asia in general. 2.      Shop at Ben Thanh market. If you do however, be sure to bargain. 3.      Wear valuable items like watches, rings, bracelets, necklaces… in public. You don’t want to be “investigated” by those shady eyes, trust me. 4.      Bring winter clothes. Saigon doesn’t have anything but hot and rainy weather. 5.      Go shirtless in public to temples, churches, mosques, government offices,... well basically anywhere, unless it’s a beach or pool. 6.      Drive on the left car lane if you ride a scooter (motorbike). 7.      Eat until the host of the party does. 8.      Drink water from the ...