So here I am back in Saigon for a weeklong visit, meeting old friends and savoring the relatively sophisticated atmosphere.
Alot is still the same. Millions of motorbikes, pho stalls on every corner, and the tourist district of Pham Ngu Lao/De Tham is as pleasantly run-down as ever.
Even so, alot has changed. There is a huge new shopping mall at the corner of Dong Khoi and Le Thanh Ton, while half the other buildings downtown seem to be in the process of being renovated. There's also the Tallest Building in All of Vietnam being constructed along the Saigon River:
Well, that's economic expansion for you. In another 10 years this city (or at least the center) will probably resemble Hong Kong or Singapore more than the old French colonial town it once was. I hope they don't totally destroy everything that made the city unique - the colonial architecture, the amazing street food etc. But i'm afraid it's only a matter of time before some official decides that such things make Vietnam look 'backward' and then they'll be gone forever.
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