The number of cars on the streets is growing, but the scooter still rules in Vietnam. When fleets of scooters are not parked en masse on pavements, blogging the progress of a pedestrian on what should be his or her home territory, they flow down the roads like a marching army of ants, rarely obeying … Continue reading The Scooterist →

The French left behind a legacy of injustice, impoverishment and grand architecture. This is the legacy of all empires, is it not? All three can still be found on the streets of Saigon. But it's the architecture that stands out to the casual tourist. It's the cathedrals, opera houses and monuments that draw the crowds. … Continue reading Notre Dame, Saigon →

I paused a moment in front of the image below. A collage of more than a hundred good men (I didn't spot a woman...) who died doing their job. I paused to think. And it occurred to me that the difference between a glorious military campaign full of valour and courage and a pitiful battlefield … Continue reading Saigon →

The Bitexco Tower, 68 storeys tall, was completed in 2010. It was the tallest building in Vietnam for a year before being surpassed. It's currently the fifth tallest. The deck that sticks out hosts a viewing platform and a helipad. And it makes for a great shot when stood at the bottom looking up.