Arrival
Vietnam Airlines was a pleasant surprise, modern aircraft and decent food.
Scooters, scooters, scooters...
Got a local SIM-card before immigration, and ordered a car to the hotel before exiting the airport. The price was a bit higher than for a normal taxi at 220.000 dong (10$), but the service and the car was great and I avoided the queues and the crowds outside.
Outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, interesting selective focus courtesy of dirty window.
Having heard a lot about how chaotic Ho Chi Minh City and particularly District 1 is supposed to be, it was a relief to find it nowhere near as intense as central Bangkok. Sure, it's a very touristy area, but the pace and crowds are not bad at all.
Flags and construction work all over the city.
The Royal Saigon Guest House is nice little place, clean and simple rooms, and the Vietnamese owners born in Germany are friendly and speak English fluently.
Seems like every tall building has a rooftop bar.
We went out for a few drinks at the classy Saigon Saigon rooftop bar at the Caravelle Hotel, a popular hangout for journalists in 60s when it was the highest building in the city. These days its ten floors are dwarfed by skyscrapers on all sides.
Small audience, great band.
Time for a couple of Vietnamese coffees, and then off to explore the city!
Interesting mix of modern and old, French and Asian architecture.