Saigon Street Vendors

From a distance skyscrapers dominate the skyline, and Ho Chi Minh City looks like any other metropolis.

Once there, skyscrapers fade into the background as street-life takes center stage.

Not only do brick and mortar eateries offer sidewalk seating, but vendors of all sort set up shop there, too.

So rather than looking up, you must keep your eyes down while weaving through a maze of people. Everywhere you go, there are vendors, customers seated on tiny stools, and clusters of empty stools. Every sidewalk is an obstacle course.

I was amazed by the amount of items vendors heft around. They must be in amazing shape.

And when it’s time to do dishes, they wash them right on the sidewalk. If you look closely, you can even see a sponge sitting right on the cement.

Big cities tend to overwhelm me, but I really enjoyed Ho Chi Minh City. (The shady book vendor’s street and the tasty Vietnamese coffee probably helped.)Read more