Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh City!

Flew in from Phu Quoc with a bunch of big dead fish as checked baggage:

Ho Chi Minh City seems much more cosmopolitan than Hanoi. It's 9 million people as opposed to Hanoi's 6 million. The streets are wider and cleaner, the traffic slightly more law-abiding, and the energy of the city seems lighter and more relaxed. Also the air is far cleaner. Once night fell, we actually saw stars. It's also far less oppressively hot than we had expected. Yes, the temp. is in the low to mid 90s year-round, but this time of year there's little humidity, and there's a cool breeze that keeps things quite pleasant in the shade.

The streets were being decorated for Tet, the lunar new year festival.

We stayed with our friends Colin and Natalie, who just moved from Hanoi
to this beautiful house in District 2.

We had a wonderful lunch at a little cafe right on the Saigon River.

We went to another very lovely restaurant on the river for sunset cocktails and dinner.

We sat on the deck and watched the river traffic as the stars slowly appeared overhead.

Geckos congregated on the ceiling.

We had an absolutely delicious meal. Expensive by VN standards, but worth it.
Fresh seafood spring rolls, crab ceviche, and perfectly grilled Aussie beef and lamb.

Colin introduced us to the Lychee Gimlet. A refreshing mix of
fresh lychee fruit, gin, lemon, and chopped cilantro. The cilantro and the lychee
are a truly inspired combination.

As a Jamaican, Colin knows his cigars, so I followed his lead.

P.