Vietnam TravelTravel Special FeaturesSaigon - The Young CitySaigon through their eyes

Saigon through their eyes

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Saigon. This city's so full of life it leaves everyone with a different impression. Here are just three of the diverse experiences it can offer.

Peter Jampes (Tourist)

It's late and I’m wandering the streets of Saigon. They're wet wit monsoon rain and the sound of horns and traffic is incessant.

Dodging the motorbikes and weaving between taxis, I'm not sure where I'm going but know my night isn't over yet. As I stumble down a side street, an unusual building catches my eyes. It has a gigantic barrel attached to it and a sign: Wild Horse Saloon. I cross the road like a character in a 1980s video game, slotting between traffic, left then right then forward until I reach the other side. As I push open the door, something distracts me. A beautiful girl, smiling like the Mona Lisa, places a brochure in my hand for a place called Bop Jazz Club, then motions toward a staircase behind her and exclaims, "Welcome, Sir". Why not?

The sound of people and music fills my ears and the soft lighting calms my eyes. Cool air hits my skin and the smell of cigar smoke and alcohol wafts past my nose. All around me the place is buzzing. Now this is more like it. The crisp wail of a saxophone catches my attention: the tenor saxophonist is playing like it's his last time on earth and around him; five other musicians are playing their hearts out too. I close my eyes to absorb the colors of the music. Around the room, curved walls hug this magical space.

Fuelled by the atmosphere, I order another cocktail and a Cuban cigar before settling back into my chair. Then the music stops and the band members begin to move. I knew it was too good to be true, they must have finished. But no, they're not leaving the stage. They alto sax lines up behind the bongos, the pianist pluck a violin off the wall and the bass player pulls a flute from his back pocket, then they launch into a jazz version of a folk tune. Soon it’s back to their original places, just in time for the vocalist to take her place behind the microphone. Her voice soars through the room. It's late and I shuffle into the humid air and bustling city. I wonder whether it was just a dream: a friend tells me all parties must come to an end, but the memory of this one will remain with me.

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