Comments on: Random Saigon: Little Stools, Big Wires, and Lots of Smiles

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:59:33 +0000

This is too sweet!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:20:57 +0000

@Barbara – LOL: stuffed toys, balloons – I think the two together help to paint the almost cartoon picture of randomness that is “my” Saigon!

Tet sounds lovely. I guess you’ll be visiting with family and friends yourself. Please enjoy some good food and great friendly smiles for me! I’ll be there in spirit. 🙂

By: Barbara - The Dropout Diaries

Barbara - The Dropout Diaries — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:45:36 +0000

Oh, and here was I thinking this poor girl doesn’t know the difference between a stuffed toy and a helium balloon. 🙂

Anyway, Tet falls in January next year. It’s like the Western Christmas, it’s a family time. So everyone goes home and hangs out with their family, eats a lot, naps a long and catches up with their friends. It’s basically a week-long public holiday, with most places shut. Vietnamese businesses often operate seven days a week, so it’s the only holiday small traders get — and they make the most of it.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:50:20 +0000

@Baron’s – I so wish I could replicate those noodles; they’ve been a favourite most of my life, but eating them in that context took it to a whole new level!
As for the store owner strategy, it was something I’d heard from a local. It’s fairly conjectural, but I’m willing to bet it’s accurate!

@Barbara – Why is January so quiet? Does is have something to do with Tet?
And yes, it’s quite obvious that those are helium balloons! I didn’t have any pictures of stuffed toys, and I made reference in the previous paragraph to people putting absurd things on the backs of bikes, so I THOUGHT it made sense to put it in there. I’m sorry for the confusion! 🙂

By: Barbara - The Dropout Diaries

Barbara - The Dropout Diaries — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:26:46 +0000

Oh, I miss Saigon. I loved our little corner of Binh Thanh District.
I’m looking back to going back again for Tet next January. It will be a lot quieter then, though — hardly any sidewalk cafes will be open.
By the way, the “stuffed toys” on the back of the motorbike are actually helium balloons! 🙂

By: Baron's

Baron's — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:51:57 +0000

Superb…love the details…the noodles must have been superlicious…you look good on that small stool…loll..how did you get to know the store or stall owners will meet to agree on the lowest price bid on a specific item? ineresting strategy

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:32:08 +0000

Oh it was! I think the “discussion” about age was the funniest; they laughed in surprise when we (Jeannie and I) told them how old we were (they thought we were much younger), and we reciprocated by “telling” a 60 year old woman that she looks 30 (which actually wasn’t far off – she looked great!). Made her day. 🙂

By: Matthew Karsten

Matthew Karsten — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:24:05 +0000

Noodle lady charades! Sounds like fun. 🙂