Buzz
After a night of pouring rain, Saigon seemed to transform, immersed in a refreshing atmosphere reminiscent of Hanoi's autumn...
I moved to and lived in Saigon amid scorching hot days; the intense heat often left me exhausted. Even as the weather transitioned to the last months of the year, the heat remained relentless.
For someone born and raised in Hanoi, accustomed to the chilly winds of early winter, this environment proved challenging and only intensified my yearning for the cold of the capital city.
Suddenly, amidst the solitude of Saigon, lyrics from Pham Hong Phuoc's song come to mind, perfectly resonating with my current mood...
'Saigon remains small, as I think, without you
As in a song,
The city is small, endlessly searching.
Whether it's small or large, in the end, it's just a city
And we struggle in our own loneliness....'
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLMTGrJS6w[/embed]
Returning to my story, my longing for Hanoi found solace when the strange, chilly winds swept into Saigon in early November. After a night of pouring rain, Saigon transformed, immersed in a refreshing atmosphere like Hanoi's autumn.
Of course, I couldn't miss out on that rare chilly day in this young city, so I grabbed my camera, hopped on a bike, and joined the leisurely flow of people on the last day of the week. 'Where to on such a precious day?' - I pondered. In the end, I decided on District 1, the heart of Saigon.
1. The Simple, Cozy, and Reverent Beauty of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica on a Chilly Day
On regular days, my preference is for the hot, sunny days of Saigon, where Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica bathes in brilliant sunlight amidst the bustling rhythm of the city. It's an image of vibrant energy, and I, at some point, grew accustomed to such a cathedral space.
However, my thoughts had to shift on that chilly weekend day; I discovered in this place a simple, cozy beauty, humble yet full of deep, reverent antiquity, much like Hanoi's grand cathedral or ancient streets. In an instant, I felt transported back to the familiar streets of beloved Hanoi.
Early in the morning, I strolled to the park next to the cathedral to enjoy a glass of strong Saigonese iced milk coffee and observe the passing crowd. It seems people also appreciate this cool, gentle atmosphere, as everyone's faces are lit up with smiles.
2. Embracing the Vintage Ambiance of the City's Post Office
After finishing the iced milk coffee, I visited the city's post office. Honestly, I haven't revisited this place since moving to Saigon half a year ago. Partly due to busyness, partly because I haven't found a suitable reason.
Here, on a chilly day like this, I'm drawn to this place - the largest and oldest post office in Saigon. I must say I find the harmonious blend of European-Asian architecture in the city's post office quite fascinating; it's challenging to find any flaw in the design of this building.
What I love the most are the postcards here; I discover beautiful corners of Saigon, simple Saigonese people on these small pieces of paper. It's challenging to resist, so I bought a few postcards and sent them to my friends abroad.
3. Enjoying the Cool Shade on Nguyen Van Binh Book Street
Initially, I had no plans to pass by this book street because, to me, it could never compare to Dinh Le in Hanoi, but then I was enticed by the refreshing shade of the trees here.
Here I am, stepping into this street on a chilly Sunday morning, and I'm almost completely conquered by the quiet and gentle atmosphere. It seems that the chilly winds make this book street even more beautiful.
It would be a shame not to sit down, enjoy a hot cup of tea, and indulge in a favorite book. So, I took a little break, went to the book cafe to carve out some quiet space for myself.
4. Crossing Mống Bridge to silently observe the crowd
Saigon is surrounded by branches of the Mekong River, hence there are numerous bridges here. I have crossed quite a few bridges, but it seems none are as beautiful as Mống Bridge - a small, lovely bridge spanning the narrow canal of Saigon.
Of course, I couldn't forget this bridge on a day when Saigon looked so gentle and beautiful. That's why I came here after leaving the book street. Partly because I was curious about how this bridge would look during the day.
Standing on the bridge, looking down at the calm river on a chilly day is quite interesting. It's like all my worries suddenly disappear, my heart feels light, and there are no everyday troubles. Usually, when you like something, it looks beautiful to you; on a chilly day like this, I not only have a beautiful bridge but also a beautiful atmosphere, so there's nothing to complain about.
Yes, that's how I had a gentle chilly day in Saigon, but truly memorable. I don't know if I'll have the chance to experience such cold days in this city again, but I believe it will be something that I'll always remember about...
Saigon,
09/12/2017.
