Saigon 2018

This summer, I had planned to visit Vancouver, but finances, and other issues, made it so we had to postpone it until next year. While I am more than a bit depressed about that, I am happy to get to spend so much time in both Manila and Saigon. I'll save Manila for another post, and work on Saigon here.

Last time I was in Saigon was in 2015 doing the CELTA, and I did not enjoy the city much. I think part of it was the Celta, a redundant and grossly overpriced teaching "qualification" I was doing there. It left me with a bitter taste in my mouth regarding Saigon. It also didn't help that I was living on Bui Vien, the backpacker ghetto of Saigon. This combination, after so many years in Korea and with a much superior qualification already under my belt, left me ready to get out. However, the opportunity to visit friends doesn't come along every day, and given that two of my best ones now live there, and seem to really enjoy it, I decided to head back. I'm really glad I did.

First off, Saigon off of Bui Vien is actually a cool city. Lots of places to visit and, while there is not much to see compare to the central and northern parts of Vietnam, there is way more to do. Walks, parks, coffee shops and bars all make for a surprisingly liveable city when you are actually able to live there. I've changed my mind about it so much so that I would seriously entertain job options there in the future. It also helped that Mike and Will were such exceptional hosts that it made it almost impossible NOT to have a good time, but the city itself was cool, and I certainly hope to head back before long, but that will depend on exactly what happens and where I wind up this semester. In fact, Mike was good enough to let me sleep on his fold out couch for a week. While I wouldn't expect that every time I visit, it was very generous, and made the whole trip very affordable as well as fun, so that was great too.

As to what I did. Well speaking of the CELTA, I never actually bothered to pick it up, as no one has ever asked me for it once they see the MA (see how useful it is?), but given that I was staying walking distance from the ILA I did it at, I thought it made sense to pick it up. To be fair, the ILA Vietnamese staff were always great when I was doing it there, and they still are, finding it for me in a storage locker somewhere. So now I have it. Yay.

Otherwise I did a couple walking tours with Will along the river and around district 1. The three of us also hit a few bars, and otherwise just hung out. It was great to see Saigon off of Bui Vien, and as I said, it completely changed my perspective on Saigon in particular, and Vietnam in general. I hope to go back again soon, and with the MUCH improved visa process, it makes it much more accessible on a 4 day weekend from Korea. Though Mike has already suggested meeting up in Cebu city next time, which could also be fun, and it is also very accessible from Korea.

In any event, I hope to head back soon.