So many places to see, so little time...

A dam on the river Da beat Sapa and Fansipan.

It's been hard to find time to update the blog, as we've had some very long days in the road - up to 14-15 hours. We're now at the top of Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Vietnam - just next to Sapa, having some tea while waiting for the fog to clear. Very modern and effective tourist machine the Japanese have set up here!

Enjoying some heat from the fireplace on a foggy and cold morning, O Quy Ho pass at 2035 meters altitude.

I will keep posting chronologically until I've covered the whole trip, there's so many more photos I want to share!

Cho Lon residential buildings

This residential area in Cholon was burnt down and rebuilt in the 60s, during the war. Unlike much of HCMC which is a mix of modern and ancient buildings, this area is uniformly quite modern concrete housing, yet also very worn down.

It seems people here live very hard lives, with demanding physical work being the norm. Most of the people I met were motorcycle or cyclo drivers.

A motorcycle driver who lost his eye sight in an accident. His neighbours look out for him and help him get by.

A xe ôm (motorcycle taxi) driver with his two dogs in his tiny room, his bed is above the white plastic chair. His wife passed away eight months ago.

A cyclo driver enjoying a break and a cold beer.

Cholon motor parts district

Like Chinatown in Bangkok, Cho Lon has an area dedicated to selling, recycling and manufacturing motor parts. The work is done streetside, by people of all ages, and the tempo and energy is impressive.

Selling scooter tires in colourful wrappings.

Cholon backstreets and alleyways

Around Binh Tay Market in District 6 lies Cho Lon or Cholon - HCMCs Chinatown. It is very densely populated and the area has a myriad of narrow passageways and streets with all sorts of production, construction work and recycling of used goods going on as well.

It's easy to spend hours exploring the area, and without the help of French photographer Arnaud I would most likely have gotten lost. He has been living in the city for fifteen years, speaks Vietnamese and shows photography enthusiasts like me around for a living. Arnaud is a great photographer and knows the city well, and I would recommend anyone with an interest in photography to get in touch with him - have a look at his website for more info.

Cutting bamboo strips for basket production.

A little shrine by a corner, and a girl keeping a watchful eye on the tourist.

If there's room to walk, there's room to drive a scooter.

District 1

The first area most tourists will see is District 1, Central Saigon, the financial centre of HCMC, shaped like a mirrored L it stretches east and eastward from the chaotic backpacker area around Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien street to the posh area around the 68 floors tall Bitexco Financial tower and northwards to the Jade Emperor Pagoda.

The area around Bitexco and the Opera House is dominated by international franchises and high end brands - Versace, Top Shop, Starbucks and many more are all well represented. You get a feeling of being in a generic rich area of any major international city, but there are interesting spots like the Opera, the rooftop bar of the Caravelle and especially the spectacular 360 degree view from the bar at the 52nd floor of the tower.

Workers completing questionnaires by the helipad of the Bitexco Tower.

One of many luxury hotels in Central Saigon.

Bui Vien is reminiscent of Bangkok's Khao San Road, full of tacky bars and cheap hostels and hotels catering to wastern tourists, but also has a few gems - truly nice restaurants and places to stay, right in the middle of the chaos. A fair share of Vietnamese travellers also stay in this area, and the narrow alleyways are full of guest houses and little shops. Even though it is very intense, it is very central and a convenient spot to stay for easy access to most sights.

The western side of District 1, with Ben Thanh Market to the left of the building under construction and the backpacker area on Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien Street along the left side of the park .

Bui Vien street at night - a bit after the worst rush hour.

Stars on flags, stars on billboards - an odd mix of capitalist and socialist propaganda is present all over the city.

Potted trees along the Saigon River. The whole city is very lush, with parks and planted trees.

Preparing Banh Mi at the tiny but famous Banh Mi Huynh Hoa on Le Thi Rieng. It is a term for all sorts of bread, but is also used for the typical Vietnamese baguette with a variety of meats, a spread of pate, herbs and chillies.