Sounds good, James! Hopefully our paths will cross!

Hi Dave, thanks for that – lots of good points there.

I have also noticed the increase of cars on the road which makes me think that Saigon traffic will one day resemble Bangkok traffic. At least with the bikes you can still get around the city relatively quickly. Cars will be a nightmare on these roads.

That is one of my pet peeves as well when people complain about a place modernising, as if it should be preserved in poverty for our enjoyment. I’m all for redevelopment and would love to see a modern skyline and working metro system. This can still be done by preserving heritage buildings. There is enough stock of ugly concrete box buildings that could be knocked down and still have enough room for the historic buildings that people come to see.

Anyway, I’ll be in Saigon later in the year so perhaps I will see you then.

My heart sank a bit when I read your comparison with Singapore. I’ve lived in Singapore since 2011, and am moving to Saigon in July. It saddens me to know how many old historic buildings in Singapore have been squashed to make room for shopping malls and high-rise buildings here. Saigon is where I go to escape Singapore’s hyper-sterile modernity, but after reading your article, it seems fair to predict Saigon could be slowly inching in the same direction.

One observation I will add to your article is that I’ve also noticed how traffic in Saigon has changed since my first visit there seven years ago. I see more expensive motorbikes on the roads there than I used to — a sign that some people are experiencing growing prosperity. I’ve also noticed there are more cars than there used to be, which is a bit scary. If half the motorbikes get replaced by cars, the city will be in gridlock… so while constructing the metro is making some messes, it will be badly needed soon.

I think the bottom line is that Vietnam is rebounding from what you called “decades of underinvestment,” and as the country becomes more prosperous, people will understandably want to modernize and develop — and we can’t fault them for that. (One of my big pet peeves is when tourists complain a place isn’t as “quaint” as it used to be — as if people should avoid modern comforts for the benefit of outsiders.) But I agree with you, it is sad to know that much of the architecture that’s there now is being threatened. The city does have a ramshackle sort of charm to it right now, and as it modernizes, that will likely become a thing of the past.

Maybe this is the Tet version 🙂

Yes it has a “see it before it is gone” feel at the moment!

I have to agree with Nigel. Anywhere there is opportunity to invest then a city is going to be developed into the modern to attract more investment opportunities in businesses, real estate, infrastructure, etc.