This city is CRAZY with motorcycles. When I was last here in 2002 I remember a lot more bicycles. Progress . . .

Whether driven by businessmen, pretty young girls, merchants laden with goods, construction workers, mothers with kids, fruit vendors, or pizza delivery boys, it seems like millions of motorcyclists dodge and dart and weave in and around cars, pedestrians, bicyclists and anything else that dares get in their path. Most are wearing scarves or masks in a futile effort to escape the exhaust fumes.

Since my hosts have scheduled nothing on this first day of my Familiarization Trip itinerary in Saigon, I’m exploring. “Aimlessly wandering,” as is my favorite practice in a strange place.

It’s getting dark and I have no idea where I am, or where my hotel is. I could take a taxi . . . but that seems too easy.
When a nice man offers to give me a ride on his motorcycle, why not? My trusty intuition says, “You go, girl!” Mind you – I’d never do this back home!

I show him my key card from the Inter-Continental Hotel. He points to the address and nods his head. But I’m absolutely certain he has no idea where it is.

Time for an adventure! He offers me a helmet and I strap it on.

A little old lady wanders over from her spot on the sidewalk where she sells books from a tiny wooden cart. She’s pointing and smiling. I give her my video camera to take our picture. To the camera, I say, “What’s up?” – and she repeats it!

My driver warns me to put the camera away. “Mafia,” he says.

But there’s no way I cannot capture this on film. Watch the video to have an experience for yourself!