Walking around in the market in Saigon you can see all manner of animals for sale. These ‘wet’ markets are the type of place where diseases, such as Covid-19, start up. Different species of wild animals are brought together in close proximity. The people like their food fresh (I suppose the heat has something to do with that). The animals are kept aline in cages and bowls. You select which ones you want and they are slaughtered on the spot – hence blood is splattered and cross-contamination occurs.
The first thing you notice about Ho Chi Min City (Saigon) is the traffic. The roads are one mad rush of motorbikes. To cross the road is a nightmare. If you waited for a break in the traffic you’d be there all day. You have to walk across at a steady pace and allow the traffic to flow around you. It’s very nerve-racking the first few times but you get used to it and we didn’t get killed once!
The second thing you notice is crash hats. Sometimes whole families of five are on one motorbike. Little kids and babies clinging on. Often the parents are wearing crash hats but not the kids.
Then there’s the luggage and baggage. It is amazing how much can be transported on a little motorbike.
