Beer and grilled meats in the afternoon

Bia tuoi's (beer halls) are raucous dirt-on-the-floor type affairs that are great fun. This one is down the end of my street and is preparing for the evening ahead by pre-cooking some meats on the street side BBQ

Coffee and cigarettes

A very standard male-dominated Vietnamese tradition is to sit in the shade by the side of the road, sip a coffee, share a smoke and swap stories with your brethren.

Pharmacies late afternoon

Blue house

Lonely at the bus stop

The Manor #2 nears completion

Saigon Pearl

Coming into land

Beach bonfire

Roadside mechanic

Reading a book while waiting for a mechanic to fix your bike - a standard street scene. As is the stains and mess left on the footpath

Beer and squid

Thu Thiem bridge and Saigon Pearl

Dusk over the suburbs

Phu My bridge

Cho Ray Hospital #1

A colleague has been in the local hospital all week. Cho Ray is one of the better health facilities in town, but was also a sobering reminder of the level of services available and what we are used to elsewhere

Cho Ray Hospital #2

7 floors up there are no walls, which allows for air to circulate, but they are still pretty rugged conditions laying on a bed among the other patients. The people camped against the wall are family, with a heap of belongings and food, making it very crowded

Replacing a tyre

Glad I was not getting on that plane

April Theme Day - Red

Communism and socialism identify with the colour red. However with the push of globalisation into socialist politics all is not as clearly defined as it once was.


Bill Hayton, BBC correspondent in Vietnam in 2006-7 had released a book that charts the changes in Vietnam with a mix of reportage and behind the scenes analysis. It tackles big topics - democracy vs one party rule, development vs environment and much more.

"Examining nearly every aspect of Vietnamese politics and society, from the economy and family life, to religion and the plight of indigenous minorities, Hayton gives a balanced, intelligent account of a country whose history so differs from our own." Justin Wintle, Financial Times

"This is a cleverly pitched book, one that will appeal equally to a businessman or investor seeking a briefing on Vietnam, an old Asia hand, or an inquisitive backpacker." Petroc Trelawny, Irish Times

Get on it 

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

New meaning for the term Helmet Hair?

Cyclo's at dusk

Table cooking

One of my favourite Vina eats is the barbecue on the table - marinated meat and seafood done over a few coals, so tasty. This version is much better than the gas BBQs found at more upscale restaurants.

Rain coulds return to the city

It rained a little last night. Has the wet season returned?

Writing instrument

When did the word "pen" go out of fashion?

Another billboard

Following on from yesterday, another billboard adorning half a house. This one at least is advertising something a little better than Phaner Pies

Phaner Pie

Looking identical to the world famous but equally woeful Choco Pie, the Phaner Pie seems to be a concoction of thermonuclear marshmallow squeezed between two hard stale biscuits and covered in a brown substance touted as chocolate but am assured is closer to carob. I couldn't think of anything worse. I don't think these guys could either