Fanta art

I really like the anime girl on this Fanta billboard. Classic Japanese style art. It does not make me want to drink Fanta though

Marble statutes

A few different styles of buddha, lions, kings and queens, a trio that look like mary, joseph and jesus, turtles, frogs and a mermaid. There was also a statue of liberty but it is to the right.

Cows and the city

As is posted a few days ago, there is an area very close to downtown that is undergoing massive transformation from a rural to urban setting. There are many new housing estates under construction but as the snap shows, the old locals have not completely made way for the new brigade just yet.

Soil runoff

Most of the rivers I have seen in Vietnam have a high concentration of soil and are likely to be carrying nitrogen, phosphorous, agrochemicals and soil organic matter. This process will inevitably have some environmental impact, as can be seen in this photo of a river in northern Vietnam

Lights, lamps and neon

Vina CHiPs

Most of the traffic cops here ride these unnecessarily large bikes in what, to me at least, is more a matter of show than anything else. I cannot help thinking of the old TV show CHiPs whenever I see them, especailly as the guys in the beige-yellow outfit always seem to look a little like Ponch

Standard condiments

Rice paddies and bridges

The area in District 2 where the new ring roads are cutting through is relatively rural considering how close it is to the city centre. This rice paddy will surely be non existent in a few years thanks to the Phu My bridge and potential new CDB development.

Local toys

Translation of crab has always been difficult here. However who would want to miss out on the chance to make crap out of blocks?

Durian stall

It seems no other foodstuff quite polarises people like durian. Personally I do not mind the odour and quite like the creamy texture of the fruit. There is quite a sweet aroma when you drive past this stall and at about US$2 a kilo, it is a steal

Classic remnants of a Vietnamese dinner

Evening ferry crossing

Most of the rivers around Saigon no longer require ferries to haul people across them. The second branch of the Mekong outside of Cần Thơ still requires a ferry crossing, although the bridge is not far off completion

Rural produce delivery

Somewhere in the middle of Vietnam

Petrol truck

This is one of those classical sights you can find all over Vietnam. A petrol truck with the large "no smoking" sign and the passenger hanging his arm out the window with a cigarette in it. Why the "no smoking" is written in English I do not know

Mosaique boutique

St Joseph's in Hanoi

During the day the church looks like it needs a paint job, at night it is much more spectacular

Rice field patchwork

August Theme Day - Night

It is a pretty standard sight around HCMC, but may be unusual to those outside of Vietnam. Motorcycle taxis, known as xe ôm, gather around night spots looking for fares. While waiting, it is common to see them stretch out and fall asleep on their bikes. You can get this type of picture 24 hours a day, and it reinforces the notion that Vietnamese are able to fall asleep just about anywhere at anytime

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Another classic from the Việt Nam News

The journos in Hanoi like this type of humour, as can be seen from this doozy last year

Rain over the river

Saigon Pearl under construction

3 wheeled transportation

Rivers and canals

White man on public bus

It is always a rarity to see foreigners on public transport, most have access to their own means of transportation or fork out the fare for a motorcycle or car taxi. I have only caught public transport a couple of times, and that was over 4 years ago. And for nothing more than the novelty of having the experience. There are plans to increase the amount of public transport with a metro network zigzagging across the city. You can read all about this massive project here