Eden: Gay-Friendly in Saigon’s Backpacker District

It was a common enough night at Eden Bar. Fishbowls had given way to a booze-fueled two step (Eden is one of the only bars off Pham Ngu Lao that seems to facilitate dancing). But through the haze of bodies there came a raucous group of forty-something gay men, a rare sight in a relatively [...]

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An Israeli Falafel in Saigon

Falafel enthusiasts and vegetarians rejoice! Falafellim is serving up meal-sized falafel pitas here in Saigon. Located on Pham Ngu Lao just off the traffic circle at Ben Thanh Market, this small, attractive falafel bar was opened a few months ago by an Israeli ex-pat. And while most of the foreign fare you sample in Saigon [...]

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Nam, the Would-be Dune Guide

We were wondering how much weight the tire swing would hold when a skinny boy rappelled down the worn rope from the bridge overhead. He’d barely touched the water before he started slinging questions at us.
Where were we from? America. Where were we staying? Nhat Quang Bungalows. How long had we been in Vietnam? A [...]

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Schwa Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to Us

Ever wonder why the English language is such a font of pop music, or why Europop and Cantopop has always sounded a bit, well, off? (Sorry 2008 Eurovision contestants).
One could argue that since rock ‘n’ roll has its roots in America and England, its progenitors simply have a leg up on the competition. But while [...]

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Update Saigon: All Systems Down

It’s been about a week without posts. Currently, I’m feuding with our Internet connection at the new apartment, and the Internet connection is winning. Moreover, I’m one week into my (quite intensive) four-week CELTA course, heading steadfast towards English Language-teaching credentials. Blogging don’t pay the bills. Now that I’ve got my first two lessons under [...]

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Nam, the Would-be Dune Guide

We were wondering how much weight the tire swing would hold when a skinny boy rappelled down the worn rope from the bridge overhead. He’d barely touched the water before he started slinging questions at us.
Where were we from? America. Where were we staying? Nhat Quang Bungalows. How long had we been in Vietnam? A [...]

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9000 Hours. Give or Take.

This is not a blog about Vietnam. Or rather, it is…or it might be. Hopefully not. Let me explain.
Welcome to 9000 Hours in Saigon. This blog is not currently written from Vietnam, but  it will be in a few short weeks. For the next year (or 9000 hours, approximately) I’ll be penning dispatches from South [...]

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