We had our first dinner in the restaurant of the building where we’re going to live while we look for a rental house. Our girls enjoyed the pool and the food, we started to relax. Marion has found a summer camp across the street where our daughters will spend their next days while I work from the apartment and Marion hunt for a house.

(CC BY-ND) Photos credits — Marion Plisson

Determined to embrace the differences between our culture and vietnamese culture, I quickly head down our building and walk to the local street-side market next to our hotel. I enjoy every bits of it, welcome the smiles and puzzled looks while I browse the fruits and veggies. Most of them unknown to me, I ask with the help of hand language. I make my first bet on the number I hear for the price and verify my understanding when I get the change. It felt so refreshing after years of western convention and customs.

Back to the apartment, with my arms full of fruits, I’m excited to report my discoveries to Marion and invite her to go back with me. Meanwhile, our daughters are having fun in the summer camp pool that we overlook from our apartment. Next steps will involve shopping for food that we can cook, eating our first street-food: pork chop and rice (18000 dongs, < $1).

In just one day in town, we’ve seen a sign of Saigon intense diversity: modern building with all perks found in their western counterparts (gym ,sauna, pool, mall, etc) and local living in simple houses (wood planks and metal roof) selling fresh fruits and veggies.

It was a great start!