Friday morning, Loc took us on a tour of Cholon, Saigon’s busy China Town, starting with the Thien Hau Temple where we raised incense shrouded wishes for our family’s health and happiness.

Next, we toured the Cholon market which is far too big to cover on foot, so Loc hired rickshaws for each of us.

There is a sidewalk vendor or shop for nearly everything imaginable in Cholon. From poultry,…

… to fabrics…

… to casters, of all things.

We disembarked to walk the food market,…

… then got our hair washed and heads and faces massaged.

I’m guessing that this is the most hairstylists Dale has had working on her at one time.

For lunch we had Phở, of course.

Then, we drove back to District 1 which you can see in the distance, below (notice the numbering on the trees).

Loc explained that each tree in central Saigon is numbered, catalogued and monitored to help the city send its maintenance crews to the right trees for trimming.

On the drive back to District 1, we admired the intricate cabling system they have here in Saigon.

As I mentioned previously, we walked around District 1, then we stopped at the War Remnants Museum which I will describe in a later post, before being dropped off at our hotel to freshen up for the highlight of the day: a festive family dinner at Loc’s house in memory of his revered mother!

Meeting Loc’s family and having dinner with them was an experience I will always remember. It will probably be the highlight of this trip. Thank you, Loc. Yo!