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City
Life.
The city life in Vietnam is amazing, and
many of the people work on the streets, socialize and have their meals there. It
is common to see people sitting out in the streets watching the world go by, and
children playing either elastics or kicking a vortex.
| Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest city
in Vietnam. There are many beautiful buildings that were built by the
French. In 2009 many of the smaller buildings have been demolished to make
way for large hotels for the
tourists. There are many markets and restaurants. As Tet
arrives, parts of
the city are full of stalls selling beautiful flowers. |
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| Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It
also has lovely buildings, a lake in the center of the city and many parks. Millions of
people live in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. |
In 2008 the main forms of transport is
motor bike, and there are an increasing number of cars, taxi's and jumbo taxi's
on the roads. The cars, taxis and motor bikes sound their horns all the time therefore the cities are busy and noisy.
There are some traffic lights in the main streets of the big cities, but
attempting to cross the road where there are no traffic lights is an experience.
As you stand on the pavement it is hard to work out how to get to the other
side. The pedestrian must walk slowly across the road, and not stop, the cars
and motor bikes will go around them. Every big city has rows
of small shops, there are very few department stores and people usually shop in the markets that
sell everything.
Tourists and locals use a three wheeled bicycle
called cyclos as a taxi. The cyclo drivers can be seen sleeping on their cyclos at night
as many of them are homeless.
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Whereas in earlier times along the
streets a
pump and a bowl of water was a bicycle repair shop, now motor bikes
are repaired on the side of the road. A mirror and a chair is a barber shop, and
a chair and a box a shoe shine. The streets of the cities are busy with people on their
way to work in shops , offices and factories. |
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When walking on the streets
you can smell the strong scents of food being cooked at the street stalls. Bread rolls,
fruit, noodles, bottled water and cigarettes are also for sale. There are many fine hotels
for the growing tourist trade and restaurants are very popular with the locals and
tourists.
| Most children go to school either in the
morning or afternoon. The Vietnamese know it is important to get an education. After
school, some children have to work long hours selling goods on the streets
to help their families. When there is no
school, children can be seen playing in the streets. |
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In the city some houses are made out
of brick and have tiled roofs. The older houses are in poor condition and often have no
water or electricity. These are being replaced by new single fronted houses
that are up to six stories high and are brightly painted. In 2009 on the
outskirts of the city suburbs of these tall narrow houses are replacing rice
fields.
Many Vietnamese people live in high apartment buildings where 3 generations can live in
one apartment. |
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By Melanie and Angela
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