Sam Hoai Trung met us at the airport a little tipsy from celebrating the end of the Lunar New Year. We dubbed him Uncle Sam.
The first day was free time and we stayed close, only walking a few blocks. It was enough to know that Saigon is full of really crazy people on motorbikes (scooters). There are over three million in a city with about eight million inhabitants. The trick to crossing a street is to just go for it, don't stop and don't look back. We found a Circle K and bought toiletries and cold drinks.
The people are friendly and hospitable. While resting in a park a gentleman came over and offered to buy us a drink. We were a bit apprehensive about his intentions but think he just wanted to practice his English. Phuc is a musician who teaches at the local academy. He played a couple of his compositions on a guitar before pulling out a wooden flute and playing some more familiar tunes. Afterward he walked with us around a park that was still set up for their big Tet celebrations then we bade him farewell and thanked him for his kindness.
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