Saigon also has it

. . . a 'feasting and partying district'. Its center is the 'bui vien' street.

The phrase 'Pho di bo' in the depicted spelling (with the accents is important) roughly means: pedestrian street. The English translation is a bit more free and fitting. On Sundays, the street is blocked off for all vehicles with barricades and police. On weekdays, they rely on signs that prohibit cars from driving after 7:00 PM. But only a few people in Saigon pay attention to such signs.

Along this street, you'll find pubs lined up on both sides, occasionally interrupted by a few hotels or individual massage parlors, whose business idea didn't always align with the waiting staff, who were mostly young, scantily-clad ladies.

The pubs range from small family-run eateries to very large disco-like establishments.

Often, there are backpacker hostels above the pubs. Staying there must be something special because this street is not only incredibly colorful and flashy but also insanely loud. Ear-piercing music comes from every pub. And on weekdays, there are also the allowed mopeds and the unauthorized cars.

You can't hear your own words on the street anymore. Yet, there are actually people who sit down to eat in one of these restaurants with ear-damaging sound levels. Unimaginable for us. That's why we escaped to a rooftop bar for a cocktail, where the background music was more subdued.