Turns out the road at the end of
the alley, Bui Vien is the centre of the Pham Ngu Lao area night life. Dozens
of bars and restaurants along the street. Had dinner in one of them, Xich Lo. Marinaded beef with French fries
with a bottle of Saigon Green beer
Never did work out the difference
between green and red. Tried both last year and they seemed the same to me.
Three types of bars along Bui Vien. The cheapest have small plastic chairs
along the pavement. Popular with locals and the young backpacker crowd. Mid
range are proper bars many of which serve food too. I was hoping to find some bars
with live music but could only find two. One had a boring singer and the other
a rock band playing to themselves. I had a beer in the bar opposite the Spotted
Cow, which was recommended in one of the guides, but looked fairly quiet. Not
that the one I was in was very lively. The third type of bar is the "Buy
me a Drink" bars each with a bevy of young women outside beckoning the
clients. All appeared empty of paying customers. I don't mind buying a drink
for one girl for the pleasure of her company but I don't want to be paying for
the whole bar. No doubt all the other guys think the same so it remains empty.
Would have thought it made sense for them to get some mates in to make the
place look more inviting. Or maybe they rely on the fact that after a few
drinks enough men are sufficiently gullible. Using the WiFi in the bar I was
able to track down some places that might have been better but they were all
quite a trek away. After my beer I headed back up the alley to the hotel.
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| Saigon Green |
Must be a lot worse ways to spend an evening! Hope you get as good a photo of Saigon Red.
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