Saigon In My Heart

Saigon In My Heart

If "Saigon in Memories" was a journey through the streets, landmarks, and architectural heritage of the city, then "Saigon in My Heart" is an invitation to sit down on a small plastic stool at a sidewalk quan coc, to listen to the heartbeat of this city through its flavors, sounds, and people

Saigon is not just about buildings, it is the crispy sound of a hot banh mi in the morning, the bitter-sweet taste of coffee in a street corner, and the haunting melodies of the Au O lullaby drifting from a quiet hem. It is the vibrant symphony of street vendor cries, the "tinkling” of the fortune teller, and the laughter of children chasing kites or fighting crickets in the open fields of the suburbs.

This book holds the intangible soul of my hometown. It preserves the memories of a time when happiness was as simple as a paper lantern under the full moon or a piece of keo keo (taffy) shared with friends.

Like "Saigon in Memories”, ”Saigon in My Heart" is also a truly meaningful gift for real Saigonese, residents of the 4X and 5X generations, those who dropped by Saigon once and even those who left Saigon for any reason.

These short writings were previously published in Tuoi Tre newspaper, Phu Nu HCMC Catholic magazine, Người Lao Dong newspaper, Giao Dục & Thoi Dai, the semi-monthly magazine Ao Trang, HCMC Tourist magazine, Saigon Tiep Thi, and Saigon Giải Phong Saturday

Read to reminisce about a Saigon that is never far away

Nguyen Ngoc Ha