There are a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to Pham Ngu Lao. Some see it as a haven for cheap beer and wild nights; others avoid Bui Vien like the plague.
In a testament to the many different perspectives people can have, Vimeo user Pedro J. Saavedra created a travel video focused largely around Saigon's Pham Ngu Lao that brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the flashing neon lights, blaring horns and constant yelling of the backpacker neighborhood.
Simply titled Vietnam, the video opens with a dreamy piano melody and twilight shots of Bui Vien. From there, a lone backpacker wanders through the neighborhood, street vendors cook in narrow alleys and a motorist flashes a peace sign at a red light. Further along, the video highlights everyday scenes in urban Vietnam and the riverine lifestyles of both Delta residents and the rowers at Tam Coc up north.
While the whimsical soundtrack will catch many off-guard, Saavedra has managed to take one of the city's more raucous neighborhoods and find a bit of that same serene Saigon charm that exists in other neighborhoods around town.
