The winds at the end of the year bring a rare chill to Saigon. Although not as cold as the winter in the Capital, in Saigon, just a little chill is enough to make people feel sad. And while many people hold their cameras to find the cold winter, Bao Nguyen, a photographer living in Ho Chi Minh City, has captured the winter of this city through impressive photos. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, Saigon at the end of the year appears as beautiful as a movie.
A rare corner of Le Loi Avenue on a not-too-crowded afternoon
And in the thin cold air, the sounds of life suddenly became more vibrant. The church bells rang regularly every Advent evening, Christmas songs were bustling from the coffee shops, people were chatting with each other in their daily gossip, even the car horns were not that loud. Just that was enough for people to have a story to tell together besides the constant worries of making a living. Just a gust of wind was enough to make people leave behind the artificial cold air coming from the shops to be moved by the smell of boiled corn, the smell of roasted potatoes on the street, the fragrant skewers on the red-hot charcoal stove.
Inside the cafes, winter is here as customers start ordering hot cups of coffee.
Saigon has its own winter, when the rains suddenly disappear and cool breezes rush in, when the city puts on a new, colorful, splendid coat, when sitting in a familiar corner of a coffee shop sipping a cup of coffee and feeling the pace of life slow down in the cold mist of each early morning, when your heart is excited and eager to wait for Christmas.
During the holiday season, Saigon becomes even more sparkling with decorative lighting systems from buildings and shops on every street.
The end of the year is the best time of year to travel around Ho Chi Minh City.
In the rush of the last days of the year, just a whiff of the winter wind passing by makes this busiest city in Vietnam vaguely slow down a bit, as if it wants to stop for a few seconds to be amazed by this rare gentle weather. The cold lies in a moment of distraction between the two seasons of sun and rain. That is why right in the most bustling cultural and commercial center of Saigon, there are so many people with different professions and nationalities, the cold can please everyone.
A taxi driver captures the sparkling Christmas lights of a high-rise building.
Young people skateboard together on the walking street during a rare quiet time.
Vehicles no longer hustle and bustle on the roads in the evening.
Foreign tourists enjoy the leisurely atmosphere of the last days of the year in Saigon
A security guard took advantage of his break to walk in the chilly air.
Winter in Saigon makes waiting at red lights not so annoying anymore.
Buildings that represent a hectic life also become gentle in the cold weather.
Inside the brightly lit buildings, it could be companies working hard to meet the year-end deadline, or it could be the lights of a party after a period of hard work.
