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The last winds of the year bring a rare chill to Saigon. While not as bitterly cold as the capital's winter, even a slight coolness in Saigon is enough to stir emotions. And while many people are searching for images of freezing winters, Bao Nguyen, a photographer living in Ho Chi Minh City, has captured the city's winter through his striking photographs. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, Saigon in the final days of the year appears as beautiful as a cinematic film.
A rare corner of Le Loi Avenue that wasn't too crowded at sunset.
And in the delicate chill, the sounds of life suddenly become more vibrant. The church bells chime regularly every Advent evening, Christmas carols fill the air from cafes, people chat about everyday things, even the car horns seem less noisy. That alone is enough for people to have a conversation with each other, beyond the constant worries of making a living. Just a breeze is enough to make people leave behind the artificial chill emanating from the shops and be captivated by the aromas of boiled corn and roasted potatoes on the street, the fragrant skewers sizzling over glowing charcoal.
Inside the cafes, winter is palpable as customers begin ordering warm cups of coffee.
Saigon has its own unique winter: when the rains suddenly disappear and cool breezes sweep in, when the city dons a new, dazzling, colorful coat, when you sit in your favorite corner cafe sipping a cup of coffee and feeling the slow pace of life in the chilly mist of each early morning, when your heart is filled with anticipation and excitement for Christmas.
During the festive season, Saigon becomes even more dazzling with decorative lights illuminating buildings and shops throughout the city.
The end of the year is the best time of year to travel around Ho Chi Minh City.
In the hustle and bustle of the final days of the year, just a fleeting whiff of winter breeze is enough to make this busiest city in Vietnam subtly slow down, as if wanting to pause for a few seconds to marvel at this rare, gentle weather. The cold lies in that fleeting moment between the sunny and rainy seasons. And so, even in the heart of Saigon's most vibrant cultural and commercial center, home to countless people of different professions and nationalities, the cold manages to please everyone.
A taxi driver captures the dazzling Christmas lights illuminating a high-rise building.
Young people are seen skateboarding on the pedestrian street during a rare lull in crowds.
The roads are no longer bustling with traffic as evening approaches.
Foreign tourists enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the year-end days in Saigon.
A security guard takes advantage of his breaks to stroll in the cool air.
In Saigon during winter, waiting at traffic lights is no longer such a nuisance.
Even buildings that represent a fast-paced life become gentle in the cool weather.
Inside those brightly lit buildings, it could be companies working diligently to meet year-end deadlines, or perhaps the lights of a celebratory party after a period of hard work and dedication.
