San Francisco – The City of Fog

City of Hills

Few people know that this famous American city sits atop 43 hills, although only 7 of them are natural. With a 41% gradient, Bradford is the steepest street in the city. It's no surprise that sneakers are one of the most popular and best-selling items here. My friends joke that the streets of San Francisco are like an outdoor gym. Just slip on your shoes and go, and you're guaranteed to get fit.

I've never liked being stuck in traffic, but the experience of being stuck in traffic in San Francisco was incredibly memorable. The scenery was so beautiful that it gave me extra time to leisurely observe the simple life along the roadside, things we sometimes overlook in our rush. The most interesting part was being stuck halfway up a slope, at an angle of about 30 degrees; I was worried the car might roll backward. The roads stretched endlessly, soaring straight up into the sky. Each car lined up like a swarm of ants marching back to their nest.

A gift from nature

If the city center is a landscape of skyscrapers housing the major financial and banking centers of the West Coast, colorful rows of classic Victorian-style buildings, and bohemian hippie streets, then just about 30 minutes' drive outside the center, I felt like I was in a completely different world.

The deep blue sea and sky of the bay bearing the same name as the city unfolded before me. I wasn't in a hurry to join the bustling crowds at Fisherman's Wharf, where seafood is a must-try. Nor was I in a rush to buy tickets to the maritime museum and the historic fleets anchored at Hyde Street harbor. The clear, sunny sky beckoned me to walk in the opposite direction, leaving the throngs behind. The bay was surprisingly tranquil, a picture-perfect scene.

As the largest bay in California and one of the most important and famous bays in the world, San Francisco Bay is a docking point for many sailboats, yachts, and large warships. Numerous businesses, both large and small, offer cruise tours of the bay with attractive itineraries. You can choose to watch the sunset or sunrise over the bay, sip wine, enjoy dishes prepared by professional chefs, and immerse yourself in soothing classical music.

After strolling around the bay, I boarded the bus again to continue my journey. I absolutely love using public transportation here. Not only is it cheap (a $2.25 ticket allows unlimited rides for half a day), modern, and fast, but I can also interact with people from all walks of life. Having become a familiar face after spending a long time in this bay city, one thing I can't help but notice while using the bus is how African Americans, after buying their tickets, silently walk straight to the back. A lingering image of racial segregation from 1955, the time of Reverend Martin Luther King.

I arrived at Sutro Baths, known as the world's largest indoor saltwater pool, now just ruins after the entire structure was destroyed in a fire in the summer of 1966. The view of the Pacific Ocean from here is breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Sutro Baths is never empty, but it's never overly crowded either. Sutro Baths is incredibly clear when the sun shines, highlighting the tiny figures of people against the rugged yet majestic rocky terrain. As the sun sets, the thick darkness envelops everything. The only thing to do is lie down on the natural mat of earth and look up at the twinkling starry sky.

A city of many colors

Ethnic, cultural, and traditional diversity is a core value of San Francisco, as many communities around the world call it home. According to 2010 statistics, 50% of the city's population comes from countries in the remaining four continents. Perhaps that's why festivals are regularly held to highlight national pride and identity, to connect communities, and to enhance cultural exchange.

San Francisco is known for the world-famous Folsom sex festival (September), not to mention other festivals that take place throughout the year, attracting large numbers of visitors from all over the world.

Because San Francisco is a multicultural city, its cuisine is incredibly diverse. The biggest food festival is held annually in August at Pier 70. I was truly surprised to see how the old, weathered shipyards have been repurposed into a unique destination. Pier 70 used to be a shipyard and repair facility since the San Francisco Gold Rush. It underwent simple renovations to ensure safety, adopting an old-fashioned yet unconventional style. The space inside the shipyard is quite large, accommodating around 100 food stalls of various sizes representing cuisines from around the world, such as Italian, French, Mexican, Japanese, and Indian. The fragrant aroma of Korean kimchi stew, the crispy bite of famous Mexican tacos… crowds eagerly await their turn.

Experience the "wind-catching" feeling.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a gateway to the city, built on a site once famous for the California Gold Rush. The bridge appears frequently in films and is certainly one of the most photographed bridges.

I jokingly called my experience on the Golden Gate Bridge a "wind-catching" experience. One of the weather characteristics of San Francisco is wind and frequent fog, especially in the summer. Add to that the bridge's height of 67 meters above sea level, and walking across it wasn't ideal for me. A local suggested, "Ride your bike, you can stop anytime." The bridge has separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, making it very safe. If you walk, buses drop you off at the foot of the bridge, and you can walk back up the 1,970-meter route. Cycling, however, allowed me more flexibility and to go further.

To truly love and explore every corner of this beautiful city, a few days are definitely not enough. I stayed longer to experience life like a local. I found myself blending into the bustling crowds in downtown, a bag in one hand, a coffee cup in the other, my steps hurried as if I were running. I found myself wandering through the Castro district, blushing the first time I saw the naked parade around the city. My heart sank, feeling sorry for the homeless lying abandoned on the streets. And if someone were to compile a list of San Francisco's biggest fans someday, I think I would be the most loyal and enthusiastic one.

Additional information:

+Time:

Temperatures in San Francisco range from 6 to 23 degrees Celsius year-round. Summer, from June to September, is considered ideal as it's the dry season with pleasant weather. A typical summer day usually begins with fog, clears up to midday with warm sunshine, and becomes breezy around 4 or 5 p.m. The downtown area is less windy due to the surrounding tall buildings, but the air is cooler as you move toward the Bay Area. Visitors should dress in layers and always carry a jacket in case of sudden weather changes.

+ Journey:

Currently, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to San Francisco, so travelers will have to make several stopovers. From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you can choose to fly with airlines such as Eva Airways, China Air (with a layover in Taipei); Korean Air, Asiana Air (with a stopover in Seoul); and Japan Air (with a stopover in Tokyo).

+ Getting around San Francisco:

-BART: The transportation system in this foggy city is incredibly simple and convenient. From San Francisco International Airport, you can use the BART rapid transit system to go directly to the city center. Get off at Powell station, as it's a central point, making it easy to explore the surrounding area. Ticket price: USD 8.95

-Cable cars operate on 3 routes. Ticket price: USD 7/ride. Powell-Hyde line: from the city center to the bay area, this is the most scenic route as the car goes up and down many hills, giving the feeling of riding a roller coaster in the air. Powell-Mason line: from the city center to the bay area, very close to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39.

-Suggestion: It's best to take the cable car early in the morning (around 7 am), when it's still foggy, cool, the sun is gradually rising, and it's not too crowded. From 8 am onwards, there will always be a long line of about a hundred people waiting for the cable car. You should sit in the outdoor area to enjoy the panoramic view of the city.

- The MUNI (Muni Train): This is a train system that runs along the main routes throughout San Francisco, making it extremely convenient to travel from one borough to another. The fare is USD 2.25 per ride.

-Bus (MUNI): runs around the city. Don't worry if you're afraid of getting lost. Just ask the driver where you want to go, and they'll drop you off at the nearest stop or station. Fare: USD 2.25/trip.

+ Cuisine:

San Francisco boasts an incredibly diverse culinary scene. Chinatown offers Chinese cuisine, while Little Italy provides a wide variety of European dishes. Fisherman's Wharf and other bayfront restaurants are renowned for their fresh seafood. Additionally, restaurants specializing in international cuisine (Korean, Japanese, Indian, etc.) are scattered throughout the city.

Suggestion: Use the YELP app – a website providing information about restaurants, services, and shopping with objective reviews and ratings from consumers themselves.

A unique experience:

Don't miss the sunset in San Francisco: From the top of Twin Peaks, at an altitude of 282m, you'll be treated to a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the city.

Text and photos: Anh Thy

The Thanh