The Real Saigon: A Look Beyond the Tourist Spots

Are you ready for a look beyond the tourist spots in Saigon, Vietnam?
I walk from District 1 to almost District 5 via alleys, speaking Vietnamese with the locals and ordering a bánh mì, fresh guava juice, and nước mía (sugarcane juice) from local street vendors. The alleys are tight and mysterious, and adventure lurks around every corner.
Along the way, I get an authentic glimpse into local daily life in Saigon, Vietnam. I also discover more about the culture of the alley communities, which have been home to generations of Saigonese.
This is a video for anyone who wants to experience the real Saigon, off the beaten path. So come with me and explore the hidden alleys of this vibrant city!
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoyed this travel vlog.
If you did, please leave a like and subscribe to my channel for more videos like this!
If enjoyed this video, or if you just want to support my channel, you can send me a tip via PayPal:
www.paypal.me/bigtimebentley
Thank you! 😊
#alleyexploration #hcmc #travelvlog #lifeinvietnam

[@hoatuyetly6841]

It really amazes me how a tiny alley entrance can open up to a larger alley. Nice job exploring. Thanks

[@BigTimeBentley]

Thanks for watching!

[@scratchtotable]

👍👍

[@LanNguyen-cs2ft]

Thank you 🤗’

[@BigTimeBentley]

you're welcome!

[@viniciusvoon8564]

❤

[@Bo-tz4nw]

Great tourisr selfies here! Thanks for filming yourself. Keep up the good work!

[@BigTimeBentley]

thanks for watching and the kind comment!

[@sontruong2301]

😎👍

[@BigTimeBentley]

Cheers bro

[@jonathanluong4855]

Very adventurous, Bentley and I like your video! Do you need to do the visa run every 3 months, now? What kind of health insurance and when you withdraw cash from the ATM, do you get charge a transaction fee?

[@anhbinbaccuc8850]

I don't know if you knew you passed by a grave when you pointed and said "air conditioning repairs". The single house with a bunch of washing machines infront for sure built in the 1940-60 because they used the so call "washed stone" very popular in those days, and judging by the plot that should be the very first to be there in the neighbourhood. If you wondered where are the Chinese people went in Saigon, go inside these alleyways and you will see so many of them . The Chinese houses are usually covered with the red-gold Chinese characters banners or stickers infront of the main doors. Great video

[@BigTimeBentley]

wow I just rewatched that part of the video and you're absolutely right, there is a grave there. RIP to whomever rests there. Very interesting insight into the time period of the single family house, and where the Chinese live in Saigon. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@anhbinbaccuc8850]

@@BigTimeBentley Judging from the area where you live and eat breakfast I say that's around Mả Lạng area a former Catholic cemetery in the 1900-1950s, but during the war people flooded to Saigon from the countryside to seek refuge and built their houses inside the cemetery. Photos from the 60-70s show houses and graves exist side by side, if you want to see look for "Khu Mả Lạng 1960" .... This is the reason why people in that area cannot build or fix their houses because the government is planning to turn that into a large zoning commercial complex

[@banhphuongtung]

Love your alley exploration series, try speaking Vietnamese more to the local folks, that’s how you’ll gain more Vietnamese followers

[@BigTimeBentley]

good idea. I'm studying more so I can improve my speaking

[@khoalam9321]

The words on the wall: BẢO VỆ MÔI TRƯỜNG = "Protect the environment"- Recycle

[@BigTimeBentley]

ah cool thank you

[@ChrissieSM]

Please could you do a walk through a posh area. I want to see where the rich Vietnamese live.

[@BigTimeBentley]

Well I think the ultra rich communities are gated or luxury high rise apartments, but I can try to walk around what I think are some wealthy areas in Thao Dien or something

[@kimberlybentleyme]

Interesting Alley walk. I left my comments in text honey. Love you. ...oops just realized this comment goes with exploration vlog. Getting confused watching on TV and commenting on mobile. I need to tech up my skill level. Yikes😊

[@BigTimeBentley]

haha no worries...are you watching a different video than this one on the TV but on this one on your phone?

[@stevethepom]

Vietnamese Dong not Dom ...sorry that's how it sounds like you are saying it oh and I tried a local Aussie Vietnamese restaurant for a bowl of Bun Bo Hue today was really tasty but bloody expensive at AU $16 for a small bowl !

[@BigTimeBentley]

That’s definitely pricey but glad it was good

[@potatoradio34]

This is how one learns to speak a language. Just keep talking to the locals.

[@BigTimeBentley]

very true

[@HandleOne]

He didn't understand your question. You said "yêu thích" and he thought you said "KZbin".

[@BigTimeBentley]

I was wondering why his friend kept repeating "KZbin"...thank you! my pronuniciation of "thich" isnt great

[@JohnQPubic1]

I will have a guava juice please with a side of ash

[@BigTimeBentley]

Fresh smoked ash though

[@johnq2661]

I heard it does wonders for digestion. @@BigTimeBentley

[@benquach3127]

New subscriber. Like ur videos. Got tired of Sonny Side and Mark Wiens, Max Mcfarlin is still on point though. I edited my comment cuz I suggested "mắm tôm" b4, not sure u r ready for that yet, LOL

[@BigTimeBentley]

cheers glad you like the videos! and yea Max makes really good videos too! I'll put a dash of mam tom in my bun rieu sometimes but I'm not really a fan of bun dau mam tom or something where mam tom is a main dipping sauce...at least not yet

[@pmq1501]

There's a grave and you only saw the AC? :)))

[@timthompson6441]

The sign in the alley said protect the environment.

[@BigTimeBentley]

Good message

[@Romeo10292]

Have you ever try bun thit nuong Kieu Bao on De Tham street , there's a lot of Foreigner and cheap for local citizens

[@BigTimeBentley]

I've never tried that but it sounds good

[@JohnQPubic1]

Another alley exploration! Wonderful!

[@BigTimeBentley]

Cheers! Went deep on this one

[@johnq2661]

And you got, "back alley blocked" a few times but kept persisting to bring us content only the big time can bring. Keep it up! @@BigTimeBentley

[@mhacviet1012]

nothing new, same old same old report. Boring!

[@Romeo10292]

It is one of the best ending for your video, be welcomed by Jesus

[@BigTimeBentley]

hallelujah

[@Oranguthanh-df9sl]

Thxs for new video Tyler, I’m Thomas, new subscriber. instead of asking them what you love to drink, ya can ask Anh or Chị thích nước nào, nước gì?

[@BigTimeBentley]

cheers thank you!

[@lopat4826]

where your girlfriend ?

[@BigTimeBentley]

She’s been busy working