The Bliss Of Quietude
By Luu Thi Luong
As Saigon’s population swells, serenity fades
Nowadays, Saigon’s streets are riddled with obstacles and vehicles. Traffic is invariably nightmarish on weekdays, perhaps because everyone — young and old, sick and healthy — has to go out. Needless to say, grouses abound. “These streets are unbearably narrow and crowded,” goes a familiar refrain.
Still, those who rise early for their morning exercises, either on their own or with friends, offer another perspective. “So spacious,” they exclaim, relishing the pure air that is often found when dawn has barely arisen and the city is still shrouded in a misty veil.
They share the same passion for sports. Some swim in pools that reek of disinfectants. Some enroll in aerobics classes, where up-tempo music permeates the atmosphere. Others revel in soccer, badminton, tennis, or simply a stroll in the park or along the sidewalk.
Regardless of their interest, these sporty people all get up early and step onto the streets when the roosters have yet to crow and birds are still sleeping on flimsy trees, which tremble with every passing storm.
The streets are already dotted with vehicles, most of which are transporting goods to the hundreds of markets around Saigon and leave behind the scents of fish, vegetables, flowers and even fuel when they pass by. If these smells are too pungent for comfort, it is perhaps advisable to wander around the nameless streets, differentiated from each other by their index numbers and found mainly in new residential areas. These clean paths offer walkers the elation of savoring a tranquil atmosphere, free from nerve-jangling noises and nauseating odors. Better still, there is no need to watch out for speeding motorbikes.
Of course, even in broad daylight, it is still possible to find open spaces. Those who are unlikely to drag themselves out of their beds early in the morning should wait patiently for the big holidays, which often fall on consecutive days. The Lunar New Year is actually a perfect occasion to seek tranquility, when many urban dwellers depart for the countryside and leave behind their frequently bustling city. It is pleasant, then, to enter Saigon’s streets, which suddenly turn quiet. Hawkers are hard to find, traffic is sparse, and it no longer takes much courage to cross the streets. Peace of mind is not an illusory notion any more, and realization dawns: the best place to enjoy the holidays is indeed Saigon. Why embark on costly and weary trips to faraway places, and pay skyrocketing prices for dismal services, when Saigonese can immerse themselves in rare moments of tranquility in their own city?
Such is the bliss of quietude, right in the heart of Saigon.