Many activities one would usually expect to take place indoors, frequently take place outside in Saigon. For example, today we walked by someone giving a pedicure in the park (see photo below) It's also pretty common to see people of all ages after 6pm in their pajamas sitting outside their homes and walking or riding their motorbikes down the block to buy something. We often say to each other, "this would never happen in New York." Although Saigon has a population of about 8 million, close to New York's, it often feels small town and part of this feeling has to do with the fact that many parts of people's private lives take place in public. We also see barbers set up a shop along the sidewalks- Can you imagine getting your haircut on the sidewalk in a major city at a busy intersection with thousands of people walking and driving by? You can also find people lying face down on mats on the sidewalks getting massages and just yesterday we saw a driver hang his hammock from his car door to a light pole and then proceed to nap! Like the
"Randomness is 
Fun" post below- we never know what we will see taking place on the streets in Saigon...
We don’t have ice cream trucks but we do have ice cream bicycles! (which are much more eco- friendly) We have two types of ice cream bicycles. One sells regular old-fashion style ice cream by the scoop; the vendors attach a little ice box or a cooler (the ice box is cuter-more retro) to the back of their bikes carrying a few flavors of ice cream; they somehow manage to keep the plastic container, holding the cones, from falling off the ice box as they pedal and simultaneously ring a brass bell hanging from the handle bars. The other ice cream bike sells ice cream bars and popsicles, has a red sticker on the ice box advertising the brand of goodies they sell. They also play a specific melody that is loudly broadcast from somewhere on the bike, I have yet to locate; and the tune played is only used for these types of icy treats. The ice cream bicycles are most easily found on the weekends near the parks where people of all ages hang out en masse. I think the ice cream bicycle would go over really well in some cities. As a vendor, you could earn some pocket money, exercise, and make people happy all at the same time! So who is up for starting this trend in their city or town? 
