We were recommended a family guesthouse in Ho Chi Minh City by Tania and Philippe, Swiss travellers we had met in Thailand. The guesthouse was very new and opened onto a very narrow lane. It was in the backpacker area of HCMC. The grandfather had bought the house in 1945 for a nugget of gold. Now his son and family live there. Dad used to be a taxi driver and mum a tailor. They live in the house with their 3 adult children. Two are married and the eldest daughter will marry in October and live here with her husband.They invited us to join the family for a Vietnamese meal. Annette from Raumati is teaching in a language school in HCMC and she boards at the guesthouse and joined us too. A Brazilian, Eddie, works at a Brazilian restaurant owned by an uncle and he also boards here and joined us.
Annette from Raumati and TrongTam, the oldest daughter who will marry in October.
Preparing the mealEnjoying the meal.
From Left: John, Eddie, Mr Wee (Annette's motorbike driver), the father, Annette, Lil.
Behind the father is the house across the other side of the lane. The lounge area opens onto the lane and motorbikes drive by as well as vendors carrying baskets of goodies for sale. Compared with us they live very public lives.
