A misadventure in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has 10 million people and four million motorbikes. Vietnam has 90 million people and 38 million motorbikes. Two people and one motorbike have put a glitch in my blogging. While crossing a street, a motorbike came from behind me and the passenger apparently cut the strap on my bag, which I had worn safely crossbody I mistakenly thought,  and sped off with it. A nearby policeman and several bystanders chased after on foot with no result.

So no camera for awhile. Citicards will Fedex a replacement to its branch in Hanoi, where we will be in a few days. I now know that my ATM issuer, PNC bank, has no international branches. I am saved from travel penury by a Macy's credit card that is a Visa and an American Express ATM card.

Yesterday a trip through the Mekong Delta revealed that the nearby waterways are industrial in a small business way - boats painted with traditional eyes to ward off the crocodiles that formerly infested the waters serve as local markets and transport vegetables, rice husks and everything else toward the city. People operate from, and some live on, stilted shacks over the water. Others have more substantial houses across the road from the water and use the stilted shacks for fishing and trade.