Just Past the Caravelle Hotel

Not too far from the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, walking past the street vendors shouting, "Madame, Madame," is the colorful and vibrant Ben Thanh Market.  It very much has the feel, just as was supposed to, of Les Halles in Paris, but with a vastly different assortment of shops and merchandise. I could have spent hours and hours winding through the market, viewing the colorful displays of exotic (to me) produce, spices, meat and fish.  Surprisingly, to this day, I can still remember the pleasantly spicy and fishy odor of the market.