Saigon, Vietnam (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Traffic in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Family dinner in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson

I recently traveled back to Saigon. So much has changed since my last visit to Vietnam just a few years before. Most notably, the skyline is quickly going vertical. Fortunately, much of what I fell in love with the first time around hasn’t really changed. The food is incredible and the people are warm, welcoming and friendly. Here’s a quick look around: 

Saigon traffic (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Pork chops and skin in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Dining in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Family dinner in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson

Saigon style duck stew (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Bao vendor in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Banana blossom salad (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Traffic in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Banh mi vendor in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Banh nam (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Pork chop and broken rice in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Table for one in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Clam salad in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Dishing out the pho sate at Quac Qy Pho Bo Vien (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Pho sate (photo by Brad A Johnson

Sidewalk che dau in Saigon (photo by Brad A Johnson)

Saigon, Vietnam (photo by Brad A Johnson)

I could never have found all of this on my own. Rather, I hired Calvin Godfrey to show me around. Godfrey is an American expat and journalist living in Saigon, who also owns a bespoke culinary tour company called Savor Saigon, where he creates individual food tours based on whatever it is you want to discover. For this adventure, he presented us with a fun mix of street food and back-alley cafes. Every stop was absolutely delicious.