Musings from Ho Chi Minh City by Adeline Yeo-Matsuzaki

The city of a million buzzing motorbikes and scooters weaving, meandering and making their daily rounds sometimes with an entire family hugging closely; women riders blasting their horns; the screeching of brakes amidst heavy traffic and almost non-existent pedestrian crossings.

Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as renamed, is a fascinating metropolis with tree lined boulevards, beautiful villas, attractive boutiques and charming restaurants housed below European apartment facades, and a dozen expansive markets offering something for anyone, everyone. A part of Vietnam’s daily culture and the livelihood of many locals, these thriving markets with their hundreds and hundreds of stalls are well visited daily. The oldest and most popular Ben Thanh Market covering a sprawling area of 13,000 square meters with its iconic white clock tower at the famous southern entrance has stood guard at the heart of district 1 for almost a century now.

Remnants of colonial rule are evidenced by the classic French architecture in iconic landmarks – Saigon Central Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon at Paris Square, and the Saigon Opera House, all very well preserved over the years. Today, towering sky-scrapers with multinational financial companies boasting their very own rooftop helipads in Ho Chi Minh City testify to its modern transformation and economic progress. Yet, some bits of history still loom large with historical palaces; storied museums and municipal theatres sharing grand stories will linger longer even as you sip tradition in a modern, elegant and well-designed coffeeshop.

Soaking in the beautiful juxtaposition of legacy and progress, Adeline could not contain her inspirations in just a single canvas. Reimagining the rich stories of this city and its people, Adeline painted a double canvas “live” – a first for the artist – at the Sakura Craft Gin launch at the opulent Nikko Hotel Saigon.

About the Art

Captivated by the charming and picturesque streets of Saigon, an impression of the city’s cultural-historical significance and its iconic landmarks paves the way for a journey in time across two canvases, leaving behind big and small impressions of change, modernity and innovation.