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Perhaps nothing illustrates better how Sài Gòn has grown than the following pictures taken at night.

Sài Gòn at night, from Thôi Điền district looking back.

Sài Gòn at night, from Thôi Điền district (where many foreign expatriates live) looking back.

A good place to capture the city’s skylight is from the middle of Thủ Thiêm bridge, built in 2008. The city has grown by crossing the river toward the North, on the left side of the picture.

View of Sài Gòn at night from Thủ Thiêm bridge.

View of Sài Gòn at night from Thủ Thiêm bridge.

Traffic on the bridge was typical for the city. Thousands and thousands of cars and motorbikes going in both directions.

View from Thủ Thiêm bridge at night.

View from Thủ Thiêm bridge at night.

On our last day in Sài Gòn, we went to Tao Đàn park, a green oasis in the center of the city.

Flower beds in Tao Đàn park.

Flower beds in Tao Đàn park.

The park has added several attractions since the last time I saw it.

Replica of a Cham temple from central Việt Nam.

Replica of a Cham temple from central Việt Nam.

A temple to the Hùng Vương kings who ruled from 2879 BC to 258 BC.

A temple to the Hùng Vương kings who ruled from 2879 BC to 258 BC.

The following photos are from a water lily pond in front of the Hùng Vương temple.

Water Lily.

Water Lily.

Water Lily.

Water Lily.

Water Lily.

Water Lily.

I was surprised to see many young people in a corner of the park. Some were practicing a conical hat dance, with each dancer holding two hats. They got better with their practice as I kept shooting with my camera.

Conical hat dancers. The man with the hoody seemed to be their coach or choreographer.

Conical hat dancers. The man with the hoody seemed to be their coach or choreographer.

Conical hat dancers.

Conical hat dancers.

Conical hat dancers.

Conical hat dancers.