The Saigon tea stall

Saigon's being pulled in two directions. City leaders are giving the people skyscrapers, hotels and empty shopping malls - often at the expense of its unique heritage. Young entrepreneurs are making their own statement. The city has developed an enviable cafe scene that is as much about cool conversions of old apartments and warehouses, as it is about coffee. Like their counterparts the world over, Saigon's young globalised entrepreneurs have taken to spaces with heritage qualities for their boutiques and cafes. And their young Vietnamese customers have followed them - smartphones and selfie sticks in hand. International tourists are also taking to the city's unique cafe scene with enthusiasm. There is a new homegrown concern about heritage. It runs deeper than these cafes and boutiques. But they’re important too - finding new commercial uses for old, previously unloved spaces. This groundswell is only going to increase, just as the availability of character-rich old buildings declines. Let’s hope it finds a way to be heard before there’s nothing left. This picture features a little tea stall in Saigon’s 3A Station precinct - a tiny enclave of galleries, fashion, homewares, graffiti and cafes at 3A Ton Duc Thang St. Check it out while you can. It’s also slated for demolition.