194: Saigon doesn't believe in love

Saigon is Vietnam's largest city and the center of its economy, industry, and finance.

The entire city covers an area of 2,095 square kilometers and has a population of over 12 million.

Its area is comparable to Peng City in Dragon Country and New Taipei City in Bay Island.

However, Peng City has a population of over 20 million, while New Taipei has 4 million.

The average annual temperature is 27 degrees Celsius.

Historically, it was once the territory of the Cambodian Khmer people, called Preah Nokor, meaning 'Forest of the Kingdom,' and was where the Cambodian viceroy resided.

In the early 15th century, during the war between Vietnam's Northern Trinh Dynasty and Southern Nguyen Dynasty, ancient Vietnamese refugees moved south, and the Kingdom of Cambodia accepted many of them.

However, as the number of refugees increased, the Kingdom of Cambodia lost its ability to control the area, and it gradually became a de facto Vietnamese controlled region.

Later, Vietnam dispatched officials to manage the area, and it became Vietnamese territory.

In the 1950s and 1960s, during the Vietnam War, it served as the capital of South Vietnam.

Because it is only eighty kilometers from the sea, it is a city with a very superior geographical location.

Even today, South Vietnamese who fled to the United States still wave the former flag of South Vietnam.

Currently, Saigon is the engine and leader of Vietnam's economic growth.

A large amount of domestic and foreign investment is concentrated in Southern Vietnam, centered around Saigon.

Therefore, Vu Linh Huong's decision to send Head Maid to oversee Saigon was because its development potential is much greater than that of Hanoi.

To develop in government, one must deeply cultivate Hanoi; to develop in business, one must establish roots in Saigon.

This is the current state of Vietnamese society.

As Vietnam's largest airport, Saigon Tan Son Nhat Airport was originally built by the French.

Later, during the Vietnam War, the American military expanded it, allowing for a larger aircraft throughput.

After subsequent modern expansions, this airport became Vietnam's largest and most modern airport.

As soon as Li Qinghe stepped out of Tan Son Nhat Airport, he felt a wave of heat wash over him.

This truly is the passionate South, with its scorching weather and fiery women.

Fashionably and coolly dressed beauties are everywhere, unreservedly showcasing their figures.

Indeed, most of the beauties seen at the airport are of decent quality; if not stunning, they are at least elegant and graceful, as these are people who have already been screened by certain factors.

At the airport's arrival gate, the bright and charming Hoang Dang Minh Thu wore a fitted pleated mini-skirt, with sexy lettered black stockings covering her long legs.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu

She knew Li Qinghe liked this, so she wore it to pick him up.

"Brother Qinghe, are you tired?"

Hoang Dang Minh Thu smiled as she handed Li Qinghe a bouquet of flowers and hugged him, making the entire interaction feel very ceremonial.

She had only arrived a few days before Li Qinghe, but now, picking him up at the airport, she acted like a local.

To facilitate work and demonstrate strength, Vu Linh Huong purchased two Mercedes-Benz S450s in Saigon.

One is used for picking up and dropping off clients, while the other is usually for Hoang Dang Minh Thu's use, also serving to pick up and drop off clients when needed.

"Minh Thu, is your work here progressing well?"

Li Qinghe asked about Head Maid's work with concern.

"Don't worry, Brother Qinghe, I brought people with me, and the situation at both stores is under control."

Hoang Dang Minh Thu skillfully drove the car. She had become familiar with this road from the airport to the city center over the past few days. To pick up Li Qinghe, she would drive this route a few times after work each day.

Now, she doesn't even need navigation, easily turning left and right at the appropriate intersections with ease.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu told Li Qinghe that the two beauty salons expanded by Vu Linh Huong are both located in high-end office buildings in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

This area brings together Ho Chi Minh City's most high-end office buildings and commercial establishments.

However, their residence is in a high-end apartment building in District 3. This apartment complex has two towers, 20 stories high.

Vu Linh Huong owns five entire floors in Tower A of this apartment complex.

Of this 20-story apartment building, the 19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, and 15th floors all belong to Vu Linh Huong.

Currently, the beauticians are arranged to live on the 15th and 16th floors below, while management personnel, including those brought by Hoang Dang Minh Thu, reside on the 17th floor.

Hoang Dang Minh Thu lives alone on the 19th floor, as it has been converted into two large penthouse units. Vu Linh Huong will also stay here when she comes to Saigon.

From the airport to downtown Saigon, Hoang Dang Minh Thu did not immediately take Li Qinghe to the apartment.

Instead, she took him to lunch first.

At a classic Vietnamese restaurant, Hoang Dang Minh Thu ordered Saigon's unique soft-shell crab, betel leaf grilled beef, and elephant fish.

"Brother Qinghe, how long will you be staying in Saigon this time?"

Hoang Dang Minh Thu, full of tenderness and affection, poured Li Qinghe a glass of coconut water.

Since she had to drive, neither of them drank alcohol at lunch.

"Haha, how long do you want me to stay in Saigon?" Li Qinghe looked at Hoang Dang Minh Thu with a smile. After a few days of acting as a regional manager, she had already shown the capable side of an administrator.

"Oh, Brother Qinghe, you're so naughty! I both hope you stay with me longer and worry if you stay too long!" Hoang Dang Minh Thu playfully tugged at Li Qinghe's arm and shook it.

Li Qinghe knew that Head Maid was both delighted to have him all to herself and worried about being too full and getting sick.

That feeling of seeing delicious food in front of you, wanting to eat it, but your stomach being too full to take another bite, is very uncomfortable.

The restaurant's serving speed was quite good; by the time Li Qinghe was drinking his second glass of coconut water, the dishes had started to arrive.

The soft-shell crab was made with curry flavor. Seeing Li Qinghe curious about why the shell of this soft-shell crab was so soft,

Hoang Dang Minh Thu then explained in detail about this unique crab from the coast of Southern Vietnam, noting its soft-shell period lasting several years, which makes it very special among various crabs.

Its soft shell also makes it particularly convenient for human cooking and consumption, as it's easy to eat the roe and meat.

The betel leaf grilled beef, on the other hand, was exceptionally tender and juicy. Because it was grilled wrapped in betel leaves, the refreshing aroma of the leaves permeated the beef, giving it a unique flavor compared to other cooking methods.

Elephant fish is also a local specialty here along the coast, grilled directly over a low flame. The tender fish meat, paired with a special sauce, offers a taste that can only be found locally.

These local specialties, with flavors hard to find elsewhere, perhaps embody the meaning of traveling.

A simple lunch, yet it further solidified Li Qinghe's idea of traveling more.

The understanding that each place has a unique flavor had been deeply ingrained in Li Qinghe's mind.

After eating, Hoang Dang Minh Thu drove Li Qinghe back to their apartment.

District 3 of Saigon is a highly concentrated area for the wealthy and is also a very central part of the city.

Moreover, District 3 has always been linked with District 1.

The local saying is: work and shop in District 1, live in District 3.

The urban planning here is much better than in Hanoi.

Aside from Ba Dinh District in Hanoi having a concentration of high-end office buildings, most other areas resemble a county town in Dragon Country.

However, this area of Saigon clearly presents a metropolitan scene.

District 3, as Saigon's traditional affluent area, is even more so; the streets are wide and bright, and garden villas are everywhere along the way, mostly mixed buildings with french architecture.

France not only left numerous french architecture on this land but also many mixed-race people.

Later, the Americans who came here left even more mixed-race people.

Li Qinghe couldn't help but wonder how many realistic Vietnamese beauties he would encounter in Saigon, a city that doesn't believe in love.