Postage stamps (Vietnam)

This one is thin and small, but it’s important. When you had something you wanted to tell someone, you would write it down on a piece of paper and paste this ‘stamp’ on it. Then they would deliver it for you, anywhere at all. But that was a long time ago …

From The Memory Police by Yoko Ago.

For me, sending letters is just an excuse to send cute stamps. I will buy postcards and stamps at Saigon’s main post office.

Next I will head to a cafe on the book street next door under the shadow of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

This is a good spot to watch the people go by and write something for friends far away.

I use the condensation from my ice-cold drink to moisten the glue on the stamps.

Many years back when I used to travel in Chinese trains, almost every third person was a stamp collector. Stamps may wonder why no one loves them anymore