The last couple of times I've visited Saigon Bakery for some bánh mìs, I've seen the above scene unfold in the morning: dozens, if not a good hundred seagulls, pigeons and other birds flocking to eat bread crumbs left by someone at the base of a couple of light poles. It's not the best practice–it's obviously unsanitary and conditions the birds to depend on humans for food–but I gotta admit: It's a breathtaking sight.
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Regarding the photo: My apologies for the graininess, but I had to shoot from afar or the birds would have flown away.
I always visit in the morning, so I'm not sure if someone replenishes the bread-crumb supply. Who leaves these treats? A local baker? Are they baguettes? Mung bean cakes? Something else? Birds bomb in and out for a good hour, if not longer, in twos and threes or just kicking it until getting their fill and leaving.
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