Images: The most special birds in Saigon

VietNamNet Bridge - Flocks of pigeons appear regularly near the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and have been there a long time, thanks to the efforts of

VietNamNet Bridge - Flocks of pigeons appear regularly near the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral and have been there a long time, thanks to the efforts of local people.

To have this tranquil beauty, some people like Mr. Nguyen Phi Cuong (an old stamp seller), Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Quang Thanh (sidewalk tea sellers), and Mr. Diep (hawkling photographer) have quietly raised the birds and protected them for years. They wanted their city to be always beautiful and impressive in the eyes of tourists. Mr. Cuong (with the hat), is talking to visitors about the birds before the church after feeding the birds in the morning.

These laborers consider the pigeons as part of their lives. "Every day selling drinks on the sidewalk in front of the church, watching the pigeons flying and feeding them, I've been falling in love with them (birds). I don’t want to leave them. Every time I feed them, I feel very good. I always want to take care of and protect them," said Ms. Thanh.

Every day at noon, to call the pigeons down to eat, Thanh shakes an aluminum box, whistles or rings a bell. She said when children or visitors tease the birds too much, she just knocks a plastic chair or holds a plastic bottle to beat the aluminum box to signal them to fly away.

Cuong feeds the birds at 6am. The birds are very friendly. Some perch on his hat.

Cuong said 15 years ago two outdoor photographers at the church bred a flock of pigeons. They were hunted during the bird flu epidemic in 2005. More than a dozen birds survived and Cuong silently protected them. Many others joined him to feed the birds. Although the birds have had to face hunters, the flock still has more than 300 birds.

The birds live in nests on the roofs of the church and nearby buildings.

Tourists love to take pictures and play with these birds.

Cuong loves the birds very much and sees them as part of his life. Cuong said he does not care for the birds for personal gain, but just wants to make Saigon more and more beautiful and more impressive in the eyes of tourists. He also wishes people to further appreciate and love animals, especially birds.