Each time I approach the house of Master Musician [Nhạc sư] Nguyễn Vĩnh Bảo in Bình Thạnh District of Hồ Chí Minh City, I think of these unheeded words of warning given by a friend who provided directions. On my first journey, I became lost walking through what seemed like an endless maze of sub-streets leading to alleyways that provided many opportunities to make a wrong turn. I was only a few weeks into my first research trip to Vietnam, and ordinarily, I relished getting lost in a new city; however, I was already late and drawing far too much attention to myself.