Good Morning Vietnam
Good Morning Vietnam!
Vietnam
was incredible. The people, the food, the country itself… wow. This was one of
my favorite countries. Some of my friends and I were talking about how so many
people in our parents generation had spent so much time and energy doing
everything in their power to stay out of this country, and we couldn’t wait to
take it by storm.
The first day I went to the War Remnants museum and got to
talk to a Vietnamese photographer who took photos during the war. Being here,
seeing the photos from the war, and knowing people who served here… it
definitely gives a new perspective on history. And now, knowing people in Iraq or who have been in Iraq, it makes
me wonder how future generations will look back and view this war.
 Walking around the
city we ran into a lot of ex-Pats and other tourists. One couple was there with
a medical team doing volunteer work, mainly surgeries and fitting prosthetic
limbs for children. They were very nice and were jealous of our opportunity to
travel the world. Crossing the street was an experience in and of itself. They
don’t use crosswalks so if you want to cross you just step out, start walking
and hope like hell the motorbikes go around you. In Ho Chi Men City there are
close to 7 million people and almost 4 million motorbikes. Cars are more rare
and much more expensive. I spent an afternoon riding around on the back of one
and it was a blast!
I spent two days in the Mekong Delta and it was fantastic.
In the Mekong, life revolves around the river
and rice is king. The people work hard, but life moves at a noticeably slower
pace. Floating down the river I could feel myself relaxing. Their markets are
on the river and people drive their boats up to larger boats to buy things,
stores are on stilts and have docks for access from the river. W meandered down
a few tributaries and branches, taking in the sights and observing life. We
went to a place where they make their versions of rice crispy treats and
coconut candy. We ate exotic fruits and walked through small towns on outlying
islands.
The area was actually a lot more developed then I imagined
it to be. It was very hot and very muggy but beautiful nonetheless.
I hit the markets and bought some cool stuff, and then it
was off to the Cao Dai temple. At the temple I met a Vietnamese man who lived
near the temple and came to the area to read the newspaper and practice his
English and talk with foreigners. He was a soldier for the south in the war and
said that during the war he had many good American friends. After that we went
to the Cu chi tunnels, which were used by the VC during the war. They set up
whole networks underground and could live underground for up to two years, only
coming out at night. Those tunnels were tiny! They had to enlarge them for
tourists, and even the enlarged ones were small.
They had some of the booby traps the VC used. They were hard
to look and it was hard to stomach their explanation. There were bombed out US
tanks and there was even a shooting range where you could shoot m-16s, AK-47s,
and Machine guns. Hearing the gunfire, standing in the trees… it was tough to
experience, though I’m glad I did, and it is even more difficult to explain.
As a country Vietnam
is looking to the future. 50% of the country is under 35. More and more people
are becoming successful business owners and more outside businesses are
starting factories here. Already North Face, Polo and several other companies
do a lot of manufacturing here. The culture is fascinating and the people are
interesting and kind. Massages are cheap and the land is beautiful. I will
definitely be back to Vietnam,
hopefully for longer than 5 days to explore.
Always,
Alicia
A person needs at intervals to separate from family and
companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be
open to influences, to change.
-Katharine Butler Hathaway