As the trip nears its end, I try and find a common theme in which we have been forced to face these past three weeks.
During week 2, we spoke with a women at a university who informed us about the economic development in Vietnam. It seemed that every other sentence she (more…)
Yesterday a group of us went to the market here in Ho Chi Min City and let me tell you it was probably one of the most overwhelming experiences of the trip! In side the market there are people and things everywhere ranging from clothes to shoes to luggage to coffee (more…)
Before going to Vietnam, I took a careful look at the itinerary to see what I would be in store for. The second to last day listed that we would be spending the night at a local farm house on the Mekong Delta. At the time I did not think much (more…)
“Who travels to Vietnam?” I heard this question a lot over the months leading up to our departure. I would tell these people that Vietnam is one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. Although I might have been saying this, at the time I did not know the (more…)
1. Be fearless.
2. Approach tourists who are looking at a map and a street sign; this is your prey.
3. Point in the direction of their likely destination and say the landmark aloud. For example “War Museum.”
4. When they announce a different landmark (for example, “Reunification Palace”) point in the direction of (more…)
Under Doi-Moi (transitioning to a market economy with a socialist orientation), Vietnam has experienced some economic growth. Unfortunately, all market economies are alike (even those with a socialist orientation) in that people cannot enrich themselves at the same rate. Given choice, people will choose different paths. And due to either skill, (more…)
Experiencing three Vietnamese cities allows me to see the variations in culture, structure, and norms of society. Staying in Hoi An for a week was eye opening, especially when we met with the directors of a nonprofit called Action for the City. The leader of the initiative explained the many issues (more…)
One of my biggest pet peeves in the United States is when I go to a store, say Home Depot, and I can’t find any form of customer service. I can wonder the aisles aimlessly and not find a person to help. But in Vietnam, there is the complete opposite of (more…)
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