Well, now, it seems like only last year Vietnam was a backwater of business and culture. Not now: it's catching up- fast. Our Minister of East Asian Affairs has been on a fact-finding examination of all things Vietnamese. The reports have been fascinating as the facts expose the truths on the ground: good and bad. Of course, when dealing with Communists, there's always the good and a lot of the bad. Separating the two is easy in some cases, not so much in others.
Natural beauty is one of the goods: SE Asia has a climate that can be overwhelming at times: two monsoon seasons slam the environment annually- the Northeast and the Southwest monsoons alternate in summer and winter. Both control many things locally: agriculture and transportation to name two. For many years , rice was a chief export commodity which stalled during the American War so named by government bureaus. The French War predates the one and blends the two at the end of the French colonial period(1800's to 1954). The French influence continues as the Catholic religion continues to be a strong influence. Architecture in Ha Noi exhibits much of the French influence in design and construction. Catholic churches and cathedrals dot the landscape, primarily in cities.
For first time visitors, the modernization of the urban setting is clear: high rise buildings claim the city centers; electric vehicles challenge the streets and highways; bright lights glow after sundown, displaying neon signage as well as any Hong Kong neighborhood. Also evident is the rise in the middle class: coffee shops abound and young urbanites enjoy their espresso made with domestic arabica beans from the highlands. Ho Chi Minh city is a bustling delta/coastal enclave that offers a taste of world-class culture: iphones are abundant; electric bikes and scooters purr across the broad boulevards, and modern hotels offer comfortable rest.
Not too many years ago, internet shops were prolific, now replaced with laptops, phones, and wifi. Youth will be served, as the pundits say.
In the background, the government, Communist, enjoys a stern grasp of the population. Ever vigilant for unrest and protest of policy, oversight is evident in the many cameras viewing activities among the residents. Internal passports aid in efforts to maintain control directly. If one wants to visit an indigenous village or cultural site, permission must be granted before that visit: identity, length of stay, and reason for the visit must be known ahead of approval. The local bureaucrats must be aware of all internal movement.
The economy is growing and foreign investment is evident not just in retail stores, but in business, much of which is conducted via the internet. Things are changing in Vietnam, and changing fast.
More later
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