Advertisement
Published: January 3rd 2008
Edit Blog Post
Hello All,
It's been five days since my last post, two days past my intended update. I am writing to you all from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam District 1, otherwise known as Saigon (before the Commies came into the city after we left in the 70's). After we left, they supposedly busted into South Vietnam, rolling their tanks right into the center of the city, now known as "Reunification Plaza". I was there earlier today; it is pretty much a shrine to the defeat of the 'dirty' Americans. However, even though they may have won the 'battle' (The Vietnam War), it is evident from walking around the city that we have won 'the war', through capitalist ideals and the new 'global economy'. As I have noticed throughout East Asia, they equate success with the emulation of the United States in terms of both culture and economy. I question whether the progress seen in these countries is 'Americanization', or just 'modernization'. Just because we modernized first, are those who develop after us necessarily 'copying' us? Or, is the path of modernization a universal concept, the path of which would be emulated not just in Communist Vietnam, but wherever human society
forms, even if on Mars? I think that question will be answered once I make my way to Japan, a country that I suspect may even be ahead of us in terms of progress.
OK, so how did I end up from Bangkok to Vietnam? Well, I was becoming a little too comfortable with Thailand. I had wanted to come here since the beginning of my trip; however, maintaining a visa to visit here is rather difficult to obtain. Normally, one has to stay in one place over a week, for the duration of which you lose your passport while the visa is being processed, and lose out over 150 US dollars for both the service and the aquisition of the visa itself. A few days ago, I was in a travel agent/internet cafe checking out where to make my next move. On the internet, I noticed that Air France was running a special round trip fare from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh city for only $210. That is an amazing fare; normally it is at least double this. The reason for the cheap fare was that they were stopping over in Bangkok to refuel on the way to
Vietnam from France. It seemed that I was the only person to hop on the plane when it landed in Bangkok. Keeping in mind the difficult visa situation with Vietnam, I held off at first, until I could get better details regarding the Vietnam Visa. This was easy, being that I was already at a travel agent. I ask the woman about the definite details, and she tells me that there is now a program where US citizens can get visa at arrival for double the regular visa price. After hearing what I wanted to hear, I hastily purchased the ticket. It wasn't until after I bought it, did I find out that she was incorrect (she didn't understand my question). Just because someone says what I want to hear, doesn't mean that it is correct.
So, there I was, stuck with a ticket to Vietnam with no visa. I began to do my research on the net. Luckily, the easiest place in the World to get a Vietnam Visa was in Bangkok. Through travel blogs, I found my way to the Vietnam embassy, where I begged them to get me a visa in 24 hours. After paying an
additional 20 dollars US (Surcharge or bribe, who knows), I was able to procure the visa. That day in Bangkok, I was running ALLL over the place. Not only did I have to go to office to office, but I had to also go to the All Nippon Airways office to amend my plane ticket before a certain hour. So, eventually I get everything I need and make my way to Vietnam. On Thursday, I arrived here to find the same hoopla and mess that personifies every SE Asian Airport International Arriving Station. If you don't know what to expect, you can get completely ripped off through these con artist taxis even before your trip begins. After my experience(s) in Bangkok, I decided that I wasn't going to even attempt a taxi. Therefore, that left only the bus. So, eventually I make it to Saigon, but at this point I am beyond exhausted from the past few days, and I still don't even have a hotel reservation since all the places I called were booked. After going hotel to hotel, I finally find a place that is acceptable, priced at only 20 dollars a night. It was the 6th or
7th hotel I tried. I figured that I would just settle down there, then set out to make a reservation at a better place a few nights later. I was able to do this; however, not until my fourth night. My first three I had to bunk in this original place. OK, enough with the logistics.
This city is VERY interesting, and the people, as is common in SE Asia, are VERY nice. They seem a little nerdy; not the strong adversaries we have heard about in classes detailing the war. However, nerdy is good, and even though I am perhaps the only American in the neighborhood, I feel completely safe. Actually, they seem a little TOO interested about America, especially NYC. Every person I see, they question me as if it's a job interview. This one kid, well 27, prides himself on knowing every state capital in the US. I'm like, I live in NJ, right by NYC. He responds, NJ Trenton, NY Albany. I'm like, "Good!". He goes, "I know all USA! I like Ms. Johannson, from "Translation Lost". She like Asian Men!". I go, "Yea definitely." Ha, so weird. Every hour, a new person comes to
talk, even if I'm in my room. They come knock on my door. At first I was a little weirded out, until I realized that they wanted to show off their "American". I didn't realize it at first, but I am staying in a 'local' hotel, or for Vietnamese business travelers. No other 'Westerners'.
Saigon is absolutely crazy. After being in SE Asia for this amount of time, I thought I had become used to the crowds. However, Ho Chi Minh city is something else. It is an absolute madhouse. Millions of bikes, motor bikes, and the rare car. There are so many moto bikes, usually 10 or 12 bikes wide, that it makes it impossible to walk on the road. As is common in this area, there are no licenses or road rules, with 10 year old girls riding 45 mph on these bikes a regular site. If there is too much traffic, they ride on the sidewalk, sometimes through 'outdoor cafe's. From my conversation with these Vietnamese, I have found them to be unbelievably smart. They love to learn, and are capitalist sharks. That is why the global economy is hurting the people at the lower rungs
of US Society, or even those in the upper rungs who are lazy. If not already, soon enough we will have to compete with these people on the Global scale, giving us a lot of competition. However, if dealt with correctly, the enlarged market capitalization can help us all. As their economy improves, the more of them can buy our products (or more likely, our services), which in effect enlarges our market 10 fold. Also, the implementation of their smartest people into our businesses improves our overall stance. Right now, 90 percent of fortune 100 companies are American, all of which are multi-national. Therefore, we benefit most from the improvement of the global economy.
OK, I am going to take off.
Talk to you soon,
Dan
Advertisement
Tot: 0.107s; Tpl: 0.05s; cc: 7; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0406s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Doug
non-member comment
Saigon Police
Amazing how quick and how many police can be on the scene in Saigon. One day I observed a guy who had been stopped while ridding his motorbike by the Rex Hotel. He preceded to get into a shouting match with the police who stopped him. In what seemed like minutes a couple of those canvas covered military transport trucks with police/military rolled up, along with a group of plain clothes guys and a few motorcycle cops. All to haul one angry guy and his motorbile off to where ever.. The police are all powerful in Vietnam, I give them a wide berth.. Good story, keep up the good work. http://dougsasia.blogspot.com