Well, I've mislabelled this blog, because I was here for a few days in 1978, but anyway.... The first significant impression I have, is that the "atmosphere" in this place reminds me of Vietnam , the first time I visited in 1996, a while after url=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=doi%20moi&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDoi_Moi&ei=gG8GUPKWGsegiQfX6ISoCA&usg=AFQjCNELzG16VbMAuv2EWLn213ZhKK_v2A&cad=rjaDoi Moi had begun to take effect. The immigration officers are stern, the failed provision of road and power infrastructure is even more evident than in Vietnam, yet there's a feeling of expectancy, cautious optimism, and amongst the youth, energy. The food is so much better than I remember from the 1978 visit - but that was the Ne Win era, with more poverty , and restaurants few and far between. And of course in those days
... read more