I came to Vietnam expecting it to be a communist country, replete with propaganda-laden billboards, signs the government was watching your every move, a populace fearful of badmouthing the authorities for fear of the ultimate consequence. Instead the neon signs tempted passers-by with advertisements for Coca Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Except for a handful of uniformed soldiers scurrying about from time to time, they was little sign that government was even present, let alone on the lookout for traitors to the Republic. As far as the eye could see, capitalism reigned supreme: coffee shops, fast food restaurants and photocopy outlets dotted the bustling streets of Saigon. So where was the great Communist victory? Yes, there were photos, paintings, busts, and statues of Ho Chi Minh, their savior in every government building. Yes, there were expansive,
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