First week in Hanoi

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We’ve been in Hanoi for one week now. It is hot, crowded, and dirty at times, but very exciting too. I (Brian) haven’t much time to explore Hanoi yet as we arrived really tired last Sunday, due to taking the overnight bus from Hue, and then I started working right away on Monday. I’m visiting the Center for Analysis and Forecasting. By “visiting,” I basically mean that they have agreed to allow me to use their facilities to conduct my research while in turn I will try to help their researchers where possible. I’ve met quite a few of the researchers at CAF and they seem very knowledge and skilled, more so than I had expected. Also, they have been very friendly and helpful. They’ve helped me figure out the local bus schedule and some of them might be helping Sara find some English teaching.

My research is going really well at CAF. I’m looking at the impacts of a trade agreement signed between Vietnam and the US on poverty in Vietnam. The staff at CAF are very familiar with the datasets that I am using, so they are a great resource whenever I have questions about the data. I’m really enjoying my experience at CAF and I think this will be a very worthwhile research experience for me.

Today we went to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. It was a very unique tourist experience. At the complex is his mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, a museum dedicated to Ho Chi Minh and the revolution, and a stilt house that Ho Chi Minh lived in. Lining up for the mausoleum is probably the first time that we have seen an orderly Vietnamese line. In general, for almost anything, you just rush the counter, bar, or ticket wicket. But at the mausoleum everyone was very respectful. I only got poked in the back three times. They poke you in the back if they think you are taking too long or blocking their way. Anyway, the museum was perhaps the most unique part of the day for me. I completely lost count of the number of times that Ho Chi Minh’s exemplary morality was mentioned. In the opening description, which was only two paragraphs long, it was mentioned over a dozen times! There is a real focus on living the “correct” life and foregoing individualism for the collective. This is in sharp contrast to Western social standards, but also seemingly in contrast to what we see on a daily basis in Hanoi.

Sara has been exploring Hanoi by herself during the weekdays. She’ll tell you all about soon.

Brian & Sara

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Photos

Hoan Kiem Lake
A small little lake in central Hanoi. It is just a few minutes walk from our hotel.

Comments

[Marilyn]

amazing trip
Hi Brian and Sara, Great to hear all about your adventures on the other side. It sounds like you are having a great experience and we look forward to hearing more detail when we see you again. Enjoy! Love, Marilyn, Robin and rest of the Belleville Woolvens