Vietnam Saturday Afternoon Random Reflections

Vietnam is not what I expected economically. Being a communist country, I was expecting all the command and control usually associated with Cuban style communism. This place is different. They employ a form of "limited capitalism" here much like the current China model. Even though the press is controlled and there is not a 2 party system, you do have more control than most would think.

General factoids:

• You can buy property both here and abroad choosing where you live and how to spend your money.
  
• The country is growing at the sizzling pace of around 10%
  
• Sales tax (VAT) on foreign built car is 250%. For electronics it is 100% with very little in the way of income tax. It is mostly based on consumption rather than earning. We could learn something from this general philosophy.
  
• They have to pay for their schooling. I thought the commies funded all that stuff.
  
• There is no public transportation, which explains all the scooters and motor bikes.
  
• Starting in December there will be a helmet law going into effect. Everyone is not happy with this because of the heat and how slow they drive in the city anyway. Frankly I cannot picture it but the fines will be very high for those not following the rules.
  
• Downtown District 1 looks just like a happening downtown in any major US city. Cabs, cell phones, young people and tourists are everywhere. The Tourist Police are unarmed and where a lighter green uniform. They have a strong street presence to be sure that the money rainmaking they are making with the tourist trade gets no bad press. Again, with all the extensive walking we have done these past few weeks, I have never felt unsafe at any time. Uncomfortable maybe, but not unsafe.
  
• Aussies could be the worst dressers you can ever imagine. Brian describes them as an un-kept Brit. Who wears socks to the knees with sandals any more?
  
• The women wear the masks and the long gloves on the motor bikes because of the heat and the sun. Fair skin is considered a sign of wealth and prestige, meaning you don't have to work outside. No tanning booths in site that I have seen.
  
• Bartering is a way of life around here. If you want something be prepared to walk away. I have filled up a large back of trinkets for less than $20.
  

Maybe it is because of the heat but this town rolls up pretty much by 10:00. It is a good time anyway to grab a scotch on a rooftop bar, but somewhat counter intuitive. Part of the reason may be that because of the heat, the days get going very early. Most will take off at about noon until 2:00 for lunch and whatever the Asian version of a Latin siesta is. The kids all come home for lunch and do not eat at the school.

Google Talk has been fantastic. I have spoken with my family almost every day. Since I have a laptop Wi-Fi is in almost every hotel, giving them a call has been a great way to stay connected. It's the cheapest say I know to make a call.

When asked about the, most people say it is history and a long time ago. They have moved on. They call it the American War understandably. We are now in the South, and they say that is a bit different than the North above the old DMZ area. Because most of the bombing happened in the North, they have a more bitter taste in their mouths than those from the South. I have been told that the differences in attitude, dress, food tastes, and music from North to South are very different. The South is very market oriented, while the North is the seat of government and more conservative. Most of the people you see in the street are quite young so the War is not even a memory, but a chapter in the history books.

When touring the palace and the tunnels the expected propaganda was much more limited than I expected. I thought it would be the usual Communist doctrine, war atrocities, yada yada yada. Not so much. They have stuck to the facts and kept the political statements to a minimum. They do not like references made about Viet Cong, rather they prefer being call guerillas.

When eating the safest strategy for me has been to mix up the local fare with a base of Western food. I no longer trust their interpretation of a cheeseburger, they never seem to get that right, but pizza, pasta and chicken are all pretty safe options.

I have a lot of thoughts and impressions on what it would have been like to fight in the war over here. I will save that for a different entry because you get a better idea of the Hell it would be like during a rainy season here.

Again, as a collective group, these are the nicest people you will ever meet. This includes the Thai's, Cambodians and the Vietnamese. It is hard to get the Asian thing unless you put the boots on the ground and see it for yourself.

More later.