My two week vacation to Vietnam was my most ambitious vacation to date. I didn't know the language, the customs or the religion of Vietnam.
In short, I felt like a fish-out-of-water.
And I loved every minute of it...
The opera house in downtown Saigon
Christmas decorations in Saigon
Rice paddies in Pleiku
Fishing nets in Quy Nohn
Quy Nohn beach
Fishing boats in Quy Nohn
When first visiting Vietnam, the first thing that you notice is the heat. While coming from Minnesota in December it might be natural for me to comment on the heat of a tropical country, the fact is that I instantly broke out in a sweat leaving the Saigon airport at midnight. Even in the middle of the night it was still close to 80 degrees and humid. This was going to be a nice change from the ice and cold of Minnesota. The second thing you notice is the traffic of Saigon. High government taxes on cars mean that virtually everyone gets around via bicycle or motorbike since only the rich can afford cars. Motorbikes are ever-present and in a city of 14 million people, are the best way to get around. With traffic problems extreme and traffic laws rarely enforced, motorbikes can navigate the clogged streets better than cars or taxis.
Communist statue in Quy Nohn, Vietnam
Saigon City Hall and statue of Ho Chi Mihn
Vietnam is very much a Communist country, and even with the market reforms engulfing the country - everyone is out to make money - you don't have to go far to be reminded of that fact. Communist flags and cheesy billboards with communist slogans are everywhere, despite nearly 60,000 American soldiers losing their lives trying to prevent it. The shadows of the Vietnam War (which the government calls the American War) are still present, and bringing up the war as a subject is very much a taboo. (Of course your mileage may vary, but it is good advice to steer clear of the war or politics as topics of conversation) In spite of this fact, the people are warm and friendly towards Americans and are very eager to talk and try out their english, which is taught in school.
(edited for additional comments about the war...your mileage may vary)
Pagoda in Pleiku
Pagoda in Pleiku
Statue of buddha in Pleiku
Pagoda in Pleiku
Despite being colonized by the French, Vietnam remains an almost exclusively Buddhist country, with a large minority of Catholics as well. I found it interesting that every house I entered had a shrine, and burning incense was a common smell I encountered. I had the opportunity to go with my friend's family to pay respects at their relative's graves, which an interesting experience since most graves are enclosed by a shrine where family members can visit to pay their respects and burn incense.
Market in Quy Nohn
Meals are served family style...just reach for the food that you want
Like many european countries, meals are a social occasion and meant to be shared with friends and family. This social nature of Vietnamese cuisine adds another element to the delicious mix of fresh vegetables and seafood that abound in Vietnam. One interesting custom that I enjoyed was that beer is always served with meals. While the beer selection was limited, Heineken was available everywhere as well as good local beers like Tiger and Saigon.
Of course, no diary about Vietnam is complete without talking about its most valuable treasure...its people. Warm, friendly, generous and affectionate, the people are usually the most memorable experience for first-time visitors to Vietnam. There are many interesting stories...the schoolkids who followed us around like puppies trying out their english on us, or the employee at the cybercafe who offered to drive me around Pleiku for a half hour trying to find sunscreen for this helpless white boy in the tropical sun, or the kids playing soccer and volleyball on the beach who didn't mind me joining in and having some fun. Every visitor to Vietnam has a similar story to tell. You only need to travel the unworn path in order to meet the real people outside of the popular tourist destinations.
I hope you enjoyed this photo diary as much as I enjoyed taking the pictures. May you travel far and wide, meeting the people of the world to discover that we really aren't all that different from each other.