VietBlog

By: Joey Bailey

Most Americans have at least a limited knowledge about the nation of Vietnam. Unfortunately, the majority of what we know about Vietnam comes from our understanding, or lack there of, of the Vietnam War. Many of us have grown up watching movies such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, and Full Metal Jacket and have formed our understanding of Vietnam based on these films. We also form our judgments based on the fact that Vietnam is a communist nation that was closely allied with the USA?s former enemy, The Soviet Union. As a result, it is my opinion that many Americans have developed a stereotypical view of the nation of Vietnam that could use some reformation for the 21st century. Therefore, I feel that it is important for me to attempt to express how my views and stereotypes of Vietnam have been challenged and changed as a result of this trip. Below are a few of my observations on the Vietnamese people and the nation of Vietnam.

Vietnam and Religion:
Vietnam is a communist nation, which means that if you wish to be a member of the Communist Party you must denounce religion. With that said, I have been very surprised with the rich religious culture here in Vietnam. In our time here, we have had the opportunity to visit a Hindu Temple, multiple Buddhist Pagoda?s, a Mosque, and a Catholic Church. As an American, I have always held the opinion that religion is vigorously persecuted in communist nations. From my observations however, at least during times of peace, religion is tolerated and widely practiced in various forms throughout Vietnam.

Vietnam and Capitalism:
Capitalism is alive and well in Vietnam, as a result, so is the English language. Since our arrival I have been very surprised by the diverse economy of Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. It appears that this communist nation is consciously taking steps to liberalize and industrialize their nation?s economy. I believe that this will create some very interesting political, social, and economic developments in the coming years. In Ho Chi Minh City for example, we encountered a few KFC restaurants, a vivid reminder of the extent the American consumer culture has been able to spread its finger licking good fast food. By reading The Saigon Times, an English language magazine that extensively covers the Vietnam economy, I have attempted to gather an understanding of the business market here in Vietnam. From my observations I have concluded that capitalism is already well established in Vietnam and it will continue to expand in the coming years.

Vietnam and the Environment:
The majority of our time has been spent in the city of Long Xuyen in An Giang Province. This city is located in the heart of the Mekong Delta. Everywhere we go we are surrounded by wetlands, canals, and rivers. The population of this province is over two million people and the economy of this region is built upon the rivers and wetlands of the delta. It is also exactly the type of region that will be hit the hardest by the consequences of global warming and climate change. By visiting this region I have been reminded of the challenges that global climate change present to our global community. If the sea levels rise, regions like this will be devastated creating millions of environmental refugees throughout the world. Awareness of this fact is growing throughout Vietnam. In a recent article published in The Saigon Times titled Real and Present Danger, a comparison was made between the Mekong Delta in Vietnam and the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar. The article speaks about the extensive damage wrought upon the Irrawaddy Delta by Cyclone Nargis and warns that such a cyclone would have a similar impact if one were to hit the Mekong Delta. This article reflects the growing awareness of climate change here in Vietnam and calls for immediate action from the government to prepare for such a ?real and present danger.?

Vietnam and Americans:
During our time here in Vietnam we have been treated with respect and acceptance everywhere we go by the Vietnamese. It is common for small children to exclaim ?hello? whenever they notice us, even if it is from the back of a motor bike cruising by on the streets of Long Xuyen. I must admit that this has been quite a surprise to me because I expected many Vietnamese to resent us because of the devastations of The Vietnam War. However, this has not been the case. Everywhere we go people are anxious to practice their English on us by asking such questions as ?what?s your name?? and ?where are you from?? To me, it is quite shocking how the people of Vietnam have been able to put the past behind and treat us with respect as individuals. Still, when you get down to the root of the issue, I believe that the Vietnamese don?t resent Americans because they won the war. As a result, they also gained their independece, something they had been struggling to obtain for many generations. Before the Americans, the French, Japanese, and Chinese all attempted to occupy and control Vietnam. As far as the Vietnamese are concerned, America is just one of the many nations throughout history that have attempted, and failed, to divide and conquer their nation. Besides, it is much easier to forgive and forget after a war when you are the victor, my study of history has taught me that much.