Hanoi…How Annoying!
Saturday, July 29th, 2006Here are my final thoughts on Hanoi and Vietnam. I spent three weeks in this country and learned an incredible amount. Vietnam has been blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside i’ve ever seen. Miles and miles of endless beaches. Amazing lush, green hillsides that flow majestically down to the sea. Rice patties that litter the sides of the road for miles with a color of green i’v never seen anywhere. It was really out of sight. The main issue for me was the people. Honestly I could take them or leave them, preferably leave them. Maybe leave them in the middle of the desert without any food or water. Unlike Cambodia, where they couldn’t do enough, in Vietnam they couldn’t do anymore but still wanted your money and would do whatever they could to get it. The stories from other travels were way more astounding than mine. Travelers being locked in hotels until they agreed to stay. Being threatned if they didn’t. Stories of travelers being robbed. It seemed completely out of control. Walking down the street in Hanoi and having a motorbike driver pull right up to you and beep in your face until you would move would sometimes almost make you violent. I have to admit a couple times I did break and got really pissed, but to no avail. It doesn’t get you anything. Now don’t get me wrong, there are alot of great people here in Vietnam. Go into a few shops and look around and talk to the shop owners and they are great. The problem for me was that there seemed to be more bad than good. These people had a terrible chip on their shoulder. You couldn’t joke around and if you did you got a tongue lashing. You got the feeling that when they saw you they instantly didn’t like you because it was assumed you had money, yet whenever they had the chance they would go to great lengths to get it from you.
Then I sat and wondered. Why do they act this way? What gives them the right to treat people the way they do? Does the fact that until 30 years ago this country had done nothing but try and preserve what sort of individuality and culture it had? Does the fact that they were constantly under the threat of invasion have anything to do with it? For hunders of years Vietnam had to constantly be at war with wealther nations to protect what they thought was rightfully theirs.
I’ve been reading this book called, “Vietnam Now,” written by David Lamb. He was in Vietnam during the war and went back in 1997 for the LA Times to be a post war correspondent and tell people what Vietnam was like now. He provides some great insight into the people, and great historical accounts of the war and america’s controversial involvment. Reading the book did help me understand what these people had went through. After being at war for so many years, it was time to move on and grow. Looking back on the past only took away from what you could do in the future. They wanted to progress, to learn, and catch up. In America the Vietnam War is still a black eye for us. We have memorials and movies that you can never really seem to get away from. In Vietnam, the American War as it’s called, is over and what’s done is done. These people don’t want to be told how to run their country. They are still a communist country led by people who refuse to adapt and to grow with the world. Somehow that’s what they need. Maybe they need to do things their way, the hard way, until they can figure out a better way. There is a stronger generation of young Vietnamese who look at the way things are done in the west and want that way of life. They want cell phones, internet, western clothes and things that we may take for granted. They do ultimately want to stay attached to their heritage however.
I can’t say I blame them however what’s rude is rude and what i represent being american will unfortunately continue to follow me around on my trip. I can’t say that I get positive responses when I tell people where i’m from. However when I don’t get a negative one, i view that as positive.
The Vietnamese are strong, hard working, persevering people. They do what they can to survive and as frustrating as it may be for me and other tourists it’s just a reality that you have to deal with if you want to go there.
I would go back to Vietnam in a heartbeat. I’m now armed with the knowledge that I have and i think it might be easier. I’m sure when I come back things will be greatly different but that’s ok. The challenge alone was worth it and accomplishing it was greatly rewarding. I guess they say it’s not the destintion but the journey. Vietnam and most of southeast asia is like that…and i’d have to say that I liked it alot.
I said goodbye to Andy this morning and headed to the airport to go to Hong Kong. We gave each other manly hugs, exchanged a few warm insults then said goodbye with the knowledge that we both know we will see each other again. Andy became a great friend to me over these past few months. I feel lucky to have met him and to have shared his company. People come and go everyday day but I’d have to say we probably both had a profound impact on each other. (You better be reading this Douchebag and know that i’m not crying.) I also said goodbye to the Kiwi’s. The 5 of us formed a tight group for about 3 weeks or so. I will see Kim and Lil in London in September and If i ever go to New Zealand, Officer Amy Austin will surely get a visit.
I wish you well Andy Smith and my Kiwi Friends…until we meet again!
Gagnonius