Vietnam Revisited
Twenty-five years after the end of the American War, as they call it, Vietnamese don't mind all the US veterans coming back and reliving memories, but they'd rather move forward than remain stuck in the past
Still, there remains an invigorating sense of excitement about Vietnam. We feel it the second we touch down in Ho Chi Minh City. That's the official name of the nation's largest city and financial hub, but nobody, except perhaps high-level government officials, calls it that. To residents, whether street sweepers, sales clerks or company presidents, this city is as it always was, Saigon.
Nowadays, it's a crowded, teeming place, populated by, depending upon where you draw the lines, four to six million people. Who are in constant motion. On bikes and cyclos, in cars and buses, and, mainly, by motorbike. On Sunday nights, they roar relentlessly in a circle down Dong Khai boulevard then spin on either side of Dai Lo Le Loi. Inside the tree-lined walkway, kids kick footballs, and families pose for pictures in front of fountains. Vendors sell tiny toys, like the cheap plastic hopping frogs popular with western kids decades ago. The main action is on the street, on the saddle of a Honda Dream, the motorbike of choice. Traffic is so thick in front of the Rex Hotel, a garish relic of Vietnam war fame, that thousands of motorcycles simply inch along. Still, nobody is in a hurry. Dressed in club clothes, young couples make the scene, revving engines and yelling to friends in a mesmerizing weekly ritual of coolness and cruising.
There aren't many other outlets for Vietnam's baby boomers - another legacy of the wars. A third of the population is under 15 years of age, and 60 percent are 30 or under. It's the future consumer base that brand managers dream about, but nobody is cashing in yet. "My dream? It's to study at night and get a job with a foreign company," says a slick-dressed 25-year-old employee of Saigon Tourist Holding Company. He speaks perfect English, and is studying Japanese and Chinese. His motivation? "I could make $200, maybe even $250 a month," he says dreamily. His monthly salary is $150.
Prospects are even grimmer outside Saigon, where wages are double Hanoi's average. At the capital's Phan Thai Hotel, the day manager has an English degree and earns $50 monthly. Nights are spent in a graduate program in international relations. "Getting a new job, working with a foreign company," he says, "is all anyone thinks about."
Low wages aren't the only hitch facing upwardly-motivated youths in a nation with a literacy rate of 94 percent. The labor market is stagnant, and swamped by 1.2 million new job seekers every year. Part of the flood stems from the painful transformation of state-run firms into viable enterprises - the same battle that faced old socialist allies in Eastern Europe. The other drag is new investment. Much poured in at the launch of doi moi, but as reforms moved slowly, if at all, the cash flows stalled. Numerous abandoned hotel towers - the Marriot in Ho Chi Minh and Sheraton in Hanoi - are shell-like monuments to the grand ambitions of investors and the failure of follow-through that plagues Vietnam.
However there are hopes on the horizon. The brightest involve investments from well-heeled Vietnamese - from overseas. Turned into refugees at the war's end, many flourished in America, Europe and Australia. Some have returned, bringing money and, equally important, new ideas and western management skills. It's a tenuous alliance, marked more by failure than success. Returnees - known as Viet Kieu - relate a litany of grievances.
"There has been a general sense of distrust in Vietnam for all of us who left and are coming back," admits one. "But it's improving." He credits this to improving relations on both sides. As more Viet Kieu come back and stay, they ease the carpetbagger image. And Vietnam seems gradually to be grasping the value of its returnee talent pool. Still, it has proven to be a turbulent partnership.
2. How would Vietnam be different if it remained communist like North Korea?
. Well Vitetman has had major changes since than. Vietnam now has crouded cities that ae populated by diverse ethins back growns. Vietnam has become industrialize, cars are now in the streeh, it has become involved with international transportations. Also after the war vietnamese people have gotten a chance to get better jobs, better wages, and have a chance to become something in life.
ReplyDelete2. Vietnam would be different because under communism the Vietnamese citizens would not have any saying on their wages, they would not have any chance to become some thing else. Also Vietnam would be isolated from the rest of the world because the communist government would want to keep communisn in the country. Also Vietnamese citizens would not have the right to vote, or leave the country.
Luis Amesquita
1) After the war in vietnam, just like us, the daily life of a person continued on trying to move foward and leaving the past behind. Streets were crowded with bikes, cycles, cares, buses and other motor vehicles. Many people were dreaming of a higher pay while only recieving low wages as many others were unemployed.
ReplyDelete2) If Vietnam were to remain communist like North Korea, communism would've gradually spread and there would be more communist countries.
-Hannah Lee
Vietnam always had a high population which caused a lot of traffic since everyone travels with vehicles and had many baby booms. Many young people have a graduate in college, but will always end up working in a low paying job. Since the war, Vietnam had hopes for a better future. Many civillians had flourished in America, Austrailia, and Europe. Many civillians, who once lived in Vietnam and ended up in other countries from refudgees of the war, returned to their home country with money, western management skills, and new ideas. Even though many come back with advanced knowledge, only a few grew successful back hom in Vietnam. Even with many failures coming back to Vietnam, the community has been getting better and clearing the image of having high carperbaggers.
ReplyDeleteIf Vietnam remained communist like North Korea, there would be no improvement in the economy because they will not allow outside influence to influence their country. The government will control everything and will not allow Viet Kieu to share their advanced knowledge from the war refudgees. Low wages would of stayed and and failures would of increased.
-Cindy Yam PD5
1.After the Vietnam war ends, Vietnam was no longer arated in to north and south but united as a whole. People in Vietnam lived under communism polities. Furthermore, the country was quite poor and still destructed from the bombing of Vietnam war. By 1990, the country abstain from the polities of communism, and the economy was now quite liberated. Even thought the country was still consider communist, it was only a nominally title. People in Vietnam wants to get rich and live better; even thought the the country is politically authoritarian people do not care much about it. Thus, even thought Vietnam is consider communist, they are no different from the rest of the world.
ReplyDelete2.If Vietnam remains communist like the north Korea, things will be totally diverse. People in would not be able to become wealthy. In a equal rights society, people would not be allow to open a business independently. The economies a poor in a communist country, because everyone have equal right, there was no competitions in innovate thinking, without competitons there would not any dynamic people whom are willing to help boost up the countries economy. People in a communist country often suffer starvation and woe. They do not have much food to eat and without liberty there would not be anything to be delightful about.
-Angela Chen
Since the war, Vietnam has been very crowded with over 5 million people. The citizens of Vietnam have become more active and were enjoying the freedom, constantly in motion, either on bikes or cars and buses. Children were more involved in sports and families were outgoing. Young people were also contributing to the busy streets, dressed up in clothing for clubs. There were also a greater number of job seekers although jobs offered low wages.
ReplyDeleteIf Vietnam had remained communist like North Korea, its people would not be enjoying their freedom as they were. Everyone would be socially equal and there would be no job opportunities for people to earn money. They would also not be able to own private property. - Navjeet Kaur Pd 5
1. Since the war, Vietnam has endured much struggles and continues to face hardship. Today, Vietnam is still fighting for it's place in the world. Vietnam has managed to prosper in many ways. The city of Saigon, is very populated and it is evident much of the country's benefits revolves around this city. Wages are not high, being $150 a month or less. The people of Vietnam have hope, though. They all seek a new job with a foreign company. Many are faithful, but Vietnam needs assistance in order to put itself out there.
ReplyDelete2. Had Vietnam remained communist like North Korea, conditions would have most likely been worse for the nation. The government would have had complete domination over everyone. This would cause less freedom, aggression, less flow of money, and no economic movement.
-Rebecca Ramdeholl, Period 5
Vietnam has become more popular, very crowded, and "financial hub". There are many outlets, stores and vendors. Low wages push younger generations to become literate to seek high wages.
ReplyDeleteif Vietnam remained a communism country like North Korea, the city would not be as popular and finical well as it is now.
Ciara Diaz (:
1. Vietnam has changed since the war. They are slowly but surely becoming more democratic but face many obstacles like most countries do when they gain their freedom. Economically they struggle but now youth are able to choose their own careers.
ReplyDelete2. Vietnam would be different from today if they were still communistic. The Vietnamese would still be oppressed, their would be no economic prosperity or growth. It would be totally different from today.
-Camilo Jimenez prd 5
1. Since the war Vietnam has changed because the citizens live freely almost as if they have no worries. The citizens each do their own thing. There is a difference in wages, some places are ahead and more financially stable than others. Lastly, there are vendors on the street selling toys.
ReplyDelete2. Vietnam would be different from what the article depicts if it stayed communist. The first difference is the vendors would not be allowed to sell the goods on the street. Also different cities income wouldn't have a better advantage; everything would try to be close to the same. Lastly, the biggest difference is that the people wouldn't be able to call Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon by choice. The citizens would have to call it Ho Chi Minh City because that’s what the government officials call it and that its correct name.
- Jazmine Hamlet
Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, as it is referred to by high level government officials, is the finanical hub of Vietnam. There are venders in the streets, motorcycles, the city is booming with people. Due to the baby boomers, there aren't much work oppertunities though. Wages usually end up at about $150 a month. After the war had ended and Vietnam had settled down the Veit Kieu started comming back from overseas. They brought money back with them, at first the Vietnamese didn't feel trusting of the Viet Kieu, but with time they opened up to them.
ReplyDeleteIf Vietnam had remained communist like North Korea the prospect of advancing on the social ladder. Or getting the raise that so many of the baby boomers desire. They would be stuck in one place, and no financial hub. The Viet Kieu would not have been able to come back with their larger sums of money and just make new lives for themselves that easily. Not that it was that simple for them to do in reality. People wouldn't have the oppertunities they have.
-Victoria Bastidas
1. After the war, Vietnam have a bit more of freedom. Young individuals can wear what they chose to wear. They lived in a more relaxed and not strict environment.
ReplyDelete2. If Vietnam was still communist, then there would be no wages, everyone is equal to everyone else. There would be no class divisions. It would be more strict and in order.
-Jennifer Wu
1)Since the war Vietnam has continued to struggle economically. Although life itself has improved, Vietnamese people continue to struggle because of the low wages they recieve, such as, $50 a month and $150 a month. It seems as if everyone's dream in Vietnam is to get a well paying job with a foreign company. Vietnamese people began to move to America, Europe and Australia because as a result of the war they became refugees. By leaving and returning they brought western influence to Vietnam improving it's economy, slowly but surely.
ReplyDelete2) If Vietnam had remained communist like North Korea they would not be able to leave, return with money and use ideas of new western management skills due to the total control the government would have.
-Jasmine Davis
1. After the war, Vietnam became more modern with crowded streets and many buildings. Everybody dreamed to make more money with foreign companies. Salaries to the people were low to about $50-$150 a month. Many vietnamese people left the country to America looking for a better opportunity. Many of them did become prosperous and returned to Vietnam with money and western business skills.
ReplyDelete2. If Vietnam remained communist like North Korea, people wouldn't be able to leave the country to foreign places for better business opportunities. The people also wouldn't have to worry about looking for new jobs for a better salary because the government would have already planned out their lives. To where they work, how much they get paid, how much food they receive, where they live and etc. -Wayne Caison
1) Vietnam changed a lot after the war was ended. Its not a communist country anymore. Theres businesses running and people have freedom to go around and have fun. It says in the passage that kids are playing outside. It seems like people have more freedom. People riding there motorcycles going place to place. Seems like vietnam is turning into a democratic country, if you look the passage people who have a decent education gets paid alittle... But if you think about its better then getting nothing. It seems like vietnam is recovering from the war. People are getting more freedom and economic freedom
ReplyDelete2)Vietnam will be differant because North Korea has no freedom. Not even freedom to enjoy social life. Vietnam would not have economic freedom. They would probably have a communist economy. Which is a economy that would'nt rise. I believe that if vietnam was communist then they will have no freedom like they have now.
Philip Hwang pd5
1)Vietnam had changed in many ways after the war ended. People had more freedom to do what they like. There was more job opportunities although the wages were low. By leaving to other countries they returned to Vietnam with money, and the economy was improving. Vietnam became more popular and also populated.
ReplyDelete2. If Vietnam still remained communist like North Korea there would be no freedom for the people, the economy would be worse, and there would not be any job opportunities for people.
Purna Talukder period 5
1. Vietnam has changed since the war mainly due to American involvement. They now are more industrialized and more active in the world, rather than being isolated. They have better opportunities, and more population.
ReplyDelete2. If Vietnam remained communist, they wouldn't have the freedom they were granted. They wouldn't have industrialized so well which would lead to an unsuccessful economy. There also wouldn't be as many job opportunities.
-Dowin Torres p5