Vietnam: Deep Thoughts

Before coming to Vietnam, I had heard varying reports from people, from "It was the most amazing place I've ever visited, I wish I had been there longer!" to "It was an absolute dump, and I hated every minute there!" I am glad I had over three weeks to form my own personal opinions of the place.

The country is indeed the most eclectic country I have visited, with remarkable differences in the language, food, and culture of the south and the north. The most notable, as well as frustrating difference in the two regions was the personality of the people. Whereas the folks in the south were friendly and accomodating to us foreigners, the people of Hanoi, especially, were quite unpleasant, giving off the undeniable impression that we were unwelcome visitors. However, I will not stereotype completely by classifying all northern Vietnamese in this fashion. The people we encountered on our motorbike trip were very friendly and curious, and we had excellent experiences with the people that ran our Hanoi guesthouse. I guess it really just depends on who you meet...but it is hard to forget the overzealous motorbike drivers who screamed "Fu** You!" on our first day in Hanoi...

Vietnam seemed to be the biggest party place I have been to since arriving in Southeast Asia. Of course, apart from our northwest loop, we did pretty much stick to the "Tourist Trail," so it was quite difficult escaping the hordes of young recent-graduate backpackers who would rather drink beer and fruity shots by night and loung around on the beach by day than see the sights of true Vietnam. Now of course, I have no right to judge, as I was just as guilty as the next person in wasting away a few days here and there, but I am fortunate to say that I did manage to truly explore off of the beaten track.

As for my favorite place in Vietnam, hands down it would be on the seat of our Russian Minsk Motorcycle, AKA "Gaston". Outside of the amazing places we visited on our ride through the northwest, I also loved Hoi An. Despite the hassles and hardships I endured (as well as lots of wasted money) attempting to have clothes made, the beach was beautiful and the friendly travelers gave it a close-knit, neighborhood feel. I did not spend enough time in Saigon to form a very good opinion, but I can say that it was a much more pleasant place than Hanoi, as far as big cities go. As for the beaches, Mui Ne was disgusting, with dead rats and garbage washing ashore, and Nha Trang felt like a frat-party.

The food in Vietnam was did not include a very wide selection, as the options basically ranged from Pho Soup (which, I finally happily discovered, is best in the north) and Com Pho, a meal that basically consists of rice and a protein condiment and vegetable.

Overall, we had a great time, and it was a wonderful final three weeks to spend traveling with Erin. We met some fabulous people, from the Brits Chris, Arlene, and the loony Craig down south, to more Brits in Hoi An. And lets not forget the fun of running into and spending a wild time with some old faces, namely the American boys Evan, Mike, and Max and the French Canadians Bea and David, as well as our old Swedish friends Anna-Karin and David.

And last but not least, some final thoughts. I have given up my short-lived dream of being a clothing designer, as dealing with the nightmares involved in having the thoughts in my head come alive in fabric is enough to give me an ulcer. I will never forget the extreme friendliness and courteousness of the village people in the northwest who went out of their way on numerous occasions to help two ditzy girls who had no clue where they were going, what they should order to eat, or how to fix a motorcycle. If I never eat another vegetable baguette or tofu with tomatoes I will not be disappointed. Even after questioning numerous Vietnamese and travelers, I still have no clue why Vietnamese have one long fingernail. Finally, why the government makes it impossible to access Blogspot is beyond me.

Vietnam was a beautiful country, and I am thankful for a (mostly) warm reception by the people toward someone who's motherland wreaked havoc on this fascinating place!