2 Hours Away from Vietnam

Last last week, I went to Vietnam. My long awaited trip to my perceivingly far far away homeland "Mecca," lasted only 2 and a half hours, that is from Hong Kong. After one episode of Sex and the City and two more of 30 Rock, staring blankly and a full meal, we arrived in Saigon. At first the airport scene was nothing new, typically empty with Vietnamese speaking people. However, the minute I stepped outside to catch our taxi, the humidity and mega infrastructure overhead were immediate indicators of how much Saigon has changed from my parents' romantized depictions of the old Saigon.

My cab ride to our hotel in the heart of the city was eye opening. The flow of traffic seemingly chaotic at first-- full of mopeds and cars and people all at onces-- has a very rythmic flow of order, people move with the flow rather than being regulated with traffic lights and traffic signage, how freeing. The city itself, fully urbanized with stores, offices, luxury condos from all periods of architectural form. The French have definitely left their mark on Saigon, as the entire layout of the city consisted of tree lined boulevards intersecting at monumental sites, and well dispersed public squares and parks. It was an overwhelming sight, 3-5 story dense perimeter block buildings amongst the masses of mopeds and people seemingly hovering randomly in the streets.

In a sense, the current day Saigon, now HCM city is no longer a reflection of little Saigon, it is contemporary, Europeanized, and economically booming with global businesses. The romantized outlook on the once French colonized city has transformed into modern day living.

On the other hand, the province of Ninh Thuan, 8 hours North-East of the capital, is rural in character, untouched by communism or globalization, true depictions of Vietnam's history. Ninh Thuan inhabits Vietnam's localized small village lifestyle, a more simple way of life within agricultural fields and fishing seaports. Colorful housing units of all sizes, shapes and period of typology reflect the Vietnamese culture's playful and charming way of life. The local character of towns are shown through the faces of many of the inhabitants there, openly friendly with eye to eye smiles. The sense of humor in my interactions with people as well as the shyness shown across young faces is a true characteristic of what I've come to know and love about my culture.

Ninh Thuan has left a mark in my heart.