Lush, green scenery and bustling crowds decorate Vietnam
Travel Log: Vietnam
Minh Pham
Issue date: 9/2/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Beautiful … mystical … loud and crowded. The divide between all these visuals are quick and dramatic in Vietnam.
I had the amazing opportunity to return to the country this summer, for the second time in my life. The reason for the trip was a somber one, as I was bringing my mother's ashes back to her homeland to place them in her childhood church.
Witnessing the beauty of my surroundings and interacting with the personalities I met, my perspective on how we live has expanded immensely.
I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City Airport on a balmy Wednesday afternoon. As I stepped off the plane, I felt the humid air warm my skin and beads of sweat form along my hairline.
I was warned to put a 10 dollar bill in my passport to ensure an easy exit through customs, but since we weren't bringing anything illegal in, I figured I'd save 30 bucks and give nothing.
It worked.
Vietnam is a mixture of districts, provinces and towns. I stayed an hour southeast from Saigon, in Tang Phu.
The ride from the airport to my family's house was a shocking welcome to the traffic we would be witnessing for the rest of our three weeks there.
Ten years ago, the streets were congested mainly with bikes and some mopeds. Now everybody seems to have a moped, making crossing the street a test for all your senses. Though there are traffic lights, they're only really followed on larger roads.
I had the amazing opportunity to return to the country this summer, for the second time in my life. The reason for the trip was a somber one, as I was bringing my mother's ashes back to her homeland to place them in her childhood church.
Witnessing the beauty of my surroundings and interacting with the personalities I met, my perspective on how we live has expanded immensely.
I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City Airport on a balmy Wednesday afternoon. As I stepped off the plane, I felt the humid air warm my skin and beads of sweat form along my hairline.
I was warned to put a 10 dollar bill in my passport to ensure an easy exit through customs, but since we weren't bringing anything illegal in, I figured I'd save 30 bucks and give nothing.
It worked.
Vietnam is a mixture of districts, provinces and towns. I stayed an hour southeast from Saigon, in Tang Phu.
The ride from the airport to my family's house was a shocking welcome to the traffic we would be witnessing for the rest of our three weeks there.
Ten years ago, the streets were congested mainly with bikes and some mopeds. Now everybody seems to have a moped, making crossing the street a test for all your senses. Though there are traffic lights, they're only really followed on larger roads.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Martin Bullard
posted 9/02/09 @ 3:25 AM PST
Could the author please explain what is meant by "But since the country took back its government in the '80s". This does not fit with any history that I am aware of. (Continued…)
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