How can a country that suffered so much at the hands of American military policy be so warm and welcoming to Americans? That's the anomaly of Vietnam, a truly wonderful country, full of lovely people, delicious food, low prices, stark contrasts, and an entrepreneurial spirit (growth rate this year, 8.4%). I am Duty Dean for two days here (meaning, on-call for any emergencies), so we've decided to hang out in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the entire time to relax and get to know it more deeply.
First, the food. Everyone knows Pho, but the complexity of the ingredients and sophistication of preparation are revelations. Every single meal has been memorable
OK, not all the menu items have a delicious ring about them (we passed on the "false dog" dish).
How friendly are the Vietnamese? Coming back from dinner one night, we stopped to watch a bride and groom pose for their pictures. We wished them luck, and they then insisted we join them in the wedding party photos!
More food. One place, rated #1 on TripAdvisor (Guc Gach Quan), lived up to billing even a second time, although getting anywhere around Saigon is a major challenge. The motorcycles come at you from all sides, even on the sidewalks.
We went to dinner following a performance of the Vietnamese Water Puppets, a wholly original show of hand-controlled puppets that takes place with live music in a pool of water. They were charming, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining.
This has to be the oddest Communist state in existence because it is a Capitalist's dream. Stuff, stuff, stuff, stores, markets, sell, sell, sell, high-end, low-end. From embroidered T-shirts (3 for $8) to peacock shoes ($2200; thankfully, they didn't have Janna's size).
We got caught in a torrential downpour after leaving the heart-wrenching War Remnant Museum (images that we remember from the sixties on TV).
On the day before we sailed, the Archbishop and Leah took us (along with our friends Jeremy, Liz, and Becca) to a spectacular lunch at, you guessed it!, Cuc Gach Quan.
+++++++++++++++And most importantly, Krista and Austin (now about 6 weeks old) are doing fine!
We sail on to China.
How can a country that suffered so much at the hands of American military policy be so warm and welcoming to Americans? That's the anomaly of Vietnam, a truly wonderful country, full of lovely people, delicious food, low prices, stark contrasts, and an entrepreneurial spirit (growth rate this year, 8.4%). I am Duty Dean for two days here (meaning, on-call for any emergencies), so we've decided to hang out in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the entire time to relax and get to know it more deeply.
First, the food. Everyone knows Pho, but the complexity of the ingredients and sophistication of preparation are revelations. Every single meal has been memorable
OK, not all the menu items have a delicious ring about them (we passed on the "false dog" dish).
How friendly are the Vietnamese? Coming back from dinner one night, we stopped to watch a bride and groom pose for their pictures. We wished them luck, and they then insisted we join them in the wedding party photos!
More food. One place, rated #1 on TripAdvisor (Guc Gach Quan), lived up to billing even a second time, although getting anywhere around Saigon is a major challenge. The motorcycles come at you from all sides, even on the sidewalks.
We went to dinner following a performance of the Vietnamese Water Puppets, a wholly original show of hand-controlled puppets that takes place with live music in a pool of water. They were charming, engaging, and thoroughly entertaining.
This has to be the oddest Communist state in existence because it is a Capitalist's dream. Stuff, stuff, stuff, stores, markets, sell, sell, sell, high-end, low-end. From embroidered T-shirts (3 for $8) to peacock shoes ($2200; thankfully, they didn't have Janna's size).
We got caught in a torrential downpour after leaving the heart-wrenching War Remnant Museum (images that we remember from the sixties on TV).
On the day before we sailed, the Archbishop and Leah took us (along with our friends Jeremy, Liz, and Becca) to a spectacular lunch at, you guessed it!, Cuc Gach Quan.
+++++++++++++++And most importantly, Krista and Austin (now about 6 weeks old) are doing fine!
We sail on to China.
No comments:
Post a Comment