A few points about life in Vietnam:
1) When you go to a hospital in Saigon to have your child you may end up on a mattress on the floor surrounded by other mothers about to give birth. There is apparently a huge shortage of beds.
2) If someone in your family says to you 'You are too thin and ugly!' it is a compliment becuse it shows they care!! Thin seems to equal ugly for some reason...
3) Many people in South East Asia are Lactose intolerant because in early times they were not nomadic, not herders of cattle, and so went straight from hunter-gathering to farming.
4) Among the Montagnards, a people of the mountains, in the area called Dalat, the women choose the men who are to be their partners for life. The man then becomes a possession of the woman's family.
5) The religions of Vietnam are Budhism (80%) Christianity (10%)
others, including Hinduism, the remainder.
6) Politicians in Hanoi are corrupt and hypocritical and their children rich and spoiled. The son of the 'second in command' to the President, (for want of a better description!) bought 27 BMW cars for his friends and had a race...using his father's money and prestige.
7) Our guide to Phan Thiet, Thien, is the son of a farmer, one of nine children. He has a wife and one small child, a son. His mission in life is to protect and take care of them. He is also ambitious and works extremely hard to support them. He is a University graduate, speaks very good English that is self taught. He is also teaching himself Spanish to get a better position and he speaks some Russian and Chinese. He is happy now to be paid a salary rather than working for very little on commission. He has travelled to Hong Kong and lived there as an exile for 8 years. He and his family live in a small apartment in Saigon. To get home he has to travel by bus for an hour and then walk half a mile. He left us at about 7.30 pm so would not be home until about 9.30 pm. He had to be back at the Port to accompany another group by 7 am the following morning!
8) Taxi drivers can be corrupt and it is only sensible to use recommended cabs. Those near the Port are notorious. They have no meters and will agree a price, then put it up and lock all doors so that you are literally trapped into paying. They can become very aggressive if they don't receive what they ask for and shout at their passengers. A number of students had been badly scared by their behaviour.
9) However...most Vietnamese who we met were delightful, very friendly and helpful. We met only a few who spoke good English and making oneself understood is certainly part of the fun...knowing how to mime successfully helps! It is also very difficult to understand Vietnamese English!
10) It is possible in Saigon to go to a tailor, be measured and have a suit or shirts ready for pick up in under a day. The measurements are then stored and clothes may then be ordered in the future from the US and Canada. Many women on the ship either bought stunning silk and other fabrics and/or had dresses made in a similarly short time...all the finished products that I have seen fit beautifully and are professionally finished and tailored. Very impressive!
11) Vietnamese food is delicious! It is influenced by both Chinese and Indian fare and the spices used are delicate and peppery, rarely overpowering. It is almost as good as Thai food and better than Chinese.
Lemongrass is a very popular ingredient, as are soy, tofu, sesame seed, coconut and peanuts. Desserts and fruit drinks often contain a delicious vanilla ice cream. Most are very sweet! Instant coffee is sweetened as is yoghurt.
12) Architecture is an interesting mix of Chinese, French Colonial and typically Vietnamese structures. The Opera House in Saigon is a copy of the Opera House in Paris. On our way to Phan Thiet I noticed that the residences behind the shop lined streets were ornate, tall, narrow and sometimes three or four stories high. The more modest houses, between the shop fronts, were small and square, some with beautiful and simple Art Decco designs (reminiscent of Renee McIntosh)adorning the exterior walls and window panes. Others appeared more elaborate and rather Indian...to my eyes. The streets are very French with trees running down their centres and sides, giving much needed shade.
There is a huge amount of new building going on in Saigon. The Koreans are known as good builders and are constructing expensive looking apartment complexes and offices everywhere. The skyline of the city has changed in the last 18 months with many more skyscrapers of varying heights and shapes are sprouting up. If we ever return it will no doubt have metamorphasised into a Hong Kong-like city.
13) Lastly, and surprisingly, the Vietnamese LOVE Halloween and there are the scariest masks for sale that I have ever seen!
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