“Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.” —Winston Churchill
As recently as 1975, the Communist forces of Vietnam took complete control of the country and formally ended the war. What occurred from that year until now has been hailed as an economic miracle.
Through various economic reforms and investments, Vietnam now finds itself as one of the most rapidly developing countries in the world. The GDP per capita has skyrocketed in the last 30 years. From extreme poverty to newfound wealth and a solid growing middle class to go with it, Vietnam is looking like it’s in a great position for the coming years.
So what does this rapid transformation transition to on the ground level in Saigon? It creates a lively and chaotic environment that induces feelings of wonder, curiosity, excitement, and endless possibilities. Modern glowing skyscrapers are juxtaposed with makeshift shanty towns, tiny mopeds that are barely still sputtering right next to shiny new Porsches. Saigon is a city of extremes, and it’s not trying to hide a thing about it.
But what about the war? Do the many scars of the conflict still have lasting tangibility today?
One would think that Vietnam’s troubling history with the U.S. would translate to harboring resentment and hard feelings for us Americans. But honestly, they seem largely unfazed by our presence. The first chance I got, I had to bring this subject up with a young Vietnamese guy around my age: “Aren’t there any negative perceptions of Americans here?” I asked. “With all that we did?” “Look,” he responded, “we Vietnamese know that the average citizens are separate from their governments. We are strong and resilient people who focus on what is in front of us and just want to improve the lives of future generations. There were also a great number of people around the world and even inside your country who protested against the war, we appreciated and never forgot that.”
From only a short time in the country, I can tell Vietnam does not cling to its past, but instead looks towards the future with hope, persistence, and determination. Its people have endured unimaginable horrors, but have somehow turned the page. Quite literally rising from the ashes, they now seem ready for whatever challenges get thrown their way. Taking it one street meal and moto taxi ride at a time, something is brewing here. A new Vietnam of the future is materializing right before our very eyes.
Hello there! 