A Nation in Between

Vietnam suffers from a never-ending physical and mental war – what started in 2nd century BC that saw it up in arms against Chinese invasion, only to be followed by similar advances from France, Japan and the U.S. – all to create what is now an enduring and strong nation. In entering globalization as the new form of capitalism, Vietnam is now struggling to keep its belief in communism.

Since the mid 1990s, Vietnam has been speeding up its economic growth. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the beginning of the industrialization era for the country.

During my short trip to Vietnam, I saw clearly the results of a mixed culture and history reflected in the country’s cuisines, architecture, art and culture.



Vietnamese coffee and its tempting scent, Pho and its rich taste, Vietnamese-styled European sandwiches, spring roll wrapped in rice paper and Cha ca (filleted fish slices grilled over charcoal) are just some the must-taste culinary treats in Vietnam.

Hoi An, a charming old town with the influences of Chinese, Japanese and European cultures are well preserved in the local architecture. Strolling down the narrow street of Hoi An with a 10,000 Dong rented bicycle delivered me a flashback to a time 150 years ago – a time filled with Vietnamese ladies wearing silk slim dresses, European ladies with their big ball dress , and peasants offering street food and fresh fruits. Now, shops in little exotic and rich architectures offer custom-made clothing, cafés, souvenirs and paintings are found in almost every corner. Fancy a cooking class? Get to know more about what Vietnam cuisine has to offer simply by visiting the many restaurants in Hoi An.




From the tranquil streets of Hoi An, I then made my way to the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, where one has to cope with the hustling hundreds of motorcycles while ignoring them left and right when crossing the streets – otherwise you will go nowhere.



Visiting Vietnam won’t be complete if you don’t take time to enjoy the boat cruise between thousands of limestone isles and karsts in one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites – the Halong Bay. Experiencing the beauty that is Halong Bay, it is almost impossible not to believe Vietnam’s local legend that Heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend the land against Chinese invaders before spitting out jewels and jade that eventually became the limestone isles.




Pretending to be the VC (Viet Cong), I crawled down the 200-km tunnel that saw some parts made wider and taller to accommodate tourists but still not recommended for someone with claustrophobia. If a duck walk in a 40-m underground tunnel may not be enough for one to feel like a VC, one simply has to notice several real guns with real bullets the likes of an M16, M60 and AK47 – just some you don’t want to miss.

Through the perspective of a traveler, one can see that Vietnam is again facing a new colonialism, where materialism has become what matters the most, while social norms are becoming less and less important.