In 1975, the Americans left Vietnam in shame after having bombed the shit out of them and killed many thousands of their people. Twenty years later, Vietnam welcomed them back, along with the rest of the world, to visit as tourists and guests. Amazing!
Before the Americans ravaged this country, the French did their own ravagings. It was a tag team tussle and many thousands died as a result.
In 2020, the Vietnamese think kindly of the Americans and not so kindly to the French. According to the locals we spoke to, it’s because the Americans apologized and offered up retribution. The French? Nope. Not a word of apology or acknowledgement of what they did.
Another oddity here is the attraction local people have to Westerners. We’re told it’s the fair skin and the narrow shape of the face that Vietnamese find attractive. Today I saw a middle aged Vietnamese woman ask a young and very tall blonde girl if she would pose for a photo. The young lady agreed but was obviously uncomfortable.
Some eat dogs and cats and this originated during the war torn years when food was in very short supply. It’s less common today but it does happen. Today’s guide lives with her mom, dad, sister and brother-in-law and they have 4 dogs. They have to keep watch over the dogs because there’s the risk that someone will feed them poison and then take them home for dinner. Vietnam is a country rapidly moving towards the 21st Century but the past is still prevalent in many economic groups.
The tourist industry here began in 1995 and its youthful enthusiasm and exuberance is evident in the service industry. The young people waiting on tables and cleaning rooms etc. are very keen to please. They are quick to remove your plate when you’ve completed a course (and sometimes even before your chopsticks are on your plate) and they bow and thank you often. It’s not only the young. An older woman hosting the dragon boat we road today (on Perfume River in Hue) was 59 and was determined to make sure we were comfortable on our journey. She was easy with a smile and very sincere in her commitment to pleasing her guests.