As our tour guide took us around the city and explained the history and significance of the famous buildings, I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition of large skyscrapers and/or ancient buildings placed right next to tenement-looking housing. Often, beautiful buildings were right next to shacks. This reminded me of how Vietnam is evolving, but also facing difficult ethical issues, too. While the country is economically thriving overall, there isn’t much room to place new buildings. This can have plenty of negative effects. Residents can be forced out of their homes from eminent domain. Citizens can be financially coerced out because of increased rent due to the “pretty buildings” just a few feet away. There are plenty of other issues along with this growing issue. However, Vietnam is making a step in the right direction, taking two steps forward and one step backwards. Citizens may be harmed from this, but the economy will start to grow, and they might reap the benefits previously stolen from them when new real estate is capitalized upon.
Related to the Welcome Dinner, not much surprised me. I was aware of what the food was like, and how the Vietnamese ate their meals. What did take me by surprise, however, was the unique instruments used in the bands. Though the Culture Smart book covered contemporary music, I had no idea these instruments even existed. One musician was playing what looked like a one stringed theremin, while another the guitar, and a third was tapping on different sized bamboo shoots. This goes to show how art can truly influence the products of the industry and the business of it, too. While Vietnamese music may not have the traditional piano, guitar, and drums of a traditional band, they have unique instruments that the market demands.