While overwhelming, our first day in Ho Chi Minh City was a great opportunity to meet the Vietnamese students and begin learning about the country. While touring the city, one of the things that stood out to me was the organized chaos that takes place on the streets. Motorcycles, mopeds, and cars fill the streets and fly around pedestrians who walk as if nothing is driving around them. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t witness an accident given the incredible volume of cars and pedestrians and the lack of road signs they drive with. Though it should have been expected the weather in the city did also come as a surprise. I did not realize how hot and humid it was actually going to be. But, what really caught me off guard was that so many people were wearing long sleeve shirts and pants despite the fact that it was so hot and humid outside. Another thing that stood out was the number of high end clothing and apparel stores like Gucci, Versace, and Dior mixed in with the small local restaurants and street vendors. It was interesting that so many of these stores were prevalent in an area that is still developing as their products are most likely only able to be purchased by a very small percentage of the population.
Globalization and development were also prevalent throughout the city. The country continues to develop as work on many infrastructure related projects such as improvement of the streets and sidewalks were being completed throughout the city. One example of both topics was the railroad that is expected to be finished in 2022. Its clearly a sign of development as the country looks to expand the available public transportation options and also potentially reduce pollution by taking some of the motorcycles off the streets. The railroad also shows globalization in Vietnam as Japanese companies are helping to complete it . Another place I saw globalization was the diversity in the types of restaurants throughout the city. There were American chain restaurants mixed in with Vietnamese restaurants, along with other Chinese and French restaurants showing how as Vietnam continues to develop, it is also opening its doors to other influences and cultures.
Along with the great view of Ho chi Minh City, the welcome tour provided a number of surprises regarding dining. I was initially surprised by the warm tea that was waiting at our tables when we arrived in large glasses rather than the hot tea that is often served in small tea cups. The waiters were also a bit surprised and confused when we asked if we could have water along with the tea. The live singers and dancers were also surprising. Though it is often common for live music to be played at restaurants in the United States, I have never been at a restaurant where dancers performed while dining. Regarding the Culture Smart book, everything was relatively similar to what was laid out. The book detailed how it is common for a number of large dishes to be shared by all people sitting at a table. It was also accurate regarding most of the foods that would be served. It mentioned how common shrimp and vegetable spring rolls are along with the fact that many chicken and pork dishes would most likely be served.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll keep everyone updated throughout the rest of the trip!