"...since 1975"

for the poutypanda.....

for a developing country, vietnam, HCM is really quite amazing. wide streets and forward infrastructure planning of the colonial french days have allowed this bustling city of 8.5M to not feel as overly populated as it may actually be. clean fumigated streets are cause for less dust and fewer mosquitos allowing leisurely walks enjoyable on the wide sidewalks. new modern design low rise buildings are seemingly popping up everywhere catering to the growing middle class and noveau riche to indulge in the finer relaxing aspects of city life. and as much as this city has grown since the last time i've been here, it has definitely not started it's uphill climb into the heavy incline of industrialization and economic growth both domestically and globally. foreign real estate investment has gone towards the outskirts to create luxury around the edges of the city strategically waiting for a rush of cashflow and sustained growth before stabilizing their long term intent to attack the inner city with huge re-development projects and modern infrastructure economic injections....

i give vietnam much confidence in their ability to turn the corner from a developing country to an industrial competitor. communism has a more controlled take on whether it'll let the industrial potential slip away (ie mejico). communism has its pros in that a centralized government can withstand incompetence and waning external issues if the government sees bigger potential in fully developing basic necessities of the country for greater ROI. once again, i support structured corruption. now the question is, where can i find an "in".

this is the one place where my emmigrated asian buddies have little connection to burgeoning growth here. "since 1975..." is plastered on every shophouse, stating their persistence to survive through the doldrums of post war poverty and gradual reconstruction...those who fleed and took their wealth with them or better yet, left their wealth behind. 100 years of war has proven their will to survive but hopefully hasn't narrow minded their perspective on allowing foreign help, foreign aid

for all developing countries, i recommend this years xmas gift to be the "lee kwan yew" biography.

as the rest of the world looks to vietnam as a mini china predicting that it will eventually become an exporting country the locals cannot even fathom that reality just yet.

"so when do you think vietnam will be an exporting country?"
"wh.wha.whaaa.whaat?"
"when do you think the exports will surpass the imports?"
"whaaaatt???"
"when do you think vietnam will produce more than they take in?"
"oh...oh...OH...uhhH..uHHh.....20?30? years???"

flying broken crusty rice and fried elephant fish....