By Jason He
What is Vietnam? A week ago my response would be vague in
description and laced with American bias stereotypes. Now three
days into studying abroad in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, I would
not be able to answer the question posed. Being here in Vietnam and
experiencing the country first hand has completely changed my
perspective of the country and has wiped the slate clean. The war
we Americans focused on so much and dwell on is nearly nonexistent
in Vietnam aside from the physical aspect. The culture, the people,
and the mentality of Vietnam have been poorly portrayed and even
perverted by the American historians. Learning about the Vietnamese
people by way of interaction and cultural exchange is, in my
opinion, the ideal way of educating oneself and the only way to
learn about a culture without biases.
I expected the people to hate Americans, the city to be in
shambles, and the society in anarchy. What I have seen so far has
left me in disbelief. The population is warm and friendly and ever
so charming in its simplicity. The Vietnamese are beyond the
American war and beyond all the wars that have taken place in
Vietnam’s history. To us Americans, wars are something that invoke
grief and pain and is considered unnecessary. The Vietnamese view
wars conversely; wars are a part of their culture and history and
it is what Vietnam was built on. Simply put, for the Vietnamese,
life goes on. The city is booming with economic flourish that is
clearly visible from the eyes of the public. Mopeds swarm the
streets like bees returning to the hive. Private small businesses
pour from the small houses and into the sidewalks as merchants
advertise their wares for sale. Under the canopy of nature, Hanoi
is bustling with activity much similar to that of a jungle. The
unity of nature and man creates a magical realm that redefines the
American utopia of the concrete jungle.
In the following days in Hanoi I hope to interact with the
population more as I explore the city with greater zeal and
curiosity. The friendliness and old world charm shall surely ease
the way.