After over six months of anticipation, I have finally arrived in beautiful Vietnam. This year marks the 50th anniversary of North Vietnam’s triumph over the south and the United States, although places like Hanoi appear as if the war had ended significantly longer ago. Part of why I wanted so desperately to visit Vietnam was just that; I wanted to see how the country has rebounded in the years since widespread annihilation at the hands of people not too different from me. I haven’t had the time to understand that yet, but I’ve noticed some fascinating differences between Vietnamese people and Americans.
The most glaringly obvious difference comes in traffic. I knew coming in that Vietnamese roads were far more wild than American ones, but nothing could have prepared me for the hordes that occupy Vietnamese roads. You can see people, a motorcycle, and a car that’s a bit too big all on the same 15-foot-wide road traveling in three different directions. What makes no sense is the fact this works. I truly think that Vietnamese people have a superpower or divine wisdom that lets them all work in perfect tandem on the road. There is simultaneously a mind-boggling amount of traffic and none at all. The people work together in a machine-like manner that absolutely would never function in the States. Everyone drives with a perfect balance of patience and eagerness, coupled with an equally preposterous mixture of selfishness and care for others on the road. From high enough, it’s almost like watching a river flow due to the perfectly balanced chaos.
Vietnamese people are also very polite. Every honk you hear is completely warranted due to someone breaking the equilibrium of traffic. Random people trying to sell you something don’t press too hard and will give up the moment you shake your head. This, along with how traffic is handled, shows the decisiveness of the Vietnamese as well. Everyone near a road acts instantly; there is no hesitation at all. People don’t waste time here, which I respect immensely. Many people also have a basic understanding of basic English phrases and I further respect and appreciate that. I had a man advertise Grab ride services to me and he was conveying his point far more effectively than I anticipated.
Vietnam has the promise to be a land full of surprises. Although being an outsider has been a difficult adjustment so far, I don’t doubt my adaptability or the understanding of this country’s people. I cannot wait for the experiences the remainder of my time in Vietnam holds.