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I’ve been enjoying traveling for business ever since I established my own company. During my spare time on the trips， I like to wander around and learn more about the local landscape and people. One particular city that has left me deep impressions is Ho Chi Minh City， Vietnam.
I first visited the city seven years ago. Before the plane landed， I peered through the window at huge clusters of shabby shanties with few trees around. “Is this‘well-developed’ former Saigon （renamed Ho Chi Minh in 1975）？” I wondered. My bewilderment was broken by the bump of the landing.
The customs area in the airport was crowded and seemed old-fashioned in the dim light. A cab drove me along a bumpy road to a hotel. I was very careful when I first hit the street because it was full of Chinese-made motorcycles madly zipping around. Curiously drawn to some telephone poles loaded with massive bunches of wires， I thought， “How can anyone figure out what’s wrong when they fix it？”
On my latest visit this July， I was stunned by the drastic changes I saw through the window upon landing： The shabby shanties had been replaced by brandnew rows of villas with red roofs under the shade of trees – totally European style.
The international area of the Ho Chi Minh airport was pristine： The spacious， bright lobby and the polished marble floor reminded me of a well-developed country. The customs area was well regulated. Next to each agent was a window offering currency exchange.
We stayed at a 4-star hotel with a bright， neat Western restaurant. We enjoyed piano playing by a pretty Vietnamese young woman while dining.
In contrast to the appearance of the city， there wasn’t too much change in people’s lifestyles. Motorcycles still served as the primary means of transportation. What amazed me most was the people’s happiness， which I could feel during my stay.
As night fell， the locals gathered around snack stands along the streets， chat- ting and laughing. I saw， under a dim street lamp， six or seven diners sitting on small stools at small tables， drinking beer with simple dishes of vegetables and a big bowl of soup， ignoring the dust kicked up by passing motorcycles. They seemed to just accept it as part of life.
Vietnam is experiencing dramatic changes just like China did during its early days of reform and opening up. Ho Chi Minh City is following China’s economic development pattern， letting go of old ideas， and striding towards prosperity.
I first visited the city seven years ago. Before the plane landed， I peered through the window at huge clusters of shabby shanties with few trees around. “Is this‘well-developed’ former Saigon （renamed Ho Chi Minh in 1975）？” I wondered. My bewilderment was broken by the bump of the landing.
The customs area in the airport was crowded and seemed old-fashioned in the dim light. A cab drove me along a bumpy road to a hotel. I was very careful when I first hit the street because it was full of Chinese-made motorcycles madly zipping around. Curiously drawn to some telephone poles loaded with massive bunches of wires， I thought， “How can anyone figure out what’s wrong when they fix it？”
On my latest visit this July， I was stunned by the drastic changes I saw through the window upon landing： The shabby shanties had been replaced by brandnew rows of villas with red roofs under the shade of trees – totally European style.
The international area of the Ho Chi Minh airport was pristine： The spacious， bright lobby and the polished marble floor reminded me of a well-developed country. The customs area was well regulated. Next to each agent was a window offering currency exchange.
We stayed at a 4-star hotel with a bright， neat Western restaurant. We enjoyed piano playing by a pretty Vietnamese young woman while dining.
In contrast to the appearance of the city， there wasn’t too much change in people’s lifestyles. Motorcycles still served as the primary means of transportation. What amazed me most was the people’s happiness， which I could feel during my stay.
As night fell， the locals gathered around snack stands along the streets， chat- ting and laughing. I saw， under a dim street lamp， six or seven diners sitting on small stools at small tables， drinking beer with simple dishes of vegetables and a big bowl of soup， ignoring the dust kicked up by passing motorcycles. They seemed to just accept it as part of life.
Vietnam is experiencing dramatic changes just like China did during its early days of reform and opening up. Ho Chi Minh City is following China’s economic development pattern， letting go of old ideas， and striding towards prosperity.