Since our last family visit to Vietnam 5 years ago, in 2008, some things have changed dramatically... and some have not.Five things that have changed...1) The largest Starbucks, I've ever seen (and I've been to six continents) is now open in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It opened on January 31, 2013 and premiered the new Starbucks Asian Dolce Latte that was been inspired by Vietnam's coffee culture and habits. A recognition of how successful North American companies are starting to engage in Asian markets.2) Five years ago no one in Vietnam had an iPhone. You can now buy the iPhone 5 at Viettel and Vinaphone stores: a sign of how technology is changing the culture and becoming increasingly important in life and business.3) I got strange looks asking for take away food in 2008. Especially coffee. Maybe, in part because in Canada we call it "take out". But also because it was inconceivable for the Vietnamese that a person wouldn't have time to sit and drink a cup of coffee. Now you can get "take away" everywhere, part of the westernization of the Vietnamese culture, specially in Ho Chi Minh City.4) Bag snatchers: we were warned at our hotel when we arrived in HCMC to beware of people on motor bikes who drive by and snatch your bag or your camera right out of your hands. I am sure they were there five years ago but not so prevalent that anyone mentioned them. This seems to be a more common problem in HCMC than Hanoi. The two cities have very different atmospheres. HCMC is more of a party place for backpackers.5) Boobs: Admittedly breasts themselves have probably not changed, but 5 years ago a Vietnamese woman wearing clothing that revealed cleavage was probably in a questionable profession. Styles have changed considerably and you see a lot more western style clothing, although super short dresses and cheeky shorts are still worn mostly by tourists in the larger cities.Watch for this change: high speed transit in Ho Chi Minh City, first proposed in 2001. Line 1 of the project will be 19.7km long and consists of a 2.6km-long underground section and a 17.1km elevated section. Line 1 will connect Ben Thanh Market in the central area to the amusement park at Suoi Tien in District 9. Completion is scheduled for 2014. ( "Ho Chi Minh City Metro". Railway-technology.com. Retrieved 2013-08-04).
Now, five things that haven't changed:1) Cone hats: the iconic symbol of Vietnam. You still see them everywhere except now you can buy mini-versions which make better souvenirs than the full-sized ones I brought home last time.2) Fruit shakes: made with local fruit in all your favourite flavours such as mango. Coconut shakes and coconut water is more commonly found in the southern part of Vietnam where more coconuts grow.3) Fruit ladies: pushing their carts of fresh fruit. We just don't get the same quality of fruit in North America, at any price.4) Motorbikes: everywhere. And still the most economical and efficient means of transportation for the majority of Vietnamese. There are an estimated 4 million of them in HCMC alone.5) Orphanages:Sadly the need for orphanages in Vietnam has not changed. During our current trip we have been visiting ones that serve children with disabilities through out the country. While the rest of Vietnam is moving forward, people with disabilities have not yet begun to reap the benefits of economic growth. Sadly many children who live in orphanages actually have families but have been abandoned. Many families of children with disbilities just do not have the resources, education and support to keep them at home. Little or no social programming exists.After visiting Vietnam in 2008 and becoming aware of the plight of kids with disabilities, I started No Ordinary Journey Foundation to provide education about Cerebral Palsy (which is a condition my daughter has). One of our goals is to support families of children with CP in Vietnam so that their kids do not end up in orphanages in the first place. If you would like to learn more about the work that we are doing please visit our website at www.NOJFoundation.com.
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