One of the first things I noticed when I first arrived in Vietnam is how all the women are covered from head to toe…when it is scalding outside! This initial observation led to my interest in the perceptions of beauty in Vietnam and how they are different from those of the U.S. I am now […]
The Urban Dream: Rural to Urban Migration in Vietnam
A map of Thu Thiem (New urban area under construction in District 2). Since arriving in Vietnam, I have paid extra attention to the housing infrastructure and standards of living of Vietnamese people. I feel like one’s home is the biggest and most obvious indicator of one’s socioeconomic status. Moreover, it also clearly shows the […]
What the F*** Is a Cu Chi?
If you read any Vietnam travel book, one of the first attractions always listed is the Cu Chi Tunnels. Before I came to Vietnam, I was like “cool, tunnels! Sure, I’ll visit them since my book tells me it’s one of the top tourist attractions”! Then I learned the history of the tunnels and read […]
The Poor Feel Rich: Poverty in The Mekong Delta
After spending several weeks in Vietnam, the level and prominence of poverty has been a constant thought in my mind. Seeing pictures of poverty, hearing stories about poverty, and knowing the statistics regarding poverty is completely different from actually living amongst poverty and seeing or hearing about it everyday. I never truly understood poverty until […]
Markets in Vietnam: Avoiding the trap
Even with the endless array of things to buy in markets, I find that purchasing items in Ho Chi Minh City is incredibly stressful and overwhelming. Vendors have cramped stalls from trying to fit so many products in such a small space. Furthermore, there are always several stalls inches away from each other, all selling […]
More people, more problems…
A major issue of urbanization that leads to a myriad of other problems is the inevitable population growth in the cities. Every day, more and more people from rural areas are moving to cities in the hopes of acquiring more education, finding employment opportunities, and essentially, living a better life. The rapid influx of people […]