Recently, we ran a story reporting on the likely impact on
tourism of the new U.S.-Vietnam trade agreement. The story, in the
July 20 issue of Travel Weekly, appeared with a photo of a market
scene in Hoi An, a town on the coast of Vietnam, 19 miles south of
Danang.
It is a remarkable coincidence, but on the very day Jorge
Sidron's story went to press (July 18), I was in Hoi An.
I was part of a small press group sampling the features of a
Star Cruises ship (the SuperStar Leo) and its shore excursions
during a three-night cruise out of Hong Kong.
Under those circumstances, my visit to Vietnam was short, and so
my impressions are necessarily based on quick encounters.
Nevertheless, I came away convinced Vietnam is an attractive
destination, even if the infrastructure is not always up to Western
standards.
Here are a few other quickly collected observations:
Very early in his remarks, our tour guide discussed the new
trade agreement enthusiastically. He discussed the possibility the
pact would bring U.S. investment in more hotels and so attract more
tourists to the Southeast Asian land.Another representative of our host ground operator, which was
Saigontourist, raised the subject again, saying, "There are a lot
of people here eager to do business with the U.S." I figured that
was right on the mark.
During the drive from Danang, where we had disembarked, our
guide said that Vietnamese can get loans to start small private
businesses, and "nearly everyone tries to open shops in their
homes."A later reference to what are effectively building codes in Hoi
An (to preserve its charming traditional architecture) suggested
that home ownership, like private business, is fairly common -- at
least in the tiny part of Vietnam on our itinerary.
I entertained myself during the rides to and from Hoi An by
counting the times our guide used Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City to
refer to the big city in the south.He used each name about half the time.
I was surprised, and a little chagrined, to learn that a day
trip to My Lai was among the tours offered out of the Hoi An Hotel.
What was there to see, I wondered, to which a host replied that
visitors simply go to see the places where the massacre
occurred.The souvenir sellers here were much like others who lie in wait
for tourists outside popular attractions -- pretty aggressive.However, I cannot resist repeating these offers heard in Danang:
A young girl touted a fan for $1, and when I said no, she suggested
a new price: $2.
Another peddler trumpeted T-shirts at "$2 each, two for $5."
Good try.
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