Back in Nam

         When we first arrived in Vietnam I had no idea what to expect. The country has struggled through various wars, both domestic and international. I thought it would be a country left in devastation. When I arrived I was surprised at the level of development and positive attitude of the people given all they have been through.

            My first day I explored Saigon, which is the downtown area of Ho Chi Minh City. Walking around I began to understand the common perception that Asia is cheap and consumption based; three pairs of sunglasses for a dollar, shirts for two dollars, 3 bracelets for 50 cents. I was so overwhelmed that I whipped out my camera to capture the chaos in a picture, I tripped and fell, camera flying. It was slightly embarrassing and some of the locals laughed a little, but don’t worry dad; my camera is safe!

Ho Chi Minh City

            After a day of exploring and shopping, I headed to the Cu Chi Tunnels on my second day in Vietnam. I had been looking forward to going to the tunnels ever since I had found out Vietnam was on the Itinerary. I am not an expert on American history, but I knew that they played a huge role in the Vietnam War, which in Vietnam they refer to as the “American War.” The tunnels are an intricate system of underground passages stretching over 121 km long that underlie most of the country. The Cu Chi local villagers originally used them as a system of transportation from town to town so they could travel safely. They were later used and extended by the Vietcong, who developed them as an underground base. The tunnels connected various rooms, medical bases, military meeting points and kitchens. From these tunnels the Vietcong conducted various war efforts through the use of guerilla tactics. The tactics were extremely inhumane. The Americans had no idea where the traps were located, nor did they know how they were attacked in the middle of the night, with the Vietcong going un-noticed. Closed and camouflaged by leaves, the Vietcong set up various traps and land mines, which went undetected by the Americans. These traps would be underground, and once a soldier fell through, they would be speared or cut by the underlying spikes in the bottom of the hole. 

A little Scared, The Cui Chi Tunnels

Many of the Americans I toured the tunnels with found it extremely moving and sentimental, as did I, but from a more impartial viewpoint, I was more shocked by the tragedy experienced on both sides.

Two days in Vietnam was not enough. One of the draws of this semester is visiting so many countries in so few days, but one of the setbacks is not being able to see everything I would like. While I learned a lot in my short time in Vietnam, I hope to find an excuse or reason to visit again in the future.

Off to Cambodia!