Over the past few years I read numerous tales of Vietnam's booming economy. But to me, a boots on the ground guy in Saigon, I didn't see it, especially in Saigon. That is in spite of the new construction projects building 5 star hotels, designer shops, suburban style North American neighborhoods and upscale city condos. Maybe I don't see it because I'm not up their with the deep pocket business folk but with the regular Vietnamese types walking or riding motorbikes. The same ones who work in shops, street side eating stands and bars. From my point of view they just aren't as smiley as they were and are working harder than ever for less money. Most are even too time pressed for a chat.
As I watch BMW's, Mercedes and even a Hummer or two roll down the street I can't help but notice and feel sad for the cyclo drivers milling around on the shaded corners of side streets, living on their cyclo's hoping to scrape enough dong together for a meal.
The small businesses I liked are disappearing, especially bad for me are the old style girl bars which are all just about gone. To establish this new Vietnam vision, the moral police chain up the entrance of bars in the middle of the night, in other bars they show up and sort through music library's, confiscating music not to their standards, other bars and small business are forced out by increased rents allowing opportunities for new businesses that share the government's vision. Many of these re styled business are targeted toward moneyed Vietnamese and high roller tourist trade the government expects. While most of the new ventures look pretty I don't see many customers.
The following link discusses some of the realities of Vietnam's new boom, inflation and the decreased purchasing power of workers and labor problems which have resulted in workers going out on strike.
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSP16251620080128
As I watch BMW's, Mercedes and even a Hummer or two roll down the street I can't help but notice and feel sad for the cyclo drivers milling around on the shaded corners of side streets, living on their cyclo's hoping to scrape enough dong together for a meal.
The small businesses I liked are disappearing, especially bad for me are the old style girl bars which are all just about gone. To establish this new Vietnam vision, the moral police chain up the entrance of bars in the middle of the night, in other bars they show up and sort through music library's, confiscating music not to their standards, other bars and small business are forced out by increased rents allowing opportunities for new businesses that share the government's vision. Many of these re styled business are targeted toward moneyed Vietnamese and high roller tourist trade the government expects. While most of the new ventures look pretty I don't see many customers.
The following link discusses some of the realities of Vietnam's new boom, inflation and the decreased purchasing power of workers and labor problems which have resulted in workers going out on strike.
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSSP16251620080128
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