I am riding on a high - I've been in Ho Chi Minh City for 20 hours, and I am
already back at the airport. My first flight was delayed two hours, and I
managed to talk my way onto another flight on another airline. A smile and a
wink crosses international borders. And wearing a suit in this heat makes
people believe that you really do need to be some where.
Toward the end of the fair, two of the girls, Thuy (pronounced toy-ee) and
her friend Hang asked me if I would like to go to dinner. They promised me
local food, and they delivered. Ok, it was at the food court in the mall,
but malls have a special place in the hearts of those in this part of the world.Here's what I learned: Pho is Vietnamese noodles. Excellent. Vietnamese always eat a balanced meal with vegetables. And what I had was
the freshest of fresh. Now here's what I really wanted to know: They don't think about the war. That's in the past. They are interested in the U.S and want to visit, but don't think they want
to live there. They think it's dangerous. They like that in the U.S. You get to choose if you are right or left in the
government. They don't know if Vietnam will ever change their government.
It's not the Vietnamese way to challenge. 6 million people live here, and according to them, 6 million have a
motorcycle. I believe them. Their education is free. But they paid to go to private university. Their healthcare also is free, but its not so good. This was such a fun dinner. They put me in a cab to a night market - I am
astounded at the amount of junk in the world. Just astounded. I am amazed at the kindness of the people here - so gentle and happy. I have to come back here. I want to go out of the city and see the
countryside and the beaches. So in Part I said that I thought about the men and women in the Armed
Services who flew into this country so many years ago. Today as I was
walking through the modern airport with the same duty free shops I've seen
in every airport around the world, I wondered if some day we'll be walking
through similar airports in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ok. Next stop Kuala Lumpur.