Last week, Viet Nam News asked readers for their opinion of an article in the UK’s daily newspaper, the Daily Mail, describing Viet Nam as a country haunted by “the scars of conflict”.
Many readers have sent their responses to us, completely contradicting the idea. Some have even shared their memorable experiences of travelling and living in Viet Nam with us. Here are some of the responses:
Thomas Coyle, USA
I visited Viet Nam for the first time in December last year. The country and people are absolutely amazing and completely welcoming. The family I was staying with cared for me like I was one of their own. The only drawbacks I saw in the entire country were social hygiene issues (rubbish on the street, the bad smells and suchlike) that westerners, like myself, are not used too.
The war is far from the minds of the younger population and far from the discussions the elders have. I have seen many deformities in people begging and a few of the older men that I met who lived during that era still carried the “signs of war” but we never talked about it.
I spent 17 days in Viet Nam without mentioning, seeing, remembering, or touching anything to do with that ugly war. It is a shame that people in other countries continue to pour salt on an old wound.
Paula Girard, New Jersey, USA
I am sitting in the lobby of my hotel in HCM City on the last full day of a two-week visit to Viet Nam. I picked up a copy of the Viet Nam News and saw the American president, Mr. Obama, shaking hands with President Sang on the cover. How ironic, I think,
I came to Viet Nam to make peace with myself and finally to put to rest all the life-changing effects that the war had on my life and the lives of my friends, community and country.
At 61 years old, I have spent a lot of my adult life reading literature and teaching high school students about the 1960′s and 70′s and how the war affected my generation. Now I have a new message to bring home. Any “preoccupation” with war is not coming from the Vietnamese people, my gracious hosts for the last two weeks.
Anyone visiting memorials and museums concerning Viet Nam in the States will see a different point of view than what they will see here. But this visitor saw no preoccupation with war, in fact, what I learned is that the Vietnamese people are focused on the future, not the past and I experienced no animosity toward me as an American, although I was prepared for it.
I have been enlightened and I return to America with a lighter heart and a greater appreciation of the Vietnamese way of life, which from my point of view, did not bear the “scars of conflict,” but instead carried a vision of optimism and prosperity. I have never felt more welcome in a foreign country.
Anya Rutiz, tourist
I have visited Viet Nam at least 10 times as I simply love the country and its people. If you dwell on the past and make it your priority to go and find evidence of the war, you can find plenty. If you want to live in the present, you will not be disappointed.
The country is full of beauty. Vietnamese people are the most industrious people I have ever met and they remember you when you go back. They easily become your friends. I personally try to avoid looking for signs of the war, but when I have been on tours that pass by places marked by war, the guides have been proud to share the history without any ill feeling towards anybody.
We will go back there over and over again, because the country is very safe, beautiful and full of people who welcome foreigners with open arms.
Tom Whelan, USA
Different strokes for different folks. I am an American Viet Nam vet, served in ’67-’68. I came back to Viet Nam in 2002 and have returned every year since. I spent about a month each time I visit. I have enjoyed my time here, made some friends, visited nice restaurants and gone to church on Sunday.
The people have always been friendly and my time has been extremely interesting. I think I visited the War Remnants Museum some years ago and I wasn’t expecting a 4th of July celebration. There are 58,000 names of my brothers-in-arms on the wall in Washington. The Vietnamese lost over a million people; one would expect some hard feelings but the war is ancient history here. On the street it never comes up. All in all I have enjoyed my trips to Viet Nam. Warm climate, friendly people, good food, interesting culture.
Thao Nguyen, Vietnamese, HCM City
I don’t think retaining the remnants of war means that Viet Nam still has “scars of conflict”. We just want to show our people and the world that wars have happened before and we passed through hard times. Now we welcome the world with open arms. Wars are not something that can be can easily forgetten, because like in other countries that have been to war, people lose their loved ones.
However, we want to move on to a more auspicious future, a future without any kind of war. Nowadays, visitors do not have to remind themselves about wars in Viet Nam; they do not even need to think about the unhappy past. After all, we are all brothers and sisters, all human beings.
There are plenty of other things that Ms. Dea Birkett could probably have enjoyed in Viet Nam rather than just what’s inside the museums. She could have found the hundreds of Vietnamese who volunteer to be foreign visitors’ tour guides. And I have not even mentioned our amazing scenery yet. The wide rice paddies dancing elegantly together in the soft wind breezes. The placid waters in Nha Trang Sea blending perfectly with the radiant white sand that warms tourists’ hearts. Also, the Mot Cot Pagoda, one of Ha Noi’s best, has always attracted history lovers, who admire its strange but interesting designs. Again, I wish Dea Birkett had spent more time enjoying herself and taken a closer look to understand the beautiful aspects of the country and to forget all the unnecessary concern over wars.
To anyone thinking of visiting Viet Nam, I hope your trip becomes one of the most memorable and momentous memories of your life. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News