Trip to Hanoi

I found the Vietnamese interest in American culture truly puzzling. Regardless of the fact that the Americans visiting Hanoi didn’t support the war, they still came from the place that was single-handily responsible for the destruction of the Vietnamese land and the death of their people. It was ironic that the Vietnamese so willingly welcomed their “enemy,” knowing that if I were in that situation, the last thing I would be is welcoming. But we as Americans are supposedly superior. The passage states, “It seems to me a defect that North Vietnamese aren’t good enough haters. How else to explain the fact that they actually appear to be quite fond of America?” Dr. Tach’s great interest in American science and technology was also ironic, considering that the science and technology is what created the weapons used against his country. This example really does make the Vietnamese sound naïve, but then the passage continued on to state that “there respect for the United States is there, whether voiced or not.” Once again, this brought me back to the American mindset of superiority. Americans are so involved in themselves, while the Vietnamese are able to appreciate cultures other than their own. Who truly is the most superior?

How can the Vietnamese be so calm and content with themselves, believing that “life is full of joy” when they have experienced so much disaster? America may be the most superior when it comes to tangible ideas such as lifestyle and technology, but the Vietnamese are perfectly content (even more so than Americans who “have everything”) with so little. With this, I believe that Americans have a lot to learn from the Vietnamese.