SwiftVets.com

baldeagle

May 4, 2005

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - Never mind that dateline. It will always be Saigon to me, the place where I landed 40 years ago to cover a war that would eventually consume much of my youth and much of my country's innocence before it ended in bitter, bloody chaos three decades ago.

The old familiar streets are still here, but now they're lined with chic shops and boutiques instead of the seedy bars where delicate Vietnamese women once wheedled overpriced "Saigon Teas" out of big American GIs.

The traffic is, at once, both denser and calmer as motorcycles have replaced bicycles and the man-powered cyclo taxis have been banned from the center of town. Pedestrians seem to risk death just crossing a street full of speeding motorbikes, but it's a carefully choreographed dance. There are rules for the walker: Don't run. Don't try to dodge. Just walk slowly straight ahead and let the motorbikes adjust for you.

The Vietnamese are still the hardest-working people I have ever known, hustling and bustling and chasing a buck and a living with determination. The majority of them, 60-plus percent, are under the age of 30, and for them the war is something in the history books.
Read the rest of it here
http://www.military.com/Opinions/0,,Galloway_050405,00.html
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"In a word, I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home." --George Washington

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

baldeagle · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject:

Well, he did point out that.......

Deuce

mtboone · Posted: Wed May 11, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject:

When I was there two years ago, there was a 15 year old kid that would come out about 8pm to sell noodle soup for about 20 cents a bowl until early in the morning. This kid always had a big smile and I would salute him and he would salute me back. The last three nights I gave him tips that amounted to about $25 dollars. The hotel owner on the last night said I gave him about half his yearly earnings. Even though they live with very little wages, their spirit still is very upbeat.
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Terry Boone PCF 90
Qui Nhon 68-69

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

BuffaloJack · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 2:26 am Post subject:

I just talked to my wife on the phone a half hour ago. She is visiting her relatives in Viet Nam. She says everyone there has less than nothing. Everyone she meets needs food, clothing and anything else imaginable. Even aspirin is in short supply. The Japanese, French, Indians, Russians, Germans, Indonesians and anyone else wanting to make a buck go there to set up sweat shops and take advantage of the extremely low wages and standard of living. There is even a Nike factory outside of Vung Tau and you can bet that the workers only get the barest minimum for making sneakers that sell over here for a hundred dollars or more.
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Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71)

DougReese · Former Member Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 396

(Deleted by Admin)

Mr. Reese...

The time has come for you and this forum to go our separate ways. Frankly, I find your comments to Buffalo Jack to be provocative and condescending, and they have been deleted.

While we are grateful and indebted to you and all COMBAT veterans of the Vietnam War, your public utterances inre SVPT in other forums are no secret, at least to me. Based upon those publicly expressed views and, as with this deleted post, the demonstrated contrarian nature of your politics, your participation in this forum is henceforth terminated.

Good luck to you.

Me#1

mtboone · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

I do not know what Doug said, but when I was there, the Vietnamese I traveled with ask me to bring and leave aspirin, soap and general medical supplies which I did because these were in rare supply and difficult to get for the general population.
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Terry Boone PCF 90
Qui Nhon 68-69

BuffaloJack · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject:

mtboone · Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:

I mean, asprin in short supply? No, not quite.

Doug

Maybe it is not in short supply, but can they afford it with their meger income might be the question.
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Terry Boone PCF 90
Qui Nhon 68-69

jalexson · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 4:29 am Post subject:

Deuce · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:50 am Post subject:

jalexson,
I can't speak for Vietnam recently because I haven't ever been back since the 70's, but I'll bet that sidesaddle tradition is an Oriental thing, because they rode the back (or where ever) sidesaddle in China when I spent time there in the 80's and 90's. Ya gotta remember silk dresses don't work out the way jeans do. Now, with all the western wear over in the Orient, I'm guessing that practice may be going the way of the [side]saddle in the ole USA! heh, but to be honest, I'm glad you brought this thread back...those are the good memories, no?

I'm guessing you dug out some old pictures for that question, no? I've got an old 8mm reel, filmed in 1970 around Cam Ranh, Nha Trang, etc that would support your question! Gotta get that DVD'd someday soon! heh, know any YouTube Vietnam flashback sites?

Deuce

Deuce · Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:05 pm Post subject: