Plastic stools and independence day

Over the last couple of nights in Hanoi we've walked around the local night market, where the neighbourhood had cordoned off some streets for pedestrians only. What a treat to walk around with some room around us, rather than being cheek-to-jowl with so many scooters and people. Most people were eating outside on the sidewalk on tiny plastic stools about a foot high, at little plastic tables about knee high. There must be at least seven million of these little stools in the city, one for every person.

So the last couple of nights we joined the crowd of locals with a smattering of tourists at one of these outdoor places, and had our dinner on small plastic stools like everyone else. All the locals were out, some dressed well and others more casually. Small bones were on the ground from all the happy customers who had come before us and enjoyed some pidgins I believe, which were a speciality there. I gave that menu choice a wide berth along with frogs and other exotic items, and we settled down for a good meal on our little perches, with a good view of all that was going on around that particular street corner.

The country is gearing up to celebrate their 70th anniversary of independence on September 2nd. Here's a quick history lesson. Japan announced its surrender, ending World War II, on August 15th, 1945. Quickly afterwards, the Japanese forces handed over power to Ho Chi Minh, the communist leader of the resistance, and his supporters. He then declared independence on September 2nd, hours after Japan's official surrender. Thirty years of war followed with France, the U.S., and then the southern Vietnamese forces before the fall of Saigon in 1975, ending any remaining resistance to the northern communist forces.

We've seen trucks rolling around with loudspeakers manned by officials in uniform announcing something related to the anniversary. Last night we saw a patriotic dance and singing performance on a street stage with ladies in red dresses with a big yellow star on the front dancing with uniformed men. Since this anniversary marks a new decade, we're told the celebration will be bigger than normal. We're leaving town tonight so we'll miss the fireworks display and the big gathering of crowds.

Yesterday we went on a walking tour with a couple of Vietnamese students from a local university. It's a program whereby students get a chance to practise their English and we get a chance to speak with some locals and tour around. Surprisingly it was free, and the students wouldn't even accept a tip afterwards. Frankly their knowledge of the sights wasn't the best, but it was great to walk around with them and chat.

Eng still has one year left before completing her degree in administration. Kim just graduated last week with a accounting degree and will be starting with the firm KPMG in October. He completed an internship with the company last year. He hasn't travelled much within Vietnam or left Vietnam but hopes to do some travelling in a couple of years. He indicated he might like to work abroad for a few years if he can arrange the work visas. 

I asked him what Vietnamese people thought about the West, and the French and Americans in particular. He said that some older people still talk about the wars and still had strong emotions about past events, but young people were not alive at the time and feel no ill will to the West. He explained that it is important to remember the past but also important not to dwell on it but rather focus on the future. Wise words.

Here's the back of Elizabeth and me working our way down a side street with father, mother and a kid with a mask and toy on a motorcycle coming the other way.