So, my life as a “Digital Nomad” resumes from last fall. I arrived in Hanoi (or Ha Noi in the local language) on April 15th after a 16 hour trip from Texas to Taipei, then a layover and 3 hour flight from Taipei to Hanoi. I managed to sleep about 10 hours on the long flight, using a little xanax and (both inflatable and collapsible) pillows that allowed me to rest my head and body against the wall/column of my window seat. Despite getting good sleep, I still had jet-lag here for a few days. It’s because your biological clock is turned upside down—night is day, and day is night.
“ Vietnam is a Socialist country that has had some real economic successes lately as businesses are fleeing China. It seems poor and 3rd world to me in parts. The citizens are struggling and really hustling for money. I’ve been mildly manipulated a couple of times, all the while knowing it, by people who are just trying to survive. I’m talking small stuff.”
It hasn’t changed much since the days that me and my ship-mates used to pull into different ports up and down the coast. It was a socialist country then, as it is now. And furthermore it always will be. When I think of all the BILLIONS $$$$ & BILLIONS & $$$$$ BILLIONS of dollars, and all the young men’s lives that was wiped out, it was a travesty….
The French, got the crap kicked out of them, In Vietnam. December 19, 1946 – August 1, 1954. 8 years. And so did we… But, For a much longer time. Much much longer. Try like 20 years.
“It lasted almost 20 years, with direct U.S. military involvement ending in 1973. The conflict also spilled over into neighboring states, exacerbating the Laotian Civil War and the Cambodian Civil War, which ended with all three countries officially becoming communist states by 1976.”
(What I posted is from the first 2 paragraph’s, from the extensive historical page of, Wikipedia. And from what I can tell, it is extremely accurate.)
(When I went to Vietnam, I was on board, APL, RO-RO VESSELS 🚢. THOSE ACRONYMS STAND FOR, AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES. And for, ROLL ON, ROLL OFF VESSELS. we went to Saigon, called Ho Chi Minh City now. And we went to, Port of, Na Trang / Port of, Phan Rang Vietnam. But then I was just a cadet from the Academy, during my, Sea- Time-Training.)
“As you might know, Vietnamese people are a great immigrant story for the US melting pot.”
Yes they are!!!!!! one of my few close friends, that I count as a close friend on one hand, his mother and father came here when South Vietnam was falling, In the last days. His father had worked in intelligence for the US Army. And if he would’ve stayed behind and got found out??? which he most certainly would have, him, and his mother would have most definitely been slaughtered.
And maybe the children to. His name is, Tim Nguyen. His last name is pronounced,
Win or, wind. “Tim Win.” him and his youngest sister are the babies of the family and they are considered twins. Born just a minute or 2 apart.
His mother and father had a total of, 9 children. The last five was born here in Florida. His mother and father, along with all the oldest children, made their living here in the states, out of the port of, Pensacola. All of them lived and worked on, The family shrimp boat. A large 110 steel—hull type.
By the time they got here, the father already had some family members involved in the shrimping industry along the gulf coast. From Biloxi, Mississippi to Pensacola. They are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet in your life. Most of the family is Catholic. Devout, Catholic.
Tim left the Catholic church almost 15 years ago, and became born-again, in the Assemblies of God church. Which is the church that I grew up in!!! The Vietnamese make some of the best immigrants that you will ever meet.
And I have told him more than once, if they still have any family members over there that want to come here, I would be happy to sponsor some. I know that they are very much involved in the Vietnamese community, In Pensacola / Mobile / Pascagoula / Biloxi…
“ Let me know if you like these occasional “personal” posts. It’s important for us to maintain balance in our worrisome and stressful times. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy my journeys vicariously. Did you see my post Not Losing Your Zest for Life that emphasizes the importance of Joy and zest for life? Stay tuned!”
_________________________________________________
Yesssssss!!!!!!!!! Very much so my friend!!! Very very much so!!! I don’t believe I saw your post titled, “Not Losing Your Zest for Life.” if you have halfway good Internet service, shoot me a copy of it!!! by all means!!!
Doug: Your comment above about the hard working ethic of most of the post-war Vietnamese immigrants to the US is spot on in my experience.
“ Vietnam is a Socialist country that has had some real economic successes lately as businesses are fleeing China. It seems poor and 3rd world to me in parts. The citizens are struggling and really hustling for money. I’ve been mildly manipulated a couple of times, all the while knowing it, by people who are just trying to survive. I’m talking small stuff.”
____________________________________________________________
It hasn’t changed much since the days that me and my ship-mates used to pull into different ports up and down the coast. It was a socialist country then, as it is now. And furthermore it always will be. When I think of all the BILLIONS $$$$ & BILLIONS & $$$$$ BILLIONS of dollars, and all the young men’s lives that was wiped out, it was a travesty….
The French, got the crap kicked out of them, In Vietnam. December 19, 1946 – August 1, 1954. 8 years. And so did we… But, For a much longer time. Much much longer. Try like 20 years.
“It lasted almost 20 years, with direct U.S. military involvement ending in 1973. The conflict also spilled over into neighboring states, exacerbating the Laotian Civil War and the Cambodian Civil War, which ended with all three countries officially becoming communist states by 1976.”
(What I posted is from the first 2 paragraph’s, from the extensive historical page of, Wikipedia. And from what I can tell, it is extremely accurate.)
(When I went to Vietnam, I was on board, APL, RO-RO VESSELS 🚢. THOSE ACRONYMS STAND FOR, AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES. And for, ROLL ON, ROLL OFF VESSELS. we went to Saigon, called Ho Chi Minh City now. And we went to, Port of, Na Trang / Port of, Phan Rang Vietnam. But then I was just a cadet from the Academy, during my, Sea- Time-Training.)
“As you might know, Vietnamese people are a great immigrant story for the US melting pot.”
____________________________________________________________________
Yes they are!!!!!! one of my few close friends, that I count as a close friend on one hand, his mother and father came here when South Vietnam was falling, In the last days. His father had worked in intelligence for the US Army. And if he would’ve stayed behind and got found out??? which he most certainly would have, him, and his mother would have most definitely been slaughtered.
And maybe the children to. His name is, Tim Nguyen. His last name is pronounced,
Win or, wind. “Tim Win.” him and his youngest sister are the babies of the family and they are considered twins. Born just a minute or 2 apart.
His mother and father had a total of, 9 children. The last five was born here in Florida. His mother and father, along with all the oldest children, made their living here in the states, out of the port of, Pensacola. All of them lived and worked on, The family shrimp boat. A large 110 steel—hull type.
By the time they got here, the father already had some family members involved in the shrimping industry along the gulf coast. From Biloxi, Mississippi to Pensacola. They are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet in your life. Most of the family is Catholic. Devout, Catholic.
Tim left the Catholic church almost 15 years ago, and became born-again, in the Assemblies of God church. Which is the church that I grew up in!!! The Vietnamese make some of the best immigrants that you will ever meet.
And I have told him more than once, if they still have any family members over there that want to come here, I would be happy to sponsor some. I know that they are very much involved in the Vietnamese community, In Pensacola / Mobile / Pascagoula / Biloxi…
“ Let me know if you like these occasional “personal” posts. It’s important for us to maintain balance in our worrisome and stressful times. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy my journeys vicariously. Did you see my post Not Losing Your Zest for Life that emphasizes the importance of Joy and zest for life? Stay tuned!”
_________________________________________________
Yesssssss!!!!!!!!! Very much so my friend!!! Very very much so!!! I don’t believe I saw your post titled, “Not Losing Your Zest for Life.” if you have halfway good Internet service, shoot me a copy of it!!! by all means!!!
Great pictures! Keep posting about your trip - I’m enjoying being vicarious.
Leaving Hanoi for the beach town of Nha Trang. The city of Hanoi reminds me of Jakarta, but even less developed.