Xin Chao!

Xin Chao! Greetings from Vietnam, Hanoi! Now that k2 has come back from her Europe trip, its now my turn for a deserving trip. However, due to budget constraints (I am not as rich as a certain somebody, eh) I could only manage a Hanoi trip.

Nonetheless, it has been an exciting trip (so far). Just came back from Sapa (a mountainous region, north of Hanoi) this morning. It was really beautiful in Sapa... a very backward way of life there. Most of the occupants are minority tribes who live high in the mountains. They lead the kind of life that I studied in Geography years ago... basically they grow their own crops for subsistence, exchanging whatever remainder they have. Unfortunately, the influx of tourists has made the area more commercialized. The tribal people now pester tourists to buy their little handicrafts.

During my 3 day stay there, I got to know a 14 year-old girl (her name is Chin) from the Black H'mong tribe. It's amazing how well she could speak English (with the American slang as well). Well, it must be the effects of tourism. Anyway, interacting with her these past few days made me realize how fortunate I am. She hasn't been to school and much of her time is spent trying to sell her handicrafts to tourists. I would kill myself if I were her. It's just not my ideal kind of life.

I'll post some photos of Sapa when I return home. In the meantime, it's diem biet (goodbye) for now.

K1