The New Vietnam

Proclaiming that a new idea, place or invention is 'new' carries with it inherent dangers. Particularly when a place is prefixed with the word 'new', the risk of it rapidly becoming old or established is omnipresent. The lack of foresight displayed by those naming 'newfoundland', for example is astounding. Also, those naming New York did not perhaps envision the lack of resemblance between the twenty-first century metropolis and its humble predecessor.

However, 'new' does give a flavour of a place and I have therefore designated some 'new' places and ideas based on my experiences in Vietnam.

1. 'New Goddess'. See below, need I say more.

2. 'New Kosher'. My fairly strict adherence to a 'no pig, no shellfish rule' was tested to its extreme by a Vietnamese cooking course in which both Wonton and shrimp were on the menu. However, whether or not I tasted this cuisine, it can be safely assured that its audience apprecaited my efforts.

3. New History. I think the 'Hanoi Hilton' prison in Hanoi deserves a special mention in this blog for affirming everything that I learnt at history GCSE. Propaganda does exist. The propaganda in the museum was particularly unsubtle. Even I managed to see through it. Whilst one section of the exhibition explains the horrendous atrocities committed against the Vietnamese, this picture below shows two American GIs laughing over a game of chess. I feel (and I believe that John McCain might well back me up) that the reality could have been significantly different.

4. New baseball camps. I thought making a Vietnamese hat with one arm was particuarly impressive.

5. New Scotland. The picture below showing me in traditional Vietnamese costume maybe deceptive. I managed to see through this facade as the two 'traditional Vietnamese music' events that I have attended have both concluded with a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

6. New England (I suspect that this might have been used before). As I was giving an impromptu lesson in English, having gained the students utmost respect, I suddenly realised that my version of English might not have been the correct one to teach. As I encountered the word 'wall' in the textbook, my London twang became apparent and I feel that their promunciation might have eclipsed my version of a wall (waw).

7. New Communism. The middle of a cave in splendid Halong Bay provided the perfect setting for these two noveau communist girls. Starbucks T-shirts and Vietnamese communist hats, the perfect juxtapostion that represents so much of modern Vietnam. Worn with a complete lack of irony, which I felt was the beauty.