Development.

I have been thinking about the whole development effects during my staying here so far. I never really pick a stand whether development is good or bad for Vietnam. Part of my reasons for coming back to Vietnam is to visit my family and experience that "traditional" Vietnam feeling that I was longed for so long. I was disappointed that I could not find it in Hanoi. My thought was it must have been the same for my hometown, Cam Ranh va Nha Trang. I have been gone for six years, I can't expect things to be the same. I was not really happy with all the dramatic changes that I see in Hanoi, I do miss that "old, traditional" Vietnam that was once there. I remember meeting a foreigner while drinking beer with friends, and he said how he hated Nha Trang. I was surprised since all the local Vietnamese would tell me they love Nha Trang and the "beach is gorgeous!" He said there's nothing but hotels now in Nha Trang, it's too developed for him. That was before my trip to Nha Trang. I came to Cam Ranh first before arriving to Nha Trang, it was the same. Since Cam Ranh is a smaller town, not much have change. Everyone still lived in the same place and I was not afraid to get around by myself since the street is not crowded like Hanoi. As I was talking to one of my neighbor, she made a comment, "yeah everything is the same, no one invest in our town since there's nothing." But once I arrived to Nha Trang, everything was new to me. I could not recognize the street or anywhere I go. My cousins will take me around on his motobike and asked if I remember anything, I would say NO. There were many many fancy hotels near the beach, its true. I asked my cousin how he feels about all of this change and development and does he miss the old Nha trang? He would tell me no, nha trang had nothing before all of this development. It was just a beach and empty land, so there's not much to miss but now there's more to do and see. It makes me think whether development is at all bad for the locals and for the Vietnamese. Who am I to say whether it is good or bad, when I am not the one paying taxes or will live here for the rest of the life and deal with all the problems locals here have to deal with? I am sure if I was poor and gotta worry about every meal, I would not mind working for KFC if it means putting food on the table for my family. I was not comfortable with the new changes but I gotta accept and understand, everyone wants a better life and that's the reason why my parents came to America. There's always two sides to the story and I just have to be conscious when making judgement on what I experience here.