Vacation to Vietnam, a Communist Country in Southeast Asia?

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What Comes to Mind First When Hearing “Vietnam”?

For me, it’s two words: Communism and Ha Long Bay. This association isn’t random. Back in elementary school, I used to feel a strong sense of horror at the end of September. At that time, TV stations were limited, and the only channel available would air a film about the G30S rebellion.

 

The haunting soundtrack and the faded black-and-white scenes still linger vividly in my memory. I’d watch, covering my face with my hands but peeking through my fingers – terrified yet curious. Words like communism, PKI, and leftist ideologies became frightening concepts.

 

So, when my family decided to vacation in Vietnam, I felt a bit anxious. “A communist country! What will it be like?”

 

But there’s truth to the old saying, “You don’t know it until you try it.” To my surprise, there were so many interesting things to discover. What were they? Let me share!

First Impressions of Vietnam

My first impression upon landing in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, was… noise. Everyone seems to love honking their horns, making the whole atmosphere loud and bustling. It was almost like life there wasn’t complete without it.

 

We landed quite late, around 9 PM, but Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi was still striking with its spacious, clean design complete with escalators and elevators. After buying a local SIM card, we ordered a digital taxi to take us to the hotel. On the way, I noticed many buildings and houses displaying red flags with yellow stars. Curious, I asked our Grab driver about the abundance of flags.

“Is there a celebration or something, so many flags around?”

“No,” he replied shortly, not out of rudeness but due to limited English.

“Why do so many people raise the national flag now?” I probed further, intrigued.

“They love it.”

That was all, and I didn’t press further. If people enjoy it, why not? I thought to myself, “If it’s this lively now, I wonder how many flags there are around September 2nd, Vietnam’s Independence Day.”

 

Are There Religions in Vietnam?

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Don’t assume that a communist country means its people are non-religious. I discovered that Vietnam has many places of worship. While the majority (about 75%) of the population is atheist, there are followers of both Abrahamic and local religions. Vietnam has five official religions, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Buddhism, alongside two local beliefs.

 

However, as a communist state, there are consequences for those who choose to practice a religion. While citizens are free to follow any faith, they lose political rights. This means they cannot run for office or vote in elections.

 

This made me feel grateful for the freedom of religion and political participation in Indonesia. May it always stay this way!

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Driving on the Right, Steering on the Left

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This isn’t related to communism but is worth mentioning. In Vietnam, like in the U.S., cars drive on the right with the steering wheel on the left. It took some adjusting, and I occasionally tried to get into cars from the wrong side. Luckily, Adrian would steer me in the right direction.

Motorbike passengers typically straddle the seat rather than sit sideways, even if wearing skirts, pulling them up comfortably without fuss.

Super Affordable

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So far, I really enjoyed Vietnam, the seventh ASEAN member state. I only explored two cities, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, but the vibe was laid-back and relaxed. Although the streets are busy with honking and motorbikes zipping around, there’s a vacation-like feel everywhere.

 

Another thing I loved was how affordable everything is. With the exchange rate, 500,000 rupiah is worth about 1.2 million Vietnamese dong, making us feel rich! Food is cheap and tasty, and the clothing options are varied and budget-friendly.

 

Travel Tips for Vietnam:

 

1. If you’re visiting Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, book accommodation in the Old Quarter. Many tour packages offer free pick-up if you’re staying in this area. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay extra or go to the meeting point yourself. We stayed at Raising Dragon Hotel, and for a family room for three adults and one child, we paid less than 700,000 rupiah per night, including breakfast.

2. Vietnamese dong is available at many money changers in Jakarta. I exchanged a small amount, just in case, but ended up mostly using my Jenius card for transactions.

3. Keep your phone charged, or bring a power bank, not just for selfies or Instagram Stories but for Google Translate! Many Vietnamese aren’t fluent in English, so a translation app is helpful.

4. Portions here are large, so consider sharing meals. A single bowl of Pho could feed three! Despite the generous portions, locals remain slim – a mystery!

5. If you’re craving Indonesian food, Batavia Restaurant is outside the Old Town. Run by an Indonesian from Bekasi, they serve authentic dishes like Soto and Pecel in a spacious, air-conditioned space.

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6. Museums are often closed on Mondays, so plan your visits for other days.

7. Hanoi is close to mainland China, and there are tour packages that depart from Hanoi for those interested in a longer trip.

Even though it was only a 4-day, 3-night trip, the varied experiences in Vietnam left a lasting impression. Traveling in a communist country isn’t scary at all – I learned a lot about the culture, religion, and local customs.

3 comments

  1. The T-bar row is a kind of machine the place one finish of
    a bar is anchored to the bottom behind you. The potential downside with these is that you just likely have to use one
    thing like dumbbells or kettlebells which typically
    have a comparatively low weight capability compared to a cable machine.
    As A Result Of of the chest pad, you might be able to work out your upper back muscular tissues without having to
    worry about issues like posture or how strong
    your core muscle tissue are. This may help
    you keep away from muscle imbalances by ensuring every
    arm rows the identical weight. Now, if you’re on a mission to conquer the upper again and rear deltoids, adjust that pad a smidge larger on the chest, adopt a
    wider grip, and let these elbows flare out to the
    aspect as you row. Manish is a NASM-certified health and diet coach with over 10 years of
    expertise in weight lifting and fat loss health
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    Oftentimes, a standard lat pulldown bar with a shoulder-width
    grip is used for a lat pulldown. If you’re seeking to gain extra power, explosiveness,
    and strength whereas decreasing the stress placed on your lower again, then the
    pendlay row is a superb barbell row alternative! A pendlay row is
    similar to a barbell row; however, the barbell begins on the floor and comes
    to an entire stop between every rep. The T-bar row is a superb bent-over barbell
    row for somebody that has been doing bent-over barbell rows
    for some time and has hit a plateau.
    The added chest assist from the T-Bar machine pad eliminates your capability to ‘cheat’ reps by rocking the torso to create momentum.
    Alternate Options provide selection, accommodate completely different equipment
    availability, and might handle particular wants like damage limitations or desire
    for sure actions. A downside is that you do have to search
    out and go to a swimming pool or other physique of water to have the flexibility to do this train. Compared to utilizing
    a rowing machine, swimming is even easier on your
    knees and lower back. One Other benefit is that treadmills are generally
    extra budget-friendly than rowing machines. Though often barely cheaper, just like a rowing
    machine, the stationary bike does require
    an honest funding.
    The purpose being is that this train has a really similar setup to the bent-over barbell row; nonetheless,
    your palms are in a neutral place as opposed to
    pronated. Inverted rows are a compound horizontal pulling movement the place the
    exerciser suspends themselves chest-up from a bar or comparable object.
    This allows for them to fairly literally row
    their very own physique – performing as an efficient substitute
    in conditions where no barbell or different forms of gear are present.
    In comparison to bent over rows, the T-bar row places a greater emphasis on the latissimus dorsi and
    targets the back stabilizer muscular tissues to a barely higher
    extent. Pendlay rows are similar to bent-over rows,
    but they’re a little easier in your decrease again. With Pendlay
    rows, you set the bar down on the ground between reps, giving your back and grip a quick relaxation.
    Choice one is the inverted row, where you use the load of
    your individual physique, quite than a barbell or dumbbell, to offer resistance.
    But during the lat pulldown, the spinal erectors aren’t trained to the same extent as they’re through the
    barbell row. Like many workouts, the barbell row certainly has the potential to be bad on your back when you don’t do it properly, but it’s not unhealthy on your again per se.

    Palms down my favourite t-bar row different is the chest
    supported row as a end result of it saves your erectors and core stabilizers from extra exertion. This permits
    you to target your again muscle tissue to a larger
    extent, similar to a t-bar row. If you don’t have entry to a landmine
    machine with a T-bar attachment, you can nonetheless have an excellent again workout.
    Many workouts using a normal barbell, dumbbells, cable machine,
    and even your body weight may give your posterior chain enough stimulus to
    develop similar measurement and energy positive
    aspects. The cable row actually is a fundamental exercise for general again improvement.

    The TRX-Row targets the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids,
    and traps while permitting the flexibility of adjusting issue
    everytime you want. Since this exercise is
    good for improving power output we can program it at
    a lot decrease reps and higher depth. For instance, you could do three
    – 6 units of 4 – 6 reps to generate power and power gains.
    While giving you an insane pump, the banded row lets
    you be explosive and make the most of excessive repetition units.
    I personally choose the Gymreapers Lifting Straps as a result of I’ve found them not to fray easily
    compared with different straps on the market.
    This compound exercise additionally recruits the core
    muscular tissues to provide stability and assist during the motion. If you might be looking for an various to
    the bent-over row to avoid ache, manage an damage, make do with minimal
    gear, or just change things up, we have you covered. Right Here
    is our listing of one of the best barbell row alternate options that can assist you construct a powerful, broad back.

    Transitioning to the T-bar row, this robust exercise zeroes in on strengthening the upper back and
    latissimus dorsi with a lowered load on the lower spine. The engagement of mid trapezius and rhomboid muscular tissues through T-bar rows promotes
    scapular retraction and stability, thus helping stop potential shoulder injuries.

    If you see a type of names in a program or exercise, they’re more than likely referring to
    the identical exercise. Keep your torso straight – should you lean again, don’t lean greater than levels.
    Due To This Fact, if your legs are sore from leg
    day, it could allow you to carry out longer units.

    Even the preliminary investment is generally decrease in comparability
    with the identical rowing machine stats. This signifies that should you decide to cease using dumbbells or
    different free weights you presumably can probably promote
    them for a really related value as what you set into them.
    Using this machine could look a bit sophisticated at first but this train is actually very beginner-friendly.
    You may have to search out an elevated bench or use boxes to raise the bench to perform this
    movement. Utilizing 25-pound plates will permit a greater
    range of motion than using 45-pound plates. The function of
    the lats is to maneuver the higher arm down and inward in the path of the hip.

    An Inverted Row is a great bodyweight alternative for a Chest Supported
    Row. It’s also an excellent option for beginners as it’s simply modifiable
    depending upon the angle at which you arrange the row.
    As such, the following substitute workout routines to the barbell row are those who possess the closest attainable similarity
    in all however name and tools used. If you cannot do pull-ups, progress by using a pull-up machine, lat pulldown machine,
    or long loop resistance bands for help. This train is carried
    out on a machine that permits you to row the
    load in the direction of your stomach. This exercise is carried out on a Smith machine, which is a guided barbell.

    This train is also much like the bent-over barbell row,
    but you only use one dumbbell at a time.

    That’s why we take the time to pick out our various exercises carefully to make sure they
    do the same thing as the original move. Comparable to
    the inverted row, you can do a TRX row and make the exercise as simple or as exhausting
    as you need. As A Substitute of performing a full rep, on the best way down you’ll pause on the half means
    mark, convey the load again up, and then bring the burden all the way
    down. So, in addition to working your higher back, scapular wall slides also
    present your chest with a helpful stretch. As its name implies, this muscle is
    positioned on the back of your shoulder. The rear delt is commonly underdeveloped and
    desires loads of direct training to ensure that it doesn’t lag
    behind the other two deltoids. This additionally is decided by your fitness goals but, as a basic rule,
    yes you can.
    In Addition To that, it is one of the handiest corrective exercises that assist compensate for poor
    posture and shoulder dysfunction. The inverted row is an extremely versatile train that
    can range in problem as you may be extra upright
    or perpendicular to the ground. Also, You can use momentum on this train to get
    extra weight on the bar as nicely. By letting the burden pull you ahead slightly you must use your complete physique to tug the weight in the course of your naval.
    Unfortunately, the trade off is more focusing on of the erectors and stabilizers than the t-bar row which is normally a deal breaker if you are suffering from low back ache.

    The ability to incrementally enhance or lower the
    resistance is important for progressive overload and ensuring an effective workout.
    This is when it could be a good idea to look into an alternate that also allows you to overload the
    higher back with out inserting any pointless stress on the lower back.
    One potential downside of one thing like operating on the treadmill is that it’s a lot more durable on your knees.
    In turn, this will lead to more bone strengthening so lengthy as you don’t should stop exercising as a outcome of injuries.

    Altering up your exercise selection could make your program more enjoyable and versatile.
    It can additionally be helpful to have different workout routines to fall again on when you’re touring and
    training in a new space or if the tools required is in use and you are short on time.
    Another useful development is to do adverse pull-ups, the place you carry out only the eccentric (lowering phase).
    Stand on a bench or box to carry your body weight above the bar and lower yourself as slowly
    as you’ll be able to.
    To carry out a repetition of Yates row, the lifter will pull a loaded barbell off the floor with the palms
    set shoulder-width apart utilizing both an underhand or overhand grip.
    The T-bar row is most frequently employed as a bent over row different
    in instances the place a pronated grip, insufficient lat ROM or insufficient loading capability are an issue.
    However, should you do find that the usual barbell bent over row causes issues
    for you, any of the seven bent over row alternatives will present a great substitute.
    Posterior deltoids – while barbell bent-over rows are most positively a again exercise, your shoulders are also
    involved. Of the three deltoids, the posterior or rear head is most active throughout this train.
    The lower the angle, the more you will work the lats,
    with the next angle preferentially concentrating on the mid trapezius.

    The batwing row is a chest supported row variation that has multiple variations inside the train. As you’ll see
    within the video, you carry out this with the bench
    flat, meaning you are limiting your vary of motion. If you want
    to ditch the dumbbells all collectively, get your self on the cable row machine.
    To perform this motion, do a normal dumbbell row, however when you attain the bottom, push your wrists towards the floor and your shoulder blade
    should spherical over. Straightforward to learn – lots of power workout routines are onerous to
    master; squats and deadlifts, for instance. Lat
    pulldowns aren’t actually that difficult, and even a beginner ought to have the
    ability to decide them up shortly.
    Both that, or you end up rounding your spine, doubtlessly
    exposing yourself to an elevated risk of damage. Every
    substitute offers its own advantages, similar to diminished stress on the lower again and enhanced stability together with better muscle activation. Your
    back is an especially important part of your body for posture,
    power, body stability, and overall operate. Poor posture can cause shoulder, neck,
    and back pain, along with more critical situations like exhaustion, hypertension, and decreased mood.

    To permit for a higher range of movement, stick to smaller plates and
    just add extra of them. We’re not referring to heavy weights 
    right here however quite the scale of the plates. Hold the weight load gentle
    to reasonable (with the exception of pull ups that are decided by your individual bodyweight).
    The incline prone y raise train is ideal for working the muscle tissue of your
    decrease traps. You can place your elbows at totally different angles out of your physique but by holding them out
    wider will provide you with probably the most higher again engagement.

    If you really want to hearth up your lats then renegade rows 
    are the means in which to go.
    The below video does however present you could increase a daily bench with the utilization of boxes/platforms to permit you to nonetheless perform the seal row without needing customized tools.
    When using the cardio rowing machine you will also interact this same muscle but unless you row at the heaviest resistances, lots less.
    This machine will focus barely extra on strengthening your leg muscle tissue and fewer on enhancing cardiovascular health.

    That’s as a result of pulldowns work the lats via a much larger vary of movement than rows, challenging
    your lats while they’re in a stretched place. To sum it up, reaching a robust
    and healthy again is feasible via varied methods.
    The optimal exercise is one that aligns along with your particular person wants, bodily situation, and workout objectives.
    Really Feel free to experiment with these completely different substitutes in pursuit of wellness—and keep in mind, the path in course of fitness must
    be approached like an enduring race somewhat than a fast dash.

    It will work the upper back similarly to the seated row,
    and might tolerate much higher reps, so is nice for a starting
    exercise, or coupling with a superset. A Hammer Strength machine is a plate-loaded machine that provides a hybrid between free weights
    and machines. Each Hammer Power machine uses iso-lateral technology so that you simply can work both sides of
    your body at a time. The lat pull-in is a unilateral
    variation of the lat pull-down that lets
    you transfer the lats by way of their entire vary of movement from full extension all the
    means in which to full contraction. The resistance band excessive row allows you to simulate the Hammer Strength excessive
    row at residence. With a resistance band, you’ll
    find a way to comply with the same angle of movement as with the hammer machine and work all sides of the again unilaterally.

    Some options are designed to increase energy, whereas others are for
    powerlifting (like the Yates row). The incline barbell row is a training variation that is
    carried out by mendacity face down on the incline bench and grabbing the barbell with a pronated grip.
    Bent over rows and weight training, provide an array of positive
    health benefits and increase energy within the muscle.

    They additionally promote stimulation and progress to the primary back muscular tissues and make the most of secondary muscle teams,
    such as the shoulders, arms, and core.
    The excessive row falls in between the row and pull ups, and
    it targets the lats a bit greater than a seated row.

    But you’ll still get great activation of the higher again, and that means you’ll have the ability to go fairly a bit heavier.
    It also locks you into a strict range of movement, and most are capable of
    isolateral actions.
    The exercises that present the best results with the least quantity
    of danger are those you need to use. The renegade row is a unilateral rowing
    train carried out from a prime plank position. This makes it much easier on the lower back than the standing bent-over row.
    Working each side of the again individually additionally prevents the stronger facet
    from taking up. Examine out our information and learn how
    to do that effective body weight train.

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