What comes to mind when you hear the word “Vietnam”? For me, two things: Communism and Ha Long Bay. It’s not without reason. Back in elementary school, I used to feel terrified every late September. At the time, there weren’t as many TV channels as there are now. With limited options, the only channel available would air films about the G30S rebellion.
I still vividly remember the heart-wrenching soundtrack and the grainy black-and-white visuals. Despite their haziness, I could feel the brutality of the scenes. I’d watch them with my hands covering my face but peeking slightly through my fingers. Scared but curious. Haha. But seriously, I was terrified! Words like “communism,” “communist ideology,” “PKI,” and “leftist factions” were haunting specters for many people.
With that background, when my family decided to vacation in Vietnam, my heart raced a bit. A Communist country? What would it be like there?
However, I must agree with the old saying, “You can’t love what you don’t know,” because I found so many fascinating things during the trip. Want to know more? Stay tuned!
First Impressions of Vietnam
My first impression upon landing in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital: noisy. Wow, everyone seems to love honking their horns! It’s as if their lives aren’t complete without pressing that horn. So don’t be surprised by the bustling and lively atmosphere. Even if nothing is blocking their way, you’ll still hear honking—let alone if there’s an actual obstruction. In that case, the horns get even louder and longer.
We landed quite late, around 9 PM, but the grandeur of Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi still caught my attention. Spacious, clean, and equipped with escalators and elevators lined up neatly. After buying a local SIM card, we ordered a digital taxi to take us to the hotel. Along the drive from the airport to the hotel, even at night, I noticed many buildings and houses flying red flags with yellow stars. Curious, I asked our Grab driver about the abundance of flags.
“Is there any celebration or something? Why are there so many flags?”
“No,” he replied curtly. Not because he was rude, but his English was quite limited.
“Then why do so many people raise the national flag?” I probed further, still curious.
“They love it.”
That was it. Just that. And I didn’t ask further. If people love it, what else can you say? I couldn’t help but wonder, though—if this is the scene on an ordinary day, how lively must it get around September 2nd, Vietnam’s Independence Day? Vietnam’s independence was not long after ours, also in 1945, just a few months apart.
Are There Religious People in Vietnam?
Don’t assume that because Vietnam is a communist country, its citizens don’t practice religion. I only recently learned that there are many places of worship here. While the majority of Vietnam’s population (around 75%) identifies as atheists or non-religious, the rest practice Abrahamic religions and local beliefs. There are five recognized religions in Vietnam (ranked by the number of adherents): Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, and two indigenous faiths.
However, as a communist country, practicing a religion comes with consequences. People are free to follow any religion, but they lose their political rights. This means religious adherents cannot run for public office or vote in elections.
In my heart, I felt so grateful for Indonesia, where we can freely practice any religion and still fully participate in democracy. I hope it always stays that way, my beloved Indonesia!
Driving on the Right, Steering on the Left
This has nothing to do with communism, but I found it interesting. In Vietnam, like in the United States, cars drive on the right side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the left. A few times, I found myself on the wrong side of the road trying to hail a Grab car—it was just unfamiliar to me. Thankfully, Adrian would always pull me over to the correct sidewalk. Haha!
With this setup, I wondered if motorcycle passengers sit to the right as well? Turns out, most people here sit astride, even those wearing skirts—they just hike them up casually and sit without a care in the world. 😊 I’m curious, though—if someone in Vietnam were to sit sideways, would they face the left like we do, or to the right (where the exhaust is)?
Everything is Cheap
So far, I really like Vietnam, the seventh country to join ASEAN. I’ve only visited two cities—Hanoi and Ha Long Bay—but the vibes here are great. It’s relaxed and laid-back. Even though the streets are noisy with honking and motorbikes zipping around, there’s still an aura of leisure everywhere.
Another thing I love is how affordable everything is. It feels like being a millionaire because the Indonesian Rupiah is stronger than the Vietnamese Dong. For example, 500,000 Rupiah equals 1.2 million Vietnamese Dong. Haha, we’re rich here! Food is cheap and delicious, and clothes? Wow, the variety and prices are amazing.
Speaking of clothes, I noticed many people in Hanoi wearing T-shirts resembling their flag—red with a yellow star. It looked so casual and cool that I considered buying some as souvenirs. But Adrian reminded me that wearing such shirts in Indonesia might not be allowed. His point was that since the design resembles the flag of a communist country and communism is prohibited in Indonesia, it’s better not to risk it. I’m not sure about the exact regulations, but to avoid issues at customs or while wearing it later, I decided to play it safe. 😊 Anyone know the rules about wearing Vietnam-themed shirts like these?