Tourism and Family Events

This weekend we made a trip to Dalat. It was quite an interesting journey. First of all, our transportation was a night bus that left at 11 pm. As we began our drive it became clear that the roads in Vietnam are still developing. The ride was beautiful because we wound our way through many small towns. Also, the final part of our journey consisted of climbing a mountain path--slightly terrifying at night, but starkly beautiful.



Dalat itself is one of the most interesting areas I have been to in Vietnam so far. The town was used by the french as a resort town. It was chosen because the climate is much more mild--a fact that became clear when our bus arrived there at 4 am (2 hours earlier than predicted...I don't quite want to imagine how the duration of the trip was shortened). The french even built a mini iffel tower in the form of a radio tower like structure with a flag at the top. It is a clearly visible landmark in all the areas of the town--a striking sight against the backdrop of the hills.



The town itself is a tourist attraction. Yet it is aimed more at Vietnamese tourists, for it is considered the honeymoon spot of Vietnam. This reputation becomes clear given the popular available activities: a mellow swanboat ride on the river, a visit to the valley of love, or a slightly harrowing yet beautiful two-seated bicycle ride arond the river. The town is filled with perfectly constructed and somewhat over the top tourism. For example, guests can take a cable car ride boasting spectacular views which will take you to a pagoda where you can pose for pictures with a monk who is practicing in one of the many buildings. We also visited the "crazy house" which is a b & b like venue that appears to be somewhat modeled after Alice in Wonderland and features many bizarre rooms with unusual statues (such as a giant kangaroo) as well as artistic mirrors placed above beds.

While we were in Da Lat we went to the house of one of our vietnamese roommates's uncle. The home was essentially in a gated community. The home was in a newly built housing development and had spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Yet, once again the juxtaposition that is Vietnam surfaced--as you look out to the hills just below this raised housing complex you can see the metallic and not fully patched roofs on the houses of the farmers who work the fields below.

We also were able to attend the uncle's birthday dinner. It was a lavish affair involving many courses and food imported from Hue, another town in central vietnam. During this meal, I ate the most I had in a long time, for I was told that we had to show respect to the family by finishing all of the food. The meal also involved much alcohol, including what I later learned was a mix of rhinocorous horn and smirnoff vodka. Apparently such a drink is known to enhance strength. Throughout dinner you could hear the familiar sounds of "mot hi ba yo" (one two three cheers) as the family members all toasted to the health of the uncle. The evening was framed by two events familiar to western sensibilities-the singing of happy birthday in english (a very popular song that is even played quite frequently in the most popular bars in Vietnam) as well as birthday cake at the end of the meal (a cake decorated with the zodiac symbols).

On a final note I was once again amazed by how small this world can seem at times, if you'll pardon the cliche. At the dinner we met the owner of the newly built housing complex. This man had gone and made is fortune in the U.S. and had returned home. Conincidently, his daughter had just graduated from Duke two years ago.