Replies

I was in Vietnam (independently - on my own with friends who live in Saigon (his dad fought with Americans against the north) and I can say that the stories I hear of North Korea and Cuba make the Vietnam I saw look like San Francisco.

There is much room for improvement there especially in freedom of speech. It is forbidden to talk negatively about the government.

I did see a public school with crosses on the building. I thought that was so strange. In my American city the government has been buying churches and removing all crosses. I asked my friend if it were a private school. He said "no, it's public".

While I question whether or not China is a nation we should be trading with as much as we do I can say that Vietnam is in the situation where our products, culture and our trade will bring them more freedom.

There are many cafenets throughout the country and unlike China they are not censured. I often send my America loving friends articles from FR. He's been here in FR looking around at this site in a cafenet in Saigon. I doubt that happens in China.

Lastly, unlike much of Europe, you will find that the Vietnamese people welcome, appreciate and LOVE Americans and the American culture. You will see many young people on their motorbikes wearing American Flag baseball caps and shirts. Believe it or not, my friend is a big fan of Oprah and American Idol. They are part of their TV schedule in Saigon.They LOVE Madonna and Pirates is playing in the Cinemas of Saigon.

They are very in touch with our culture and they are loving it. I say good for them.

Vietnam is not a place any of us would want to live. They have much to do to be considered "free" as we are in the west but I can tell you from experience that they seem much happier now than my friends in Venezuela. Chavez... we should be keeping an eye on that man.

By the way, the photos of the men in re-eduacation camps are old. Vietnam is not so perfect that we need to be posting 70s and 80s images of the place. But let's atleast give credit where credit is due. And yes, we should stand firm with Vietnam and encourage them to continue in the right direction.

It's CHINA, North Korea that worry me. And Chavez concerns me. They are NOT going in the right direction. And Chavez is very close.