Real capitalism in Vietnam

What is it in Vietnam now? Communism is written all over the place, but it’s nowhere to be found. Uncle Ho Chin Minh is still God, but his sheep value money far more than a sense of community. Everyone fights for themselves. The democratic military dictatorship in Fiji was much more communist. Vietnam is real capitalism with an asterisk.

There are only two reasons why Vietnam remains officially communist: firstly, there is a better way to justify the expensive visas. Secondly, the Soviet stars make a good souvenir. Otherwise, only Quicksilver copies would remain. All Vietnamese run around with them today, the red stars are totally out of fashion for them.

I don’t like it when a box contains something other than what it says. Not because of the tidiness, but because I want things to be called by their names. The world is confusing enough. Is there perhaps a website that clearly states what’s what in which country? It would be enough if they labelled Russia a dictatorship.

I still need 80 euros for the last few days. First of all, a moped to the nearest bank 25 kilometres away. The first three don’t give out money over the counter, only ATMs. My favourite Hypo-Vereinsbank wants to charge me up to €10 each. I only pay 4% at the counter, nothing else. The fourth bank gives me money. Three pages of forms, where do I come from, where do I go, five signatures, 30 minutes and three bankers involved for 80 euros. At last I feel at least a touch of communism in Vietnam.

Change of subject. The bus from Hoi An to Mui Ne used to be really good. Real loungers on two levels, white leather like something out of 2001 Space Odyssey. Unfortunately, there were so many black holes on the road that I still couldn’t sleep for most of the night.

In Na Trang I run into the good doctor-to-be Toni from Canada. We put up at the Hong Di again. But unfortunately the wind is now gone in Mui Ne. It doesn’t come back for the next two days either. Windfinder says the season is over. Time to pack.