[TPR] Back in Nam - NPC

[Teampantera]

Hi guys,
Here's a update....as good as it is to see Vietnam doing one hellva lot better then 43 years ago there are many of our old ARVN allies not doing well. In last week I've listened to some of the U.S. n Aussie expats and much of the post 1975 historyfor 10-20 years was very hard on anyone who was part of the old regime or even if they worked for U.S. or our allies n did not get out they hadit tough.

I spent best part of two extended tours from 67 to 69 in U.S. advisory teams....sadly on communist take over ARVN officers had to serve 7 years in prison...wot communists called re-education camps....then many ARVN officers served 2-3 times longer depending on attitude.

On release these men were 'not' allowed to work for 10 more years...and again some longer.  Worse their children were not allowed to go to school for 10 years.

All the central government, police were all replacedby hardcore communists from North Vietnam.....in attitude and philosphy the two people were n still are night n day apart.  However, the North Vietnamese who came south realized that the South vietnam attitudes were catching.

One of the Americans here tells me the children of these hard corp communists realize like China did in reflection on Hong Kong that allowing people in the south to prosper likethey had before was a added plus as communism NEVER worked successfully...now theycall it SOCIALISM ;-)

And what happened to the local VC who fought the Japense then the Frwnch and then us?

Well they got theshitty end of the stick...they got NONE of the central party positions post 1975.....in fact they got no monetary reward  for their sacrafices until some time in late 1990's...the average settlement to former VC was equivelent of $25 bucks...yea the VC got left holding the bag.

Vietnam also were equallyhard on Meo/Rhade hill tribesman and ethnic Chinese Nungs and Cambodians were all treated badly...vietnam ecen invaded Cambodia on pol pot justification...although they supported Pol Pot and Khmer for years..yea the old enemy of my enemy story....but that was that...since +/- 1999 vietnamese are coming around.

They've recently agreed and did so quickly to allow US 5th Fleet to visit...like most of Asia Vietnamese are now worried about China expanism.

U.S. and UK and others  are starting to invest....Chevron, Exxonetc outpacing Russians (called 'Americans-with-no-money!!) Investment...still many Russians still here....they dont smile.much or spend much money...neither do they haveit...even thoughRussians have made billions in oilhere not much as trickledback toVietnamese....so there is no love loss..

I share this with you eben though I suspect few will believe what I am sharing...but americansand other westerners have beengreat to listen to.....I am amazed every day howmany young people there are here...something like 60% of the population was born after 1975......personally I think it is higher.

Amazing whata little humble pie and a smile will get ya....people just beam  with smiles by any kind of real interst...theres still allot of ghosts here but having visited the places where my friends died I feel prettygood...and its obvious Vietnam is well on its way to a better future.

This is still a third world devloping country but I suspect the lives of these peoplewill geteven better

BTW, cost of living is very low....20,000 Dong to a dollar...guys here working offshore are living large....2 bedroom aptis $400 amonthzherein Vung Tau....a 3 bedroom house with pool is $750 a month...sat tv, electric, and wireless another $150 a month...food is also cheap...half the cost of Thailand costs.....Aussiesfirst to realize that eben on modest pension plan they too canlive large.....if i was 10 years younger I'd stayheresix months a year..but then after M.E. andAfricathis is heaven...okaycloser  ;-)

bob Radefeld <bob at radefeld.com> wrote: