Viet Nam: Not a Poor Country

By Rich Elliott*

It is interesting to me that throughout my many travels to Viet Nam that many foreigners and Nationals alike often refer to Viet Nam as being a poor country. To the contrary, I find it to be one of the richest countries I have had the pleasure to visit.

True, many of its’ eighty-two million people do not have a lot of money, but what they do have are many other treasures worth so much more. One treasure they possess is determination. They have fought many long, hard battles through so many years to survive and maintain their independence from foreign influences and occupation. Because of that determination they can now live in peace with pride of their struggle to be free; and that is a treasure.

"My first visit there was about four years ago and I was a little uneasy about how I would be received and treated as an American, considering our past. I was so pleasantly surprised to learn that the people had simply put that time in history behind them and opened their arms to receive this American who had come to visit their country," Rich Elliott.

Another treasure they possess is a willingness, but more important a desire, to take care of their families. A son or daughter making personal sacrifices to help make sure their parents have the things they need. A sister or brother saving money to buy a sibling a bicycle so they can go to school, or even more than that, working to help pay for a family member’s education.

Viet Nam is a nation full of happy people who will always return a smile, and they usually do not have to receive one first. They also possess a natural sense of politeness and an eagerness to ask: How are you? And where are you from? And what is your name?

I have observed the many clever ways they make the simplest provisions get the job done, so let’s add innovative to their treasure chest. They are also very generous and willing to share what they have, whether it is plenty or only a little.

They enthusiastically enjoy sports, especially football. They have such a grand sense of patriotism and the city streets erupt with thousands of people on foot and motorbikes waving flags and shouting cheers of support for their team when they win a key game in a tournament.

These are just some of the maybe not so obvious treasures the Vietnamese people possess, but there are many obvious natural treasures too. There is an abundance of rice, coffee, tropical fruit, and some of the best seafood you will find anywhere.

"Over the next four years I made about fourteen trips and finally decided Viet Nam was where I wanted to spend the remainder of my years. I love America, but I have also grown to love this country and know within me it is where I am supposed to be," Rich Elliott.

Viet Nam is a small country with a huge population and therefore the people must get along with each other and they do. However, they get along together not because they must, but because they just do. This is a country on the brink of finally becoming a member of the WTO and receiving Permanent Normal Trade Relations with the US. This will forever change their economy and bring increased prosperity to these well deserving people. I am one who believes they will be a nation that will forever embrace their cultural values and will never loose those treasures that now make them a rich country.

So if you are fortunate to visit Viet Nam, and I hope you are, please do not expect to find a poor country. Instead, if you get to know the country, you will find a country rich with people wonderfully curious, eager to learn, and very warm and friendly. Hopefully you will be intuitive enough to take some of their many treasures back to your country to share with your families, friends, and neighbors; I feel certain that if you do, your life will be richer for it.

Rich Elliott is an American furniture businessman from Washington State.  He first visited Vietnam four years ago and has since come back 13 times.  In 2006, Rich moved to live in Ho Chi Minh City.