David and Lili's World Tour
VIETNAM
September 2025 - Northern Vietnam
We arrived in Hanoi excited for a grand overland mission from Vietnam through China and Tibet to Nepal and India. We are on the road again!
Hanoi was a great first stop, with friendly people, amazing food, endlessly interesting. We loved it.
We were planning to do a motorcycle trip, and visit the coast, but two different typhoons hit northern Vietnam during our visit.
So we changed plans and went straight to the border area with China instead: Sapa, Bac Ha, and Lao Cai.
Sapa itself has become extremely touristy but it is still beautiful,
especially with the world's highest gondola to the summit of Fansipan mountain,
the tallest mountain in SE Asia.
One of the amazing things about Vietnam is how much it has improved since my visit twenty years ago.
Back in 2004, there was visible desperation, and a sense that everyone was trying to make money from foreigners, even if that meant being dishonest.
Now, we had none of that. The people were universally friendly, honest, and welcoming.
Normally when I go back to a place after twenty years, I'm shocked at how over-population, pollution, and over-tourism have made it worse, but not Vietnam.
This time, it's pretty much all good news.
The numbers tell the story:
In 2004, Vietnam's economy was roughly USD 70 billion; today it exceeds USD 475 billion!
Exports have exploded from about USD 30 billion to more than USD 400 billion!
The middle class is emerging fast, and it shows, nice cars, electric motorbikes, tidy streets, young families traveling for leisure.
Vietnam feels confident and full of energy.
Poverty has plummeted.
In the 1990s, as much as 60% of people were in extreme poverty;
but today the rate is officially under 4%.
For once, going back to a place after twenty years wasn't disappointing, it was inspiring. Vietnam has become cleaner, friendlier,
and more optimistic than ever.
And here's something that might surprise you:
Vietnam is a one-party Communist state!
That's right, Communist, proving that the right-wing anti-socialist blah-blah is all BS.
[Socialism is not the cause of Venezuela's suffering, for example;
the causes are complex, and have more to do with oil, a de-facto civil war, and corruption, than Socialism per se.]
Vietnam is proof. It can be done, a socialist-oriented market economy.
The Communist Party retains ultimate control, but private enterprise,
foreign investment, and competitive markets are major engines of growth.
Compared to the dysfunctional democratic model, Vietnam's hybrid approach
has so far delivered sustained growth, resilience, and real improvements in people's lives.
And another thing... Technology! Vietnam now has Grab (same same Uber) and Google Translate works great.
It's a game changer :-)
We already want to come back for more.
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