Viet Views: Exploring and Understanding Viet Nam - BLOG

Don't Know Much About History

12/10/2024

Trump voters' theme song, "Don't know much about history..." They fit the Germany 1933 mold. Trump's cabinet picks are the equivalent of the Reichstag fire.

WHAT'S ORANGE AND SOUNDS LIKE A JAZZ PIANIST? FELONIOUS TRUMP.

SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE! YOU AND MIKA ARE PATHETIC FOR KOWTOWING TO TRUMP AT MAR-A-LAGO FOR KRISAKE. WILLIE! GET OUT OF THERE.

Putin Seeking Asian Allies

6/26/2024

Don't know what Xi Jinping, Premier of China, thinks about Putin wooing Kim Jung Un of North Korea, but he's bound to be a bit miffed, especially after Putin went to Vietnam after Korea and played up diplomatic agreements with that country, too. Dictators are paranoid anyway, and there is no love lost between China and Vietnam. In fact, the Vietnam people hate the Chinese for their aggressive business incursions into this southern neighbor. There is an on-going contention about control of some small islands in the South China Sea. BTW, Vietnamese maps have "East Vietnam Sea" for the South China Sea. That's just one of many examples of Vietnam telling China to drop dead.

State of the World

6/6/2024

Prayer:Dear God, Lord of hosts, I pray....
When day is done and night is come
I pray for those who suffer,
From climate stress
And willfulness
By those of evil bluster.

Be a comfort, I pray, dear Lord
For those in deep depression.
And may that justice be met somehow
On cruel, cold aggression.

I've been wont to pray lately given the state of the world: wanton incursion by Putin, evil genius of Trump with words to grab the uneducated masses, the weather extremes are telling, the psychopathy of Hamas, (what did they think would happen?), the corruption of Netanyahu, (although he has right to bomb the hell out of Gaza--the people allowed Hamas), universities providing venue for warped support of Hamas and antisemitic sentiments, Republicans kowtowing to that lying, immoral, idiot Trump. .

Are you kidding me?!!

4/27/2024

Privileged University students and professors are giving support for degenerate, debased, and despicable Hamas! That is the height of perversion. The October 7 attack perpetrated by Hamas was monstrous and inhuman. What did they think Israel would do? It was Gaza civilians be damned. I'm sorry, but I weep not for the Gazans. They allowed the odious Hamas to live among them while planning their nefarious and pointless raid to kill Jews. The Gaza civilians are not innocent. This is what happens. They should never, never allow Hamas to exist among them again. And now, j'accuse you pampered academics of giving Hamas agency. Cease in the name of human decency.

Problems in 2024

1/10/2024

The way i see it, here's a list of issues that I worry about:
1. Guns in America. Too many and too many AR-15s and high capacity magazines.
2. Race relations. Chill and stop emphasizing differences.
3. Putin is evil incarnate. Must be stopped. Russians have to do it.
4. Hamas is stupid, stupid, stupid! What did they think would happen?
5. Israeli people, take back your country from Bebe. Need 2-state solution.
6. Republican MAGA, read history. Fascism always ends badly.
7. Address the border. That means you, Congress.

EXCITING TIMES

1/27/2020

The Trump administration so far has been of historical significance. And now, with the impeachment trial, it is downright exciting! Exciting? Really? Yes! I have always wondered how Germany, the country of Goethe, Beethoven, and Bismarck could have been taken over by a gang of thugs led by a ruthless sociopath who mesmerized huge crowds of followers--Adolph Hitler. How could it have happened? Now we know. It's a tableau of lies, deceit and evil ambition by officials, including high legal authorities, senators, and representatives who have absolved themselves of constitutional oaths to support a narcissistic leader while exhibiting spineless fear of Trump's adoring mob. It's exciting to see history explained before our very eyes.

FLC Hotel Quy Nhon Beach and Golf Resort

4/10/2017

This is part of a huge new resort complex that was built on a desert island off the coast of central Vietnam. When this writer could see the area from a distant mountain top in 1969, it was a desolate, sandy wind scow hugging the coast in the South China Sea and appeared to be a worthless piece of real estate.

A consortium with tons of backing by foreign investors hired hundreds of construction workers and unskilled laborers to lay sod on sheer sand. It was watered by monsoon rains and a thousand loads of tank trucks filled with water for irrigating the newly laid sod. This writer never thought it would work under the intense sun at about 14 degrees north latitude.

Here's the result of sod on sand (and a lot of water), green lush lawns and fairways. The hotel has 200 rooms ranging from 200 usd to 1000 usd per night. Luxury amenities abound, including several restaurants, a spa, lounges, karaoke, pubs, tennis courts and even a pagoda. There are villas to purchase and condos starting at 250,000 to one million usd.

Playing 18 holes will cost about $110. Weekends are a little more. One can play 9 holes for about half the price, plus a little more on the weekends. Golf clubs may be rented for about $64 and carts @ $35. I don't think you'll find too many golfers walking, if ever.

Ao Dai (ow zye in the north, ow yi in southern Vietnam)

9/26/2016

Traditional women's outfit, called the ao dai, was developed by ladies of the royal court in Hue in the 14th Century.

Hanoi Airport--New Terminal 2

9/23/2016

This is the inside of a pod hotel for 28 USD per night. It's located in the terminal's periphery but near a bathroom for toileting. Having internet access, it is absolutely ideal for an overnight wait for a flight.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Old and New

8/22/2016

Ho Chi Minh City contrasts the old Saigon of French exploited gentility with modern architecture, such as this modern edifice next to City Hall of rococo style. The streets teem with workers on motorbikes who cannot afford many of the offerings of hotels and restaurants catering to foreigners.