Vietnam and Hong Kong: Night and Day

We are in Hong Kong for the next 2 days. What a city! Like New York, it never sleeps! There is something happening here all the time. This is my 12^th visit to the city. I like Hong Kong. Generally, I do not like cities, but Hong Kong is different. I’m pleased that we’ll get another chance to visit on this cruise as it’s a special place.

There is something to see everywhere you look. From boats of every kind on the water to a mountainous landscape decorated with really tall skyscrapers, and then there are the people! Our guide said there were 7 people living in each square meter of land…that’s really high population density (however, Singapore is even higher!).

This morning we took the tram to Victoria Peak, we rode a sampan to Aberdeen to see the boat people, we shopped in Stanley Market, and we even went to a high end jewelry store to look at lavender jade that is way above my pay grade. The merchants are not aggressive unlike so many of the other places we’ve visited on this trip. They know you will buy something somewhere, so why push. It works for me.

We have not been to HK for over 20 years. It has grown more tall buildings since our last visit and I believe it is cleaner; but the aura is the same.


The little shops that line the streets look the same (and the merchandise looks the same). The exchange rate is the same too, 7.7 HK$ = 1 US$. Tonight we’ll see the laser show that lights up the city at 8 PM (which is different). Tomorrow we’ll explore more too. It’s fun to be back.

Two days ago we were in DaNang, Vietnam, which is the so different from HK, it’s like night and day (hence my title for this entry). Vietnam is developing. Hong Kong is developed. Vietnam is 3^rd world, Hong Kong is first world. The Vietnamese are learning how to be more like Hong Kong, but they have a long way to go. Hong Kong is smooth; Vietnam is rough around the edges. The venders are in your face, the goods are forgettable, and the cities are dirty. The old buildings are tired as if no one has taken care of them for centuries.

We saw the Imperial City of Hue and the ancient Citadel which is a copy of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The ancient beauty can only be seen through a filter of grime and age. The countryside is very pretty, with lots of tiny rice fields, hard working farmers, tiny homes, and water buffalo. The homes in the countryside are narrow and tall. There are trees everywhere else. I knew that the US used a defoliant in Vietnam, and after seeing the dense forests, I know why. We did not see any propaganda against the US, but we heard that it does exist.  

Both places are interesting and filled with lots of history and excitement. Given that, I’d rather spend my time in Hong Kong.