Thursday, September 22, 2011
Everywhere but in Saigon, the Vietnamese morning begins with an hour or two of official broadcasts from loudspeakers throughout the town and countryside. Popular music gives way to an announcer delivering news of the government’s latest plans for each city and region. There will be new schools built to educate local children. More roads and bridges are coming. Economic development goals are being set and achieved. Then, more music, and the broadcasts end until the evening. Thoa, our program leader, explains that people don’t like to watch the news available on television, so this is how the government communicates with them.
Everywhere but in Saigon, the Vietnamese morning begins with an hour or two of official broadcasts from loudspeakers throughout the town and countryside. Popular music gives way to an announcer delivering news of the government’s latest plans for each city and region. There will be new schools built to educate local children. More roads and bridges are coming. Economic development goals are being set and achieved. Then, more music, and the broadcasts end until the evening. Thoa, our program leader, explains that people don’t like to watch the news available on television, so this is how the government communicates with them.
The commerce of Sa Dec goes on without paying us any mind, except for my friend Cameron, who attracts a great deal of attention. The vendors, particularly the women, show him their wares, and there’s always someone to describe things in English. Close up, we find a bag full of live chickens next to a pail with others, freshly-skinned. Live fish and frogs are at the next stall, followed by oversized carrots and turnips, and small, red-green tomatoes.
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