Saigon-The new Bangkok?

Vietnam is an epitome of the rising tide of Asian development. And Saigon is at its center. Saigon is a river town about 15 miles(as the crow flies) from the mouth of its namesake river where it meets the South China Sea .Topographically, the city is as flat as a pancake and sits just a few feet above the river. The river is deep enough to accommodate large ocean-going freighters, going in both directions. It is busy with all kinds of traffic, including hydrofoils going to Vung Tau. These weave their way among the gravel and sand barges. A new concrete bridge spans the river near downtown. The skyline is now crowded with high-rise apartments and modern business towers. There is even a tower with a heli-port. The town center has been cleaned up quite a bit and even the Rex Hotel has undergone a major facelift. European luxury brands have taken over its ground floor and are visible at street level. The old opera house has been given a fresh coat of paint. Gone from view are the dense aggregations of young women wearing traditional pajama-style garments. Blue jeans and sport-shirts are the uniform, everywhere. Development in the north is also active but seems not quite as flamboyant as in the south. The UN has designated Ha Long Bay as a world heritage site and hotels have sprung up in the proximate city of Hon Gai to accommodate visitors. The limestone deposits, spread out over many square miles, form unusual shapes and are covered with vegetation. This is worth seeing. The future for Vietnam seems bright, if the freedom to produce and create can be sustained, not restrained. The people are industrious. There is land for farming, abundant seafood, plenty of rain and strong sun.