Geoffrey House, Policy and Strategy in Southeast Asia: Geoff House, First Day in Ha Noi, Viet Nam

I arrived at Nội Bài International Airport in Ha Noi, the capital of Viet Nam, at about 9:00 in the morning on Wednesday the 23rd of September. The AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Viet Nam's capital city lasted almost 2 1/2 hours. I was eager to reach my hotel, called Meracus 1, in Ha Noi's Old Quarter, or Hoan Kiem District, as quickly as possible. Upon disembarking the airplane, passing through the gate, and emerging into the larger terminal, I immediately noticed some important details.

The Malaysian airport had been big and full of all kinds of pleasures for the passing travelers but not particularly appealing to the eye. The Philippine airports were uncomfortable at best and dysfunctional at worst. But Nội Bài International Airport possessed a certain style or appeal, perhaps attributable to the natural light present in the large, open space of the terminal, made possible by the high, wide panes of glass comprising the facade and sides of the building.

Ha Noi exhibits an openness toward outsiders which may be due in part to a shift in relations between Viet Nam's leaders and their American and European counterparts. Each side sees in the other a potential ally in efforts to check the geopolitical ambitions of China to the North. All sides recognize the economic benefits of liberalizing their markets. Profitable businesses can be established once the rules of the game are set. The emerging Trans-Pacific Partnership promises to establish a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the United States, among other nations. In Ha Noi's Old Quarter, the intersection and mixing of influences, local and foreign, produce charming effects. The streets, buildings, and peoples are among the most interesting I have ever seen. Below you can see a map of the Old Quarter, followed by photos of various scenes across the city. At the bottom you can see photos which reflect life in Viet Nam of a very different nature.