Hello, just found this message board while googling and was very glad to have done so. I would like to pose a question to you guys and hear what you have to say about the matter.

First, some background info. I'm a 22 year old Viet guy who grew up here in the States and have never set foot in the homeland (I was born in Europe). I've spent the last 20 years living all over the US, from the west coast in Cali to the east and northeast. My parents raised me Viet style speaking Vietnamese but, nevertheless, I am about as American as it gets. My English sounds native, I sound like a white boy sometimes, and I dress like any other 20-something year old in the states. Point is, I am *very* "Americanized".

Anyhow, I recently returned from my first trip to Vietnam. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I wasn't fully aware of what I should have expected traveling there. I expected it to be different from the US, obviously, but I was blown away by just how different all the institutions of VN really were.

I'm a very open minded person. I traveled there expecting to live, eat, and sleep just as the Vietnamese do. I did not bring my American sense of standards to VN hoping to fully immerse myself in the lifestyle. Originally, I planned to visit for one full month. I ended up staying for two and I would have stayed longer if not for obligations back here in the States! I just loved the country and the people so much. It didn't take me long to begin to understand the people and lifestyle and then live it myself. Not to mention I've learned things about myself that I never would have otherwise.

Upon my return here in the States, I suddenly realized that my home for the last 20+ years is not truly my home at all. It was like night and day; a light switch on and off... the US just doesn't feel like home anymore. During my trip to VN, I discovered that my sense of values, culture, habits, and thought processes were truly Vietnamese and I just never could pin point it. It wasn't until I was surrounded by people whom shared my ideology that I realized this.

They say home is where the heart is, and I truly feel I left my heart back in VN. I just cannot seem to get into the swing of things here in the States because I have changed so much. For example, the "busy busy, keep up with the jones" lifestyle here in the US is something I no longer understand nor agree with. Here's the kicker, I used to adore and love white chicks... now I can't stand over half of them. I honestly feel that I do not belong here, but who can deny the oppurtunities the US offers over VN. I'm beginning to understand why my parents live in Vietnam 6 months out of every year. I've already planned for my trip back for Tet in 6 months.

All in all, I returned to the US feeling like a foreigner.

So pardon my lengthy post, but I'm very curious to hear if anyone else felt the same way after returning from VN. Did you feel more of a connection to VN than your primary home in the US? Feel free to share your experiences and opinions. TIA.

Man I've read so much stories similar to yours about getting in touch with your roots, now that you have got in touch with your roots its time to embrace it. It feels good doesn't it?

Remember it is one thing to go on holiday in Vietnam but to live there and have a working life there it is a different story.

my point. It's kinda hard to live there, that's why a lot of people emigrated elsewhere.

Lets install the BPR (Byron Pham Regime) in the government and well be fine

For a short amount of time, I was getting discouraged to see so many Vietnamese (and Asians in general) becoming so Americanized that they no longer care much about their roots. But now I realize that even the most Americanized can wake up one day and start to embrace their culture.

Your story is very similar to mine; I grew up here most of my life; and I've always kept in touch with my traditional Viet side since my parents made sure to instill that in me, nonetheless, but it was only last summer that I went above and beyond what my parents taught me in embracing Vietnamese culture.

Although I am more Americanized than I am traditional Vietnamese, my country, my people, and my culture are the dominant things I think about. I identify myself solely as a Vietnamese first and foremost.


As for your trip back to VN, the sad thing is that you're an oversea Vietnamese, and the native Viets will always make that distinction, some will act on that distinction more than others. But as an minority in America, I'm used to being different from everybody else. So oversea Vietnamese will never exactly fit in with their new country or their native country.

I agree with you completely. However, it is entirely possible to earn an extremely good living in Saigon with our American experiences. During my time there I have met many young, single entrepreneurs living up life. All of whom grew up in the States and returned home to do business. All it takes is a proven western business idea and the ability to network over beers. A path I am working on.

On the flip side, if we were to live and work like the majority of Viets in VN, life would not be as easy. The divide between the upper classes and the lower class is massive.

In terms of the day to day routine, regardless of how wealthy each family is, I think we Americans have a lot to learn from the native Viets. They lead a very simplistic, easy going, relaxing life regardless of how hard they must work.

Also, a note on being "Viet Kieu". This is one trait of the Vietnamese I truly hate, but most native Viets will try to scam you everywhere they can. They'll give you higher prices, for example. They quoted my cousin, a native, a hotel room in Nha Trang for 300,000VND per night. When I asked that very same hotel again, they quoted me 1,000,000VND not knowing I was with my cousin. This happens everywhere I go and they do it everything whether it be water bottles, admission tickets, or in resturants. I love how the party next to me didn't get charged the 15% VN service tax but I did. Or in Quan 1, a cyclo driver came up to me and automatically burst out in English, "Ride to War Palace, only 1 dollar!" That's 15,700VND, when I know they only charge 5,000VND for that same ride to nationals. I'm not whining about the extra 60 or so cents, but it is truly the principle of the matter and most Viets exploit this to the best of their ability. Just because you have the money doesn't mean you should spend it.

Ok, sorry for the rant.

I was born in Vietnam so it's easy for me to went back to Vietnam and nobody thinks I'm Viet kieu ...

Same with me. Before I went to Vietnam, I felt more like an Australian and even said that if Vietnam and Australia goes to war, I'd join the Royal Australian Navy. Anyway, that was the dumbest statement I've ever made because now I've just realised that Vietnam my mother country and there's no other country that could take priority over her. Just feels so proud to be a Vietnamese, a descendant of Lạc Hồng.

As a line in the song Non Nuoc Huu Tinh goes ... "Dù đi đâu, đến phương Trời nào cũng chẵng đẹp hơn nước non Việt Nam"

Good story! I am glad that people like you return to Vietnam and find their true roots. Unlike some people I know, I'd rather call them aliens from outter space, than calling them Vietnamese or Vietnamese-Americans.

I'm glad you all changed your mind xP

i use to want to be white when i first got in the US cause i just want to fit in and not stand out.
but as i got older i know that no matter how hard i try i still be a vietnamese plus i alway feel more at home around vietnamese ppl and like i feel that they can understand me better
but where i live most vietnamese r born here and they dont know $hit about vietnam most of they is too embrass of even speak vietnamese in front of other ppl
like the other day i saw this freshman and i ask what is he
and he said he was vietnamese
so i ask him can he speak it (in vietnamese)
he just look at me so im like "no then, right"
then he said he can understand it but he dont want to speak it cause he was an AMERICAN.

i was going after this girl but i found out she can speak Vietnamese but then refuse to speak it cuz she embarass to speak Viet , and she prefers English over Viet , so nomore for me .... looking for another one who can speak Viet haha

i mean i do get embrasses when they talk so laod that every body start looking and i dont speak sometime cause it ruled to speak a lang in fornt of ppl that cant understand it

ever think of ppl who cant speak English ?? i dont think its rude at all , u proud of ur language so u speak it ...

LOL aren't we the fortunate lot? We're rediscovering our roots... and other suckers... LOL (get it?)

for sure my heart is in vn

to quote a prominent deodorant company

"anything else would be uncivlized"

lol muaahahahahahahahahaa