The countryside

It was wonderful to get out of the chaos of Hanoi and see the deep green of rice fields and slower pace of life in small towns. They are just putting the bright green rice seedlings in the ground and plowing wet fields with water buffolo. Parts of the trip went through the hills and steep mountains looking like ancient Chinese scrolls. Everyone had gardens, small and large and rice fields small and large. I was impressed with the govt. program of building infrastructure in the rural areas. Good main roads went everywhere and secondary roads were passable, even dirt ones. There was till a lot of traffic but fewer motorbikes and more animals, ox carts and ponies, many more bikes loaded up.Everyone had electric service and some kind of water. Only waste disposable needed attention. There is a Vietnamese joke that westerners are opposite Vietnamese in that we kiss in public and piss indoors. There were many traditional houses, but they are quickly being replaced by the typical 2-3 story narrow home with an open public living room downstairs and sleeping private rooms upstairs. The front of the house is painted a bright color and sometimes the sides are painted as well if people have the money. The open room is very open and usually filled with family, neighboors etc. There is not a lot of privacy and I am sure a Vietnamese person would feel lonely in our country with its many closed doors. I finally hear birds for the first time. I miss hearing birds at home.