Buzz
Prior to her visit to Vietnam, many expressed concerns about Amanda's safety, questioning 'Isn't it very dangerous?'
Reflections of an American Traveler in Vietnam during peacetime
Setting foot in Vietnam for the first time in 2014, Amanda shared her personal journey on the Dangerous Business blog.
War Remnants
The tour guide enthusiastically described the various traps made from exploded tanks and unexploded bombs, illustrating how they function.
Wrapping up the tour, he recounted how his grandfather had participated in anti-American efforts during the 60s and 70s. There are numerous actions by Americans that don't make me proud, from slavery and oppression to concentration camps in World War II. And of course, the Vietnam War.
Since my school days, Vietnam has been a significant part of my history lessons. We learn about napalm bombs, the toxic Agent Orange, booby traps, and the senseless massacres. We read books and watch movies, but it's not always easy for us to explain why America got involved in Vietnam from the beginning.
Non-American guests on the Cu Chi tunnels tour were puzzled by this story. They kept asking, 'But why did the war break out?' I felt uneasy and quickly changed the subject because there was no simple answer.
Perhaps there's no simple answer to this issue; the truth is my country invaded another. Innocent lives were lost, cities were destroyed, and chemical weapons left both physical and mental scars on those who survived.
Reality is different from wars that happened decades ago. For many Vietnamese, it still feels like yesterday's news. Especially in places like Cu Chi, the war is still talked about every day.
The next day, we visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, where there are propaganda paintings against America and heartbreaking evidence of American atrocities.
This museum feels like a demand for me to acknowledge my responsibility, as an American, walking through the galleries and feeling guilty. It's fair because America has never truly apologized for what happened in Vietnam (or Laos and Cambodia – in fact, our government still refuses to acknowledge their actions).
I'm glad places like the Cu Chi tunnels or the War Remnants Museum exist – they compel me, an American, to view the Vietnam War a bit differently. These attractions make me see through the eyes of locals, of non-American tourists – many of whom are learning about the war for the first time when they come to Vietnam.
We can't deny the atrocities some American soldiers committed; we learn about the My Lai massacre, read stories, can vividly imagine the image of the Napalm Girl... But few Vietnamese know that many young Americans were sent to Vietnam against their will.
At that time, the war was not widely known in America, but there were strong protests against the government. Four students from Kent State University were killed in 1970 while participating in protests.
Many soldiers returning from the Vietnam battlefield also suffered countless injuries. They became addicted to drugs, suffered psychological trauma, and endured the pain of Agent Orange. Nowadays, most Americans agree that the government should not have plunged into that war from the start.
This cannot excuse the inhumane actions of a group of people, but it's worth bringing up to remind us that every story has two sides – especially when it comes to war.
American Visitors in Vietnam
Before my trip to Vietnam, many expressed concerns about my safety with questions like, 'Isn't it very dangerous?'
In reality, many Vietnamese still harbor resentment towards Americans – those who invaded their country decades ago; some still mention America with bitterness. But no one says anything terrible about me being American.
I feel welcomed and safe here. Vietnamese people understand that not all Americans are bad, and they know a traveler like me is different from those who sent troops with guns to their country over 40 years ago.
According to Pham Huyen/Vnexpress
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Travel Guide: Mytour
MytourJune 25, 2018
