Culture Clash

When Susan Sontag first arrives in Hanoi, she does not have the most optimistic view of the place. It is difficult for her to relate to the Vietnamese living in the area because of both the cultural and language barrier. She feels she must talk in more simplified terms and is unaccustomed to the constant kindness and hospitality from the Vietnamese. Sontag finds herself feeling rather hopeless since her attempts to understand the people of Hanoi are not progressing. However, as she continues to observe the people and their way of living, she begins to understand the depth of the Vietnamese culture. They are not just a warring, Communist country as a majority of Americans perceive them to be. They are deeply involved in the history of their country, embracing the hardships they have gone through to unify them as a whole. Each individual, filled with strong patriotism, works to preserve the culture and identity of Vietnam. Their love for their country drives them, and even though they are not the richest of countries, they still find a joy in themselves and each other to live contently and modestly.

Vietnam is so unlike America in many ways. Sontag realizes how efficient the Vietnamese are, utilizing every resource possible to fix the war-stricken countryside and land. The people have a strong sense of respect for one another and are not sucked in to sexual desires so easily as Americans can be. They emphasize cleanliness and sanitation, and they are absolutely thrilled to explain how Vietnam has grown and progressed since gaining independence. They look towards the future and do not hold grudges against other countries. Despite the fact that the Vietnam War has torn apart their country and ruined hundreds of thousands of lives, Vietnam still views America with reverence, not hate. Through the hardships that Vietnam has had to endure, the people have grown stronger together and developed in a positive way, always supporting each other. Sontag reveals the uniqueness of this culture through detailed stories and encounters she came across on her visit to Hanoi, exposing the other side of Vietnam that many people do not see.