I would like to share and record my memories and observations. This is my first visit to Southeast Asia, so please bear with my naivety and appreciate my new observances. It may even serve as a laugh or two.

Our initial meeting in Vietnam was with Bing, our tour guide. She is a well-educated and articulate young Vietnamese mother of a two and one half year old, Anh. She and Secretary-General Hoang Cong Thuy, of the Vietnam-U.S. Society, were our hosts in the country. We received a bright opening and reception of welcome. The paramount opinion and greeting was "Vietnam is a country, not a war" which became evident throughout our stay. We learned that the budget for schools is quite low and yet, expectations for education and English fluency are high. Special Education students are an interest to our group as we have many SpEd teachers. SpEd students are referred to as "children of a particular concern" which was one way of saying they do not know what to do with them - similar as in the US. Our meeting followed with a discussion of children and families affected by Agent Orange. We learned there are many services available for the affected people, yet this does not entirety resolve difficulties. The country is aware and willing to assist these families, but it appears that the Germans have taken the role of providing hospital and rehabilitation services in many cases.

We also learned the Vietnam-U.S. project deals with disarming land mines, women's issues, children's funds and bicycle tours to raise money for projects and reunite veterans. When Ho Chi Minh wrote the Vietnam Declaration of Independence, he modeled it after the United States and it included Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Vietnam is active on dealing with defoliants and the re-greening of bare land through tree planting events and festivals. Sewage remains a problem especially during the rainy season.

Hanoi is a city of 3 million people. The work and school schedules allow for a morning session, followed by a siesta from 12:00 - 1:30pm. Smart people! We found this to be the most hot and humid summer in recollection for many people.

The history of Vietnam is diverse. Although it is a communist country, it parallels the US and other free countries in the quest for economic success. It was pointed out that the UN Security Council has 5 permanent members: US, France, Russia, Japan and China. Vietnam has fought wars for independence with all members except Russia at one time or another. Vietnam is proud to share that they have never lost their national identity. And Vietnam has never fought a war to gain control over another country, only to maintain their freedom. They also are proud that they had the foresight to change to the Roman alphabet early on and that the language is therefore easier to read by Westerners which helps them economically today.

The economic development of Vietnam is demonstrative and obvious. It has become the 2nd largest exporter of rice in the world today. Tourism and developments thrive and industry, products and services are readily available.

In the afternoon, we visited the US Embassy offices. Three Embassy officials addressed us. There was a formal presentation followed by a question and answer period. Information we received from the morning was discounted and we received a very formal statement, including the denial of any adverse effects of Agent Orange. The US officials acknowledged a rapid growth of economy and expansion, but admitted there are more problems that advances in the communist country. It was stated that student still receive instruction in Marxist and Lenin philosophies. Many more issues were discussed.