The first image that comes to many people’s minds, especially the ones of the past
generation, when they think about Vietnam, is artillery flying over rice paddy fields during the
Vietnam War back in 1970s, or a peaceful Vietnam with women in traditional dresses [áo dài]
bicycling around Hoan Kiem Lake [h? Hoàn Ki?m], one of the major tourist attractions in Hanoi,
the country’s capital. Vietnam in the 21st century is a different country. Even though agricultural
activities still contribute largely to the national economy, many rice fields were replaced with
highways and skyscrapers, and bicycles with motorcycles and cars, as urbanization and
modernization rapidly spread across Vietnam. Major developments and changes are taking place
in this small country in Southeast Asia, which is both thrilling and overwhelming to its
government and citizens.