A rhyming pace for a mapping space

The most notable observation and perhaps the essence of my experience is the conflict or dilemma I sense in Vietnam’s current transition. This was suppose to be a traditional space we were mapping, however, with the motorbike shops, liquor store, and other imitations of “Western symbols” it is highly difficult to distinguish this space as traditional. My observation compels me to question whether there are truly traditional spaces left in urban Vietnam and if these new transitioning spaces that obscures the idea of traditional and modern has replace the “old.” I wonder if Vietnam can continue on its path of development while simultaneously preserving its tradition and traditional spaces. Unfortunately, it seems the byproduct of development and modernization is the destruction of tradition, making the two mutually exclusive. To sum up my experience, I would have to say it was bittersweet. Bitter because I don’t have the opportunity to appreciate the Vietnam in which my grandmother lived and knowing this country will move further away from tradition. Sweet in a sense because development offers the possibility of a better living condition for some of the Vietnamese people.



Disclaimer: The following is a rhyming piece I wrote about my experience in the space we mapped. Everything I described was actually things that were experienced by the group and was in no way fabricated. Hope you enjoy!


Walking down Trần Xuân Xoạn street
It’s hurting my feet and I can’t begin to describe the unbearable heat
But to ride a motorbike along is to cheat
Making this whole experience… bittersweet
So where do we start?
We look to the left: lo and behold, there is Hôm mart
A market with plenty of things to buy
So to escape the heat, we decided to go inside
We find fresh meats, veggies, and fruits to try
But no where do we see shoes being shined
Look there’s cooking oil and nước măm too
But again we see no little boys shinning other people’s shoes

Next we exit the market and continue on our way
Hoping that this project doesn’t take up too much of our day
Mai says to the group: “lets finish this in two hours”
Instantly, the group feels immensely empowered
So we all begin to frantically scour
Knowing if we don’t oblige, her face will quickly turn sour
Where can we eat phở bò or drink some sinh tố
We ask some of the locals and they all seem to know
Go here. It’s there.
Perhaps my brain is impaired, but I swear, these people seem to be pointing everywhere

But we trust in the people for this is their home
They live on the streets… this is where their children roam
No longer on the mean streets near Hanu University, I am in a new space
A new fragrance, a new feel, and a different new taste.
Despite our race against time.. it seems we’re being chased
We sit down to drink some tra da and enjoy the nice change of pace
Under a tree and next to an elementary
The 2000 we pay seems like such a nominal fee
An hour has past there’s still plenty of things on the list
So I look to my left, and Mai is looking awfully pissed

Giang leads the troop with five of us in toll
And we quickly knock out… one, two, three…. tasks in a roll
We’re almost done
But we can’t find badminton
Wait. Here’s bia hoa. A favorite of Thầy Gerard.
And a place to buy envelopes and pens, a pagoda, the troop marches onward
We finally near the end of our 3 hour journey, an adventure indeed
And despite the lack of speed, I must concede
That in our goal of mapping a space we did succeed
But that is superseded by our ultimate goal to understand the concept of space in Vietnam
Which begin to finally understand as we ride away down Ngô Thì Nhâm.