Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: The South’s master plan

Saturday, February 16, 2008

The South’s master plan

Traffic buzzes in front of Ben Thanh Market, a prominent HCMC landmark
Ho Chi Minh City could be the heart and brain of a major economic zone stretching from Cambodia to the sea and from the highlands’ foothills to the Mekong Delta.
The Ministry of Construction discussed its plans to develop a new economic zone (Ho Chi Minh City and seven provinces), the country’s largest to date, at a recent conference in HCMC.
The country’s foremost economic zone would encompass HCMC, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An and Tien Giang provinces, according to the Ministry of Construction’s Southern Agricultural and Urban Planning Institute, which is responsible for drawing up the plan.
Many officials at the meeting expressed concerns that in order to implement the zone, which is home to 15.1 million people, a long list of concerns would have to be addressed.
For example, the area lacks highways.
Its ports are inadequate and disconnected from each other and other parts of the region.
If the zone is to rival the country’s other large industrial and economic developments, many officials agreed that transport would have to be drastically improved

more info->Vietnam latest news - Thanh Nien Daily

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.