Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Vietnam to open embassy in Tel Aviv

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Vietnam to open embassy in Tel Aviv

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Vietnam will open an embassy in Israel in the coming months after 15 years of diplomatic ties between the two states, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Vietnam's deputy foreign minister, Vu Dung, on an official visit to Israel, announced that Hanoi intended to open an embassy "within several months," the ministry said in a statement. The embassy will be in Tel Aviv and not in Occupied Jerusalem, which the international community does not recognize as Israel's capital, said the head of the ministry's Southeast Asia desk, Giora Bachar . The move was expected to tighten ties between the two countries, mainly in trade and tourism, Bachar added. Trade volume stood at $160 million last year. Although the two countries established ties in 1993 and Israel has an embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam has so far been represented in the Jewish state by its embassy in Egypt. - AFP

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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.