vietnam in foreigners eyes

Vietnam in Vietnam in foreigners’ eyesforeigners’ eyes

Bitter or sweet, quotes and comments Bitter or sweet, quotes and comments could speak a lot better than could speak a lot better than

thousands of praises.thousands of praises.

Now, let’s listen to what our foreign Now, let’s listen to what our foreign friends feel about our lovely friends feel about our lovely

motherland…motherland…

Vietnam in foreigners’ eyesVietnam in foreigners’ eyes

““I feel privileged to be here, it is an incredible place; I feel privileged to be here, it is an incredible place; the value of society, the quality of life here is the value of society, the quality of life here is extraordinary. I don’t feel any different from a extraordinary. I don’t feel any different from a Vietnamese person. We were just talking about Vietnamese person. We were just talking about international integration and I think Vietnamese international integration and I think Vietnamese people are changing a lot in the way that they people are changing a lot in the way that they interact with foreigners and the differences are interact with foreigners and the differences are melting away. We are much more of the same world melting away. We are much more of the same world than we ever werethan we ever were.”.”

Matthew Frey – Chief Representative of Save Children USAMatthew Frey – Chief Representative of Save Children USA

““Vietnam is politically stable and has many other things Vietnam is politically stable and has many other things necessary for development. I have been to many areas in necessary for development. I have been to many areas in Vietnam. I can see that Vietnamese people are keen on Vietnam. I can see that Vietnamese people are keen on learning and learn very fast as well as have a desire for better learning and learn very fast as well as have a desire for better development to keep pace with other countries in the region development to keep pace with other countries in the region and the world. and the world. Many places here are beautiful and have potential for Many places here are beautiful and have potential for economic development. The nation has been successful in economic development. The nation has been successful in developing and introducing products like coffee, pepper, developing and introducing products like coffee, pepper, coconut to the world market. Vietnamese seafood is also very coconut to the world market. Vietnamese seafood is also very good quality as Vietnam has a long coastline. Unfortunately, good quality as Vietnam has a long coastline. Unfortunately, in Switzerland, we don’t have beaches.”in Switzerland, we don’t have beaches.”

Bénédict de Cerjat - The ambassador of Switzerland to VietnamBénédict de Cerjat - The ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam


““I have always been interested in Vietnam, I have always been interested in Vietnam, because of Vietnam’s thousands of years of because of Vietnam’s thousands of years of history in maintaining its identity and the history in maintaining its identity and the national integrity.”national integrity.”

Prof. Malcom Gillis - member of the Management Board of Prof. Malcom Gillis - member of the Management Board of Vietnam Education FoundationVietnam Education Foundation

*Note: VEF is the Education Fund set up by American *Note: VEF is the Education Fund set up by American government to sponsor for Vietnamese talents in Technology government to sponsor for Vietnamese talents in Technology

and Science Studiesand Science Studies


““Vietnamese people are believed to be clever and Vietnamese people are believed to be clever and eager to knowledge, and Vietnam is believed to be the eager to knowledge, and Vietnam is believed to be the right address for co-operations…I’ve realised that right address for co-operations…I’ve realised that the country is peaceful and the environment in the country is peaceful and the environment in Vietnam is safe. Vietnamese people are mild but Vietnam is safe. Vietnamese people are mild but enthusiastic, which helps generate wonderful enthusiastic, which helps generate wonderful harmonisation. Political stability is considered one of harmonisation. Political stability is considered one of the most important factors that attracts the the most important factors that attracts the investors.”investors.”

Katsuto Momii, President and Chief Executive Officer of Katsuto Momii, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nihon Unysis - JapanNihon Unysis - Japan


““I really love the life here. The relations I really love the life here. The relations between Vietnam and Germany are very between Vietnam and Germany are very special… I have met Vietnamese people who special… I have met Vietnamese people who have studied in Germany and I see many have studied in Germany and I see many similar things between the two countries, for similar things between the two countries, for example, hard-work, diligence and example, hard-work, diligence and discipline.”discipline.”

Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch – The Ambassador of Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch – The Ambassador of GermanyGermany


““Any war would make writers who write about it Any war would make writers who write about it subjective. Vietnam has been known to the world as a subjective. Vietnam has been known to the world as a country of war. Just a few know about the country as country of war. Just a few know about the country as a peaceful country as it is now. I think readers a peaceful country as it is now. I think readers around the world want to explore a new Vietnam. around the world want to explore a new Vietnam. That is why I prefer to introduce a modern Vietnam to That is why I prefer to introduce a modern Vietnam to the world through Vietnamese stories.”the world through Vietnamese stories.”

Rosemary Nguyen - foreign translators translating Vietnamese Rosemary Nguyen - foreign translators translating Vietnamese short stories and novels to English.short stories and novels to English.


““For those of us who were here during the For those of us who were here during the war, and who have had the opportunity to war, and who have had the opportunity to come back on mission of peace, Vietnam will come back on mission of peace, Vietnam will always be a place and a people that we will always be a place and a people that we will think about everyday no matter where we are think about everyday no matter where we are in the world.”in the world.”

Tom Leckinger - Country Manager, VVAF Vietnam(Vietnam Tom Leckinger - Country Manager, VVAF Vietnam(Vietnam – US Magazine)– US Magazine)


““It is difficult for Vietnam to compete with It is difficult for Vietnam to compete with Thailand in terms of beautiful beaches and to Thailand in terms of beautiful beaches and to be compared with Cambodia with all its Wats, be compared with Cambodia with all its Wats, but Vietnam has the advantage to competing but Vietnam has the advantage to competing with other countries in terms of foodwith other countries in terms of food””

Graham HollidayGraham Holliday - - Consolation Prize Winner for Bloggies Consolation Prize Winner for Bloggies Competition a.k.a Oscar for Personal Blogger (Competition a.k.a Oscar for Personal Blogger (

www.noodlepie.com))


"I have been deeply moved by my visit here. I "I have been deeply moved by my visit here. I came here in part because I believe America came here in part because I believe America and Vietnam are linked not just by a shared and Vietnam are linked not just by a shared and often tragic past that must be honored and and often tragic past that must be honored and remembered, but because we have a bright remembered, but because we have a bright future that we can build together." future that we can build together."

Bill Clinton – 42Bill Clinton – 42ndnd President of The United States President of The United States

((http://www.davifo.dk/Clinton.htm))


““The dynamic and vitality I feel on the road, The dynamic and vitality I feel on the road, when I see the Vietnamese people. That’s the when I see the Vietnamese people. That’s the impression from discussions with Vietnamese impression from discussions with Vietnamese leaders. They prove to be dynamic and flexible leaders. They prove to be dynamic and flexible in making economic decisions. I also met with in making economic decisions. I also met with a group of women’s leaders of Vietnam, who a group of women’s leaders of Vietnam, who are very dynamic and intelligent”are very dynamic and intelligent”

Kofi Annan – Secretary of United NationsKofi Annan – Secretary of United Nations


““The Vietnamese people are known for their The Vietnamese people are known for their tremendous industry,… They're very tremendous industry,… They're very hardworking and entrepreneurial.”hardworking and entrepreneurial.”

Condoleezza Rice – Secretary of President of The United StatesCondoleezza Rice – Secretary of President of The United States (Roundtable with Asia Print Journalists – Jan 2006)(Roundtable with Asia Print Journalists – Jan 2006)

http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/072106rice.html


""Of the 30 or so countries I have been to, Of the 30 or so countries I have been to, Vietnam is easily the most beautiful. I saw Vietnam is easily the most beautiful. I saw more shade of green then I knew existed. Rice more shade of green then I knew existed. Rice fields manually tended from dawn to dusk fields manually tended from dawn to dusk were always in view as were forest covered were always in view as were forest covered mountains. I also frequently caught glimpses mountains. I also frequently caught glimpses of pristine deserted beaches from the train of pristine deserted beaches from the train window as we made our way along the window as we made our way along the coast..".coast..".

David Fisher – Former Deputy US Trade Representative David Fisher – Former Deputy US Trade Representative

(By (By Robert Storey & Daniel Robinson - LRobert Storey & Daniel Robinson - Lonely Planet book)onely Planet book)


““I found that my Vietnamese friends are very open-minded, I found that my Vietnamese friends are very open-minded, sincere and kind. I am usually surprised about how quickly sincere and kind. I am usually surprised about how quickly people make friends with each other. It seems like some people make friends with each other. It seems like some friends always have a spare room to welcome you even if you friends always have a spare room to welcome you even if you are an American. I love the country. Vietnamese language is are an American. I love the country. Vietnamese language is hard to pronounce but the sound is beautiful. Vietnam also has hard to pronounce but the sound is beautiful. Vietnam also has a rich culture. Family relations here are important and very a rich culture. Family relations here are important and very close. I think we Americans may learn something from close. I think we Americans may learn something from Vietnamese about how to make the family relation closer.”Vietnamese about how to make the family relation closer.”

Dan Perskins Dan Perskins Dean of the Faculty of Concert at Plymouth State University, Dean of the Faculty of Concert at Plymouth State University,

music director of New Hampshire Master Chorale music director of New Hampshire Master Chorale FFounder of the Educational Theatre Collaborative ounder of the Educational Theatre Collaborative

the pianist of Ruggieri Chamber Soloist Theatre the pianist of Ruggieri Chamber Soloist Theatre


““Your country is unique with its fine art and Your country is unique with its fine art and landscapes, and it can open new horizons for landscapes, and it can open new horizons for artists who come from the exteriorartists who come from the exterior.”.”

Rene Lemay Rene Lemay

Canadian Painter Canadian Painter

Exhibition “Happy Days in Vietnam” - Viet Fine Arts GalleryExhibition “Happy Days in Vietnam” - Viet Fine Arts Gallery (Hanoi)(Hanoi)


vietnam in foreigners eyes

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