Choices, Choices and More Choices

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always been told that having choices is a good thing. I can choose what I want to do for a living. I can choose who to marry. I can even choose what I want to wear, to a certain extent.

While I’ve been in Vietnam, I realized that these choices aren’t always afforded to the women here. Much of the female population is corralled into teaching. Their choices are to teach English or teach elementary education. Though both fine choices, they are limited. Moreover, some of the women here do not get to choose who they will marry. Even in modern days, the job or the status of both houses play a significant role in the marriage decisions. At the same time, I can honestly say that there are some slow and progressive changes everyday and in most communities.



One thing is for sure, Vietnamese people have their choice of clothes. We went to visit Hoi An this weekend. Hoi An is known for 2 things. (1) The historically preserved buildings and neighborhoods. In certain parts of the town you cannot have any motorized vehicles*. (2) The countless shops that will sew and tailor anything you want. And when I say anything, I really mean ANYTHING!



Now, you’re probably thinking: “THAT’S AWESOME!” That’s what I thought too. Until I was inundated with choices… SO MANY CHOICES! If I looked at a coat, they would ask a flurry of questions:

“What color would you like it in?”
“Do you want the length to be 2 inches shorter or 2.2 inches shorter or something else?”
“Would you like these buttons, or these buttons?”
“What shape do you want the collar?”
“Would you like a belt?”
“What kind of belt?”
“Do you like this buckle or that buckle?”
“Would you like the sleeve to look like this or like that?”
“What lining would you like?”
“This fabric or that fabric?”
“This color lining or that color lining?”
“Double stitch or single stitch?”

Needless to say it was overwhelming. But I will confess, I was a total tourist and I took advantage of the cheap prices and opportunity to have tailored clothes. Among other things, I came out with a really nice black pea coat and a dress to wear to Patrick and Jen’s wedding in July (it’s silky!).

Other trip adventures included beaching and checking out the My Son ruins.

The Champa ruins in My Son were probably my favorite part of the trip (about 2 hours outside of Hoi An). Quiet and peaceful, the overgrown structures were nice to just stare at. I took lots of pictures (see below).






Then I drove the boat and took us back to Hoi An**. FOR REALZ***!

* You would think it’d make walking a lot safer. Until you realize Vietnamese people are amazing at balancing and carting large loads on bicycles. Yep, I definitely got hit a couple times. It wasn’t even from not paying attention mind you. They just rode up behind me!
** Not the whole way, but still...
*** Yes, I used a “z”.